Great learning experience, very bad experience with middle management and HR - Anonymous employee Dow Employee Review

2.0
Feb 4, 2016
Anonymous employee
Recommend
CEO approval
Business Outlook

Pros

I worked 17years for Dow. Great learning, excellent salary and benefits, worked in Europe and US, diverse colleagues. Lots of opportunities for study and personal development. I left the company as I was fed up with management and the company's short term vision. They let go one of my best co workers. I am now working for Exxon in Houston. Another giant company but I have to say more capable managers and even in the current downturn no layoffs or short term panic!

Cons

HR departement (especially in Horgen Switzerland and Midland Michigan) are very eager to please the management instead of providing neutral , professional advice. Layoffs are random and seem to happen every 5 minutes. Performance system is a farce. I've seen high performing colleagues being told to leave. It effects the overall motivation and atmosphere and creates a sucking up effect and fear culture. Some very bad managers are in positions of power. Headquarters are in Midland Michigan, small-town mentality and all about Dow. You have to like it and it definitely doesn't help to attract top talent.

Explore other reviews about Dow

5.0
Apr 16, 2026
Recommend
CEO approval
Business Outlook

Pros

Culture and the technical expertise within the company provide for a working environment where you don't work in silo and everyone is willing to help support you

Cons

Administrative systems can be burdensome to overcome.

2.0
Mar 22, 2026
Recommend
CEO approval
Business Outlook

Pros

Safety culture, flexibility (although less and less over time). Good health insurance and 401k match

Cons

Dow’s recent years illustrate the challenges of trying to simultaneously satisfy Wall Street’s demands for strong financial performance and aggressive DEI (Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion) priorities. The company has heavily emphasized inclusion initiatives, including its openly gay CEO publicly sharing that coming out was one of the best days of his life in an internal communication, along with a notable increase in women appointed to senior leadership roles. Hiring practices reportedly require diverse candidate slates—including female candidates—and diverse interview panels before filling positions. These efforts, while well-intentioned, appear to have contributed to a series of questionable strategic decisions. Employees have borne the brunt through repeated rounds of layoffs (including significant cuts announced in recent years), minimal merit increases often in the 2-3% range, stalled promotions, and little turnover at the top levels of leadership. Senior executives seem insulated from the consequences, potentially overlooking how these factors—including their own leadership—may be central to the company’s ongoing struggles.

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