BNSF Railway reviews

I'm a mid career professional and went to work at the corporate headquarters in Fort Worth as I thought it would be a great career opportunity with solid retirement. After the first month, I regretted my decision. The work environment at headquarters is the worst I have seen in my career. There is no team work at BNSF - it is about who can get ahead the fastest. And generally those that rise in the organization aren't high performers that contribute positively to the organization- they are the ones that actively seek opportunities to make others looks bad in order to make themselves look better. The performance management system supports this approach. Employees are not discussed in the leveling meetings for their accomplishments against their goals. Employees are graded based on politics. HR is also no help to employees or managers. They make inexcusable mistakes and are not held accountable, and use questions you may ask against you or the employee. Every day at BNSF you have to prepare to go into battle. The EVP and VPs will get up at staff meetings and say "this is the best company in the world to work for.." as if saying it over and over again will make it come true. BNSF spends millions of dollars a year on putting its salaried staff through People Leader Training and has for many years, but when the VPs and General Directors don't use the training or hold themselves of their direct reports accountable for ethics or their behavior, then no one else will. BNSF, and the railroad industry in general, are known for their bad leadership, lack of ethics, and culture. If you stay too long (more than five years), finding a job in another industry will be difficult. If you are a hard worker, that likes to win, and work in a team environment, BNSF is not for you.

If you hire on as a salaried/exempt employee, you might find yourself contemplating suicide within a year (I'm not even kidding, it is really that bad in some departments). As a salaried/exempt employee, you can expect poor medical/dental benefits, below market pay, promotions based on gender (women seem to get promoted and compensated, men seem to be passed over), endless nonproductive meetings and emails, and the most toxic and passive-aggressive political environment imaginable. Be VERY careful about getting trapped by a signing bonus; BNSF uses the signing bonus as an attempt to create 1-3 year indentured servitude contracts. Get any proffered bonus money rolled into your salary, but DO NOT take a signing bonus or you will be a wage slave for 1-3 years. Human Resources is your enemy at this company: Never let your guard down and don’t believe a word they tell you.