I worked across both Brambles and CHEP for several years, and the reality behind the business is deeply troubling. This is, by far, one of the most toxic, soul-destroying workplaces I have experienced. Strip away the corporate hype and carefully curated messaging, and what remains is a broken, suffocating culture driven by internal politics, favoritism, discrimination in all its forms, and an alarming number of under qualified individuals holding positions of influence.
Psychological safety does not exist here. This is the only organisation where I felt unable to be my authentic self without risking my role or reputation. Speaking up is quietly punished, concerns are ignored, and those who challenge the status quo are sidelined or pushed out. I raised issues throughout my employment, only to discover that employee voice is meaningless when it conflicts with profits, brand management and incompetent leadership.
The “support” functions such as Human Resources, Talent Acquisition, Ethics and Compliance are largely performative. They exist to protect the company, not its people. Policies are applied selectively, decisions lack transparency, and outcomes depend more on who someone knows than on ethical standards or merit. Governance is cosmetic at best.
Every year, like clockwork, waves of redundancies are executed around the Christmas period. The timing alone speaks volumes. The human cost to families and livelihoods is treated as collateral damage in service of shareholder and executive compensation. Empathy is absent; optics are everything.
In short, Brambles and CHEP are far more concerned with how they look than how they operate. Integrity is conditional, fairness is political, and people are expendable. If you value authenticity, ethical leadership, or psychological safety, this is not the place for you. When I reflect on my several years of working here I regret not leaving sooner - this place has lost its way… ultimately the culture changes you.
