Very bureaucratic, poorly managed - Graduate Trainee Unilever Employee Review

1.0
Mar 12, 2012
Recommend
CEO approval
Business Outlook

Pros

Flexible working conditions Great global brands Opportunity to learn Good name on CV

Cons

- Poor leadership and management - Low transparency and incompetent feedback given to employees - very negative and unconstructive - Outsourced HR and IT - Highly bureaucratic and inflexible. Internal moves and promotions difficult - Don't feel like management care about any of their employees on a personal level despite the business' vision to "improve the quality of people’s lives". - A lot of talk with no substance. Management look for evidence of employees' "Standards of Leadership" but don't display any themselves (http://www.unilever.co.uk/careers/apply/graduates/applicationguidanceandtips/) - Many disgruntled employees and low retention among staff in certain areas of the business reflects some of these factors

Explore other reviews about Unilever

5.0
Jan 22, 2026
Anonymous employee
Recommend
CEO approval
Business Outlook

Pros

Love the people, great mentors, wonderful team members. Very welcoming office and great relationships. I love coming to work!

Cons

Under resourced and underpaid for the skills I bring to the table, which contributes to retention issues

4.0
Jun 19, 2026
Recommend
CEO approval
Business Outlook

Pros

Great people, strong brands, and a lot of ownership. I’ve had opportunities to manage large spend portfolios, lead cross-functional projects, and work with teams across Supply Chain, Finance, Quality, and R&D. The company invests in development and provides exposure to senior leadership that can help accelerate your career.

Cons

Performance and rewards don’t always feel aligned. High performers can sometimes feel underappreciated, and career advancement can be slower than expected due to organizational complexity and internal politics. Decision-making can also take longer than it should because of the number of stakeholders involved.

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