Good to Develope survival skills - Senior R&D Manager Dow Employee Review

3.0
Dec 21, 2016
Recommend
CEO approval
Business Outlook

Pros

Focus on employee development in early years Only big chemical company that has survived industry consolidation of last 10 years Good compensation Global reach Diversity of talent

Cons

Constant reorganization Too concerned about age when making career decisions Pay for performance is a grilling experience Diversity is valued as long as you think as a male white american

Explore other reviews about Dow

5.0
Jul 16, 2026
Recommend
CEO approval
Business Outlook

Pros

Safety focused and excellent benefits

Cons

Considerable amount of company restructuring and yearly layoffs

2.0
Mar 22, 2026
Recommend
CEO approval
Business Outlook

Pros

Safety culture, flexibility (although less and less over time). Good health insurance and 401k match

Cons

Dow’s recent years illustrate the challenges of trying to simultaneously satisfy Wall Street’s demands for strong financial performance and aggressive DEI (Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion) priorities. The company has heavily emphasized inclusion initiatives, including its openly gay CEO publicly sharing that coming out was one of the best days of his life in an internal communication, along with a notable increase in women appointed to senior leadership roles. Hiring practices reportedly require diverse candidate slates—including female candidates—and diverse interview panels before filling positions. These efforts, while well-intentioned, appear to have contributed to a series of questionable strategic decisions. Employees have borne the brunt through repeated rounds of layoffs (including significant cuts announced in recent years), minimal merit increases often in the 2-3% range, stalled promotions, and little turnover at the top levels of leadership. Senior executives seem insulated from the consequences, potentially overlooking how these factors—including their own leadership—may be central to the company’s ongoing struggles.

2
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