Border States reviews

3.5

63% would recommend to a friend

(210 total reviews)

Jason Seger

76% approve of CEO

52% positive business outlook

Border States has an employee rating of 3.5 out of 5 stars, based on 210 company reviews on Glassdoor which indicates that most employees have a good working experience there. The Border States employee rating is in line with the average (within 1 standard deviation) for employers within the Retail & Wholesale industry (3.5 stars).

Reviews by job title

210 reviews
1.0
Jun 21, 2016
Recommend
CEO approval
Business Outlook

Pros

Helpful coworkers. They are always willing to help out as they all know it takes months to learn the outdated systems.

Cons

Compensation rates do not meet market levels. Zero flexibility with work hours. Mundane and monotonous tasks. Unchallenging work. Bland office culture.

1.0
Mar 13, 2018
Recommend
CEO approval
Business Outlook

Pros

Lot of opportunities for overtime. Learn by watching managements' mistakes so you can grow to be a good manager. Will pay you to get a CDL.

Cons

The ESOP is a scam. You don't own anything. Ownership entails being able to vote for the board of directors, your ESOP doesn't get you any vote. The ESOP is a tax advantaged way for management to get low cost capital and to preserve their control. Go ahead, ask your branch manager when the vote for the Board of Directors is and when you will get your ballot. See what type of owner you are. Guess, "silent partner" would be a better description. Speaking of silent partners, best thing at this company to do is keep your mouth shut and your head down, especially if your not from North Dakota/Minnesota. Learn to accept the fact that no matter how hard you work, you are an outsider. Make peace with the fact that the kid from Minneapolis will get hired for more than you, promoted faster than you and eventually be your boss. This company is built on cronyism. If you think I'm lying, go to the website and look at photos of management. How many minority members of the board are there? How many minority branch managers? How can you have a company where half the staff are minorities but where basically all upper management is white? I'm not saying its illegal or it breaks the law, but know that management will hire the niece or nephew of someone they know with no experience before they hire an experienced stranger. Changing the topic, if possible, you can get a job here as a warehouse associate and play the game, get the training and get a CDL. Seriously, the day you get that CDL, go work somewhere else. I did that and went from working my butt off for $35K a year to making $60k a year working 40 hours a week.

avatar
Border States Response
8y
Thank you for the thoughtful feedback and suggestions. We have many, many current and retired employee-owners who view the ESOP quite a bit differently. They view it as the vehicle by which they have created great wealth for themselves and their family. Hard work, learning the business, growing a career and acting like an owner every day definitely pays off at Border States.
2.0
Oct 4, 2016

Clueless

Anonymous employee
Recommend
CEO approval
Business Outlook

Pros

Great benefits, great health insurance (until the start cutting back). ESOP (only if you make it 7 years).

Cons

For a company thats been around for 70 years you would think they just opened their doors last year. They always have some idea that involves putting the cart miles in front of the horse. Its funny how they throw money around like its falling from the trees yet they don't protect their employees.

Viewing 4 - 6 of 210 Reviews

Glassdoor has 222 Border States reviews submitted anonymously by Border States employees. Read employee reviews and ratings on Glassdoor to decide if Border States is right for you.