Not the worst place I've worked at as a Tech Designer - Associate Technical Designer Ralph Lauren Employee Review

3.0
Jul 3, 2013
Recommend
CEO approval
Business Outlook

Pros

PRL is a large and very stable international company. The Golden Goose, everything they make sells great and of good quality, the product is beautiful. Good benefits, environment is PC, great discounts, if you're lucky you can learn a lot, I did. I was fortunate to be with a great manager and close team. I learned a lot, yet not everyone has same experience. People think I'm awesome because I work there, it's a great name. Dept is fairly organized. Name looks great on resume. 2 weeks vac plus 4 free summer Fridays. If you are willing to play the game, you might get promoted in a few year's time. Otherwise, prepare to be miserable fast. If you get to meet Mr Lauren, you'll feel better about the Co, he is lovely yet his $6 billion worth is not going to be shared with you or me (sad). Pink Pony and all these fun events help morale a bit, (volunteering, etc.)

Cons

Since it is a very large company, you can get lost in the shuffle if your manager isn't good. Many teams are short staffed, it takes a long time to hire new staff. High rates of quitting, existing staff is obliged to work extra to make crazy deadlines with huge workloads. Colleagues have begged for help and are simply given a shrug and told to try harder (sad). Managers are out on time to catch their trains to their McMansion homes in LI or CT or NJ, meanwhile all the minions work late and from home (another sad reality). Meetings are long and require multiple changes to styles. Cliquish, everyone dresses the same. You need to become the pet of a higher up to move up in the company.Merit alone is not sufficient. Pay isn't great, titles are arbitrary, much focus given to Associate, Tech, Manager, etc. Reviews are ridiculous. No overtime paid for salaried workers. Many staff members complain about working late hours yet they mismanage their time, it gets annoying for efficient workers, almost looked down upon for leaving on time 9-6 and getting work done well. I work late hours when necessary but not a habit, I have a life. No bonus except for higher ups, these higher ups already make good money plus they have stocks and receive bonus if staff is kept to a minimum, and they work short hours (lucky them I'm not hating). Many complainers, if they worked there for a while, meanwhile I think it's not the worst place ever. Vacations are granted to favorites when they want it, others are denied their requests. No Holiday party at all except a luncheon where gag gifts are raffled (yawn...).though it varies by division.

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Apr 27, 2026
Recommend
CEO approval
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Pros

Amazing company to work at! Lovely early career team.

Cons

There are a lot of things to do! (A pro in my opinion)

1.0
Jul 13, 2026
Recommend
CEO approval
Business Outlook

Pros

Discounted coffee, insurance, some hardworking co workers.

Cons

The first West Coast location of Ralph’s Coffee Newport Beach is the worst place I've ever worked. Under the management of David Peterson, people work short-staffed very often, and his working style is very passive, and his timing is terrible. I don't know why they made him manager without proven experience and a lack of leadership. Chronic understaffing paired with a manager who avoids weekends, holidays, and difficult conversations creates a compounding problem staff burnout rises, morale drops, and unaddressed poor performers make things worse for everyone else. The irony is that understaffing often ends up costing the business more through overtime, turnover, and lost productivity than fixing it would but he they never try to fix it.

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