Great Company hit by tough times - Anonymous employee Coldwell Banker Employee Review

4.0
Oct 14, 2011
Anonymous employee
Recommend
CEO approval
Business Outlook

Pros

As an administrative employee at Coldwell Banker Northern California, I felt like my work was valued by both customers and employees. Compensation was good for my level of education and experience in the field, and based on performance, I was given a few promotions during my short time at the company. Raises and pay increases with promotions were quite reasonable. The office environment was quite friendly.

Cons

When I left in 2009, Coldwell Banker was being hit by poor real estate economy, and there was some belt-tightening around the office. There were some layoffs to the point that we actually gave space back to the office building we were located in. Whether your department was hit by layoffs was mainly determined by how much revenue your department generated. Still, when a department was hit by layoffs, I felt the assessments were fair, and I hear the severance was reasonable when it came to administrative employees.

Explore other reviews about Coldwell Banker

5.0
Apr 23, 2026
Recommend
CEO approval
Business Outlook

Pros

Recognition due to the name

Cons

Although we are independent contractors,the broker continues to micromanage and it’s unbelievable how much money they take from our commissions.

2.0
Mar 30, 2026
Anonymous employee
Recommend
CEO approval
Business Outlook

Pros

Coldwell Banker has a recognizable, legacy brand and there are many talented, dedicated employees who genuinely care about their work. Teams are often collaborative, and there are opportunities to work on large-scale, high-visibility initiatives. From the outside, the company presents itself well and has strong brand positioning in the market.

Cons

There is a significant disconnect between leadership messaging and the actual employee experience. The handling of recent layoffs was particularly disappointing—high-performing employees were let go with little transparency, and the communication around it felt impersonal and overly scripted. For a company that frequently speaks about valuing people, the actions did not reflect that. Morale has taken a hit as a result, and trust in leadership has been impacted. Workloads can be heavy, and expectations remain high even as teams are reduced, without meaningful acknowledgment or support. There is also a tendency to prioritize optics over substance, especially in communications, which can feel frustrating for those doing the work behind the scenes.

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