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American Red Cross

Is this your company?

Gail McGovern is driving it into the ground - Chief Executive Officer - Regional American Red Cross Employee Review

1.0
Oct 1, 2014
Recommend
CEO approval
Business Outlook

Pros

The organization has an amazing mission and does amazing work for the people of the country and the world.

Cons

Gail has hired so many cronies from around the country that it is becoming such a horrible organization to work for. They are laying of 30% of the people, not treating them with respect or honoring loyalty. They mismanage everything. No one is happy. Everyone is looking to leave and Gail hasn't been fired. Any other company or organization would have cut the head off the snake. They ask the staff to do more with less and less and they expect staff to give all of their time and have no life. I have been in the non-profit world for 20 years and would say this is the most awful place I have worked.

Explore other reviews about American Red Cross

5.0
Apr 16, 2026
Recommend
CEO approval
Business Outlook

Pros

My experience working with the Red Cross has been great. The work is fulfilling and the people are passionate. Benefits are good - Kaiser is $6 a month!

Cons

There is work life balance, but there is an expectation to work nights and weekends.

2.0
Mar 15, 2026
Recommend
CEO approval
Business Outlook

Pros

You feel connected to a larger mission, and go to bed knowing you did good work. Most of the volunteers are amazing people. The job is a good stepping stone to other disaster management jobs elsewhere. PTO policy is generous and Healthcare is decent.

Cons

You are INCREDIBLY overworked and GROSSLY underpaid. You get zero work-life balance. Even when you're not on call, you'll still get tons of calls from volunteers with questions and concerns. If a volunteer is unavailable to respond to a fire call or tend to any other responsibility day or night, you're on deck. You're salaried, so there's no overtime pay. Your pay barely covers the basic cost of living in today's economy ($40k-$50k). Diversity is bottom heavy, meaning there are lots of employees of color in entry level or lower management roles, but beyond that there's a steep drop off. Most of the volunteers are great, but the Red Cross is so desperate to keep them, that poor behavior and language (racist/sexist/phobic) is not properly disciplined or responded to, if at all. Employee retention is poor, especially in the Disaster Specialist role, because they burn you out so quickly without decent pay.

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