Cintas reviews

Outdated sales model. Borderline toxic sales culture. Emphasizes individual results over team success. Difficult sales/ops interplay. Low 'corporate IQ.' Old-world, conservative approach to the sales process. Lack of transparency in managements decisions, particularly when dealing with the front-line revenue generators. Cintas is an old-school company that doesn't adjust well to change. Stock-price is everything, and you will notice that there is a top-down mentality that essentially conveys a 'do your job and shut your mouth' attitude. Most of management are drawn from the sales-force, which isn't always a good plan because sales people are individualistic by nature an not necessarily suited to teaching/guiding others. You will not find many MBA's in the company, and very few Ivy-leaguers despite compensation in line with 'smarter' companies. This 'brain-drain' creates an environment that can seem oppressive to intellectuals. There is definitely a blue-collar mentality, and even as a sales rep you will be asked to perform 'service' related functions from time to time. I don't think that's a bad thing however. Management emphasizes activity over intelligence and may let you down by skipping over teaching you the nuances of relationship management in favor of a volume-based approach. IF YOU ARE NOT COMFORTABLE WITH COLD-CALLING/DIALING THIS IS NOT A COMPANY FOR YOU. The commission structure is top-loaded with minimal residual comp, so you have to bring in new business consistently to be successful.

There are two major downside to working for Cintas. The first issue is the pay. The payscale at Cintas for support staff is abysmal. I work in accounting and we have a revolving door of accountants who come here out of college, make next to nothing, but work for two years to get experience and then leave for greener pastures. When questioned about the turnover issue, the CFO Bill Gale said in front of all of accounting/finance that he wouldn't raise the payscale as long as there was a never ending line of people willing to take the lower pay. As you can imagine, this hurt morale and made those of us who have stuck around feel like suckers for taking lower pay. Since that speech six months ago, the turnover rate has doubled within our department. The second issue is the culture. The culture is oppressive. You are not an individual, you are a drone. You will not have your own thoughts and feeling, Cintas owns everything about you, and if you step out of line, you will be punished. I have had several higher ups scream at me in front of my staff because I dared to have an independent thought. Here are just a few examples of the mind numbing conformity that is required to function at Cintas. Everyone is required by policy to back into their parking spaces, because having some cars backed in and some in head first looks messy. You are not allowed to have any food at your desk, because to them you are a little child who will inevitably spill something. You must not openly question policy, or the executive staff Shoes must be polished at all times...I seriously had a supervisor yell at me in front of a whole room full of people because my shoes had a scuff. Also, you had better be prepared to work 60-70 hour weeks, forever...because as they say "That is the Cintas Way"