Besides the obvious issues—like requiring even salaried employees to punch a clock purely for monitoring purposes, constant cubicle audits over meaningless things, and an outdated dress code enforced by the infamous “dress code police” who literally walk around with a clipboard targeting employees (especially younger women)—the biggest problem at Uline is the culture.
The environment is built on fear. Management wants employees to fear leadership, fear rules, and even fear each other. Employees are encouraged to report on one another, and loyalty to leadership matters more than integrity or competence. There is a strong culture of favoritism, where brown-nosers who treat the Uihleins like royalty are rewarded, even when they are clearly in the wrong.
I worked under a manager who repeatedly lied to his own boss about his direct reports. When employees wanted to leave because of him, he was promoted instead of held accountable. In one case, he lied about a direct report and attempted to put her on a PIP until she produced email records proving his dishonesty. The company ultimately had to pay that employee nearly $100,000, and he was still promoted again.
Why? Because men can get away with almost anything there, while women are scrutinized constantly. That is not an exaggeration.
I personally watched a woman be fired for so-called “repeated dress code violations” that were completely fabricated. Later, management told everyone it was due to “performance issues,” changing the story entirely. After I left, they did the same thing with my own situation, despite the fact that I have written proof in my separation request documenting exactly what happened.
If you are a woman in a higher-paid role, expect resistance from male leadership. Promotions are dangled in front of you year after year with promises that you are “on track,” only for excuses, moving goalposts, or outright lies to appear every time promotion season arrives. Meanwhile, men are promoted without the same scrutiny or resistance.
My former manager repeatedly lied to me directly and professionally. It was a masterclass in manipulation and self-preservation at the expense of employees.
