Great work/life balance, not enough opportunity for growth. - Associate Crate and Barrel Employee Review

3.0
Sep 29, 2008
Recommend
CEO approval
Business Outlook

Pros

It has a very friendly atmosphere. Everyone is very willing to help, offer explanations, or walk you through a process so you have a thorough understanding not only of what to do but why you are doing it. The atmosphere is very convivial, and if you're young, you'll have a large peer group. The facilities are beautiful, which makes being at the office more enjoyable. The job is low stress; you leave your work at the end of the day. The benefits are good, including the discount.

Cons

Advancement is primarily based on longevity. It seems like many people obtained their management positions as the company grew below them. This fosters a non-competitive atmosphere, and one where most people in management positions have a long history, and usually a great love of the company. However, there's something of a tribal mentality, and you don't stand much chance of advancing very quickly. The easiest way to move up is to have the person above you quit. If someone several rungs above moves positions, everyone below is reshuffled. If you're willing to stay with the company a long time, you'll move up eventually, but even if you're performing well, the opportunities to grow even without advancement are limited. The benefits are good, and the discount, but the salary isn't, at least in the lower rungs.

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5.0
Apr 2, 2026
Recommend
CEO approval
Business Outlook

Pros

Flexible, nice people, supportive managers

Cons

Can’t think of any cons

1.0
May 11, 2026
Recommend
CEO approval
Business Outlook

Pros

The office had a good coffee machine, which employees appreciated. The cafeteria staff member was friendly and welcoming, which made the environment feel a little more positive. Opportunity to observe how long-established corporate operations function.

Cons

Management style felt very micromanaged. The management in the IT appeared heavily focused on older management methods rather than collaborative leadership. Favoritism was noticeable among certain employees and teams. Contract workers were treated differently from full-time employees, including exclusion from social events, food gatherings, and team activities. The IT teams often seemed disconnected and unwilling to support or train others properly. Communication issues were common, including employees talking negatively about coworkers behind their backs. Training and onboarding lacked structure and consistency. The workplace often felt disorganized, with unclear processes and coordination problems.

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