Easy to be set up for failure... - Human Resources Specialist Dow Employee Review

3.0
Feb 8, 2016
Recommend
CEO approval
Business Outlook

Pros

Pay and benefits are good for local market. Flexibility.

Cons

Within the HR function there is very little room for advancement due to current organizational structure. When a growth opportunity does present itself - candidate is chosen based on who they know vs. overall knowledge, skills and abilities. Overall performance management process is dated; force ranking (leaving many good people at the bottom of the bucket - leading to demotivated employees). Poor leadership within the HR function; what we say we value in leaders is not the type of leader we are putting in our own organization. Understaffed and overworked; continue to say we need to restructure processes to make processes more efficient to ease the burden of our employees - but a) it either doesn't happen or b) it happens but we load them up with additional work and never allow a balance! Behind the market in so many technical aspects.

Explore other reviews about Dow

5.0
Jun 11, 2026
Recommend
CEO approval
Business Outlook

Pros

Great team and company culture room for growth and great experience

Cons

Inflexible schedules Poor management sometimes depending on team

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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