Stable job but outdated and toxic culture and poor work-life balance - Anonymous employee Costco Wholesale Employee Review

The culture feels decades behind many modern employers. Management quality varies significantly and office politics are common. There is an excessive focus on attendance and presenteeism, with employees expected to be on-site five days a week even when the work could easily be performed remotely. Work-life balance is poor and flexibility is minimal. Routine appointments such as doctors, dentists or personal commitments often become unnecessarily difficult to accommodate. Employees are clocked in and out by the minute, creating a culture where people feel monitored rather than trusted. Career progression and development opportunities are limited in many departments. Systems, software and processes are outdated, yet there is a strong resistance to change. The mentality often feels like "if it's not completely broken, leave it alone", regardless of efficiency or employee experience. Morale can be low due to a lack of collaboration, engagement and meaningful recognition. Employee appreciation often feels tokenistic considering the size and profitability of the company. The annual Christmas bonus and staff events are particularly underwhelming. Some managers operate through micromanagement, criticism and intimidation rather than support and leadership. Employees can be made to feel incapable for asking questions or seeking clarification. In my experience, concerns raised regarding workplace behaviour and treatment were not handled in a way that inspired confidence in the grievance process. The company frequently promotes diversity and inclusion, but my experience did not always reflect those values in practice. The grievance process did not inspire confidence. In my experience, concerns involving management were not investigated with sufficient independence and were often dismissed due to a lack of witnesses or corroborating evidence, even where the issues raised would not realistically be expected to have independent witnesses. This created the impression that protecting management and limiting organizational risk took priority over properly addressing employee concerns.