employer cover photo
employer logo
employer logo

Gates Foundation

Is this your company?

Great mission, rewarding work but unhealthy culture of backstabbing, disrespect and lack of leadership. - Anonymous employee Gates Foundation Employee Review

3.0
Aug 7, 2012
Anonymous employee
Recommend
CEO approval
Business Outlook

Pros

If you want to work with some of the brightest people, use the latest technology and feel like you're making a difference then this is an amazing place to work. The campus is beautiful and the benefits are exceptional. Great place for people who are self starters, who know what to do and just do it. The operations areas are among the more people-friendly areas in which to work. There is a great deal of opportunity here.

Cons

Unfortunately this is a very challenging environment. The executive management team doesn't seem to have a clue as to what the "worker bees" need to get their jobs done. Their answer is process and more process. Just when you think there can't possibly be another set of templates, another committee, another whole department with some long acronym designed to help you get stuff done... And, at the end of the day, you are just a cog in the machine. They know the work will chew you up in 2 or 3 years tops. And they don't care because there is an endless parade of wide eyed people eager to have a chance to work there. Many managers have no idea how to manage people. Don't bother complaining to HR though. HR is the department of platitudes.

Explore other reviews about Gates Foundation

5.0
Apr 24, 2026
Recommend
CEO approval
Business Outlook

Pros

Everyone is aligned to the mission. Fantastic benefits.

Cons

These could be pros for some but travel and ambiguity are things to deal with

3.0
Jun 8, 2026
Recommend
CEO approval
Business Outlook

Pros

Mission-based work Diverse, passionate employee base Healthcare benefit Parental leave and support Unlimited PTO

Cons

Poor work-life balance Perfectionist culture Unreasonable expectations with working hours High levels of burnout Retaliation for setting boundaries with working hours Culture resistant to prioritization of work

See reviews by: Helpful|Rating|Date|All