DO NOT WORK HERE IF YOU DO NOT HAVE TO!! - Anonymous employee Fastenal Employee Review

1.0
Oct 9, 2009
Anonymous employee
Recommend
CEO approval
Business Outlook

Pros

Benefits and the fact that you only have to deal with middle management maybe once a month. Everything else about this company is a joke!

Cons

Firstly, expect zero respect about your work ethic or intelligence from middle management. Trust me when I say there is no good enough. The pay structure is designed for you to never increase income. If you are on of the few lucky ones who begins getting high commissions, they milk you dry, fire you, then find someone to do your job for half the pay. The continually promise you things then renig on the offer and deny every proposing it in the first place. You will be expected to drive to other stores further way if they decide that's where they want you. Of course they will tell you that you will receive gas reimbursment, but you will not. As for the job itself, upper management expects unrealistic results, and does not help at all. In fact im not sure what the majority of management even does. The warehouse support is completely unreliable, which makes branch employees time and time again look like idiots. Still, in all those instances we are blamed. They even have an anual super sale where we have a goal to hit, and half the products on there we cannot stock at the store! And a quarter of those aren't stocked at our distribution centers, and they are made over seas so we have no option to bring them in. Honestly, what kind of legitiment business puts out a super sales promotion and come of the items aren't even obtainable!? I really do not understand how in the world this company became as big as they did. Either things were different years ago, or the excessive penny pinching pays off!

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5.0
Jun 9, 2026
Recommend
CEO approval
Business Outlook

Pros

Management is good Hours are negotiable Time off is available Opportunities to move up always available

Cons

No commissions for part time

4.0
Jul 9, 2026
Anonymous employee
Recommend
CEO approval
Business Outlook

Pros

Great company culture, love the investment they put in for career advancement. Great people to work with, CEO is amazing but he's stepping down this month. Benefits are good. Decentralized organization so your ideas and solutions actually get listened to and implemented. Feel like I'm actually making a difference in the company.

Cons

Pay is lower than the industry average for most departments and they don't keep up with the cost of living, don't do bonuses (unless you're in sales) or pay raises. You have to ask to get one and most times they say no. Very male dominant at the branches and in sales, but many women in corporate leadership. Don't have any DEI initiatives. Not flexible on relocation for internal management roles, have to be at corporate HQ in Winona, MN.

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