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American Red Cross

Is this your company?

The Brand is the only thing going for it - Anonymous employee American Red Cross Employee Review

1.0
Aug 31, 2015
Anonymous employee
Recommend
CEO approval
Business Outlook

Pros

The brand of the American Red Cross is the only positive thing about the organization.

Cons

The organization is inefficiently managed and seems to hold onto people who offer little value and are not very smart. With this strategy over the years, the Red Cross is bleeding revenue and was not ready for the competition and the challenges ahead of time. The brand portrays a warm and fuzzy, caring organization, but it is a corporation with a non-profit status. For those unfamiliar with what non-profit means, it just means they do not pay taxes on profit. The RC has laid off people who have spent decades there, just before Christmas. It is as heartless as any other corporation.

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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