Was great, until it wasn't - Senior Account Manager Rust-Oleum Employee Review

3.0
Jun 30, 2021
Recommend
CEO approval
Business Outlook

Pros

Good work life balance. RO is a sales driven organization, so if you are on the sales team you are treated well. Lots of new products introduced every year. Pension & 401k matching offered. Company car for field sales.

Cons

Around 2017, a lot of senior sales management started retiring. Their replacements, while qualified, changed the culture for the worse and played favorites. Relocation to the HQ in Vernon Hills, IL is required to get into sales management. Unfortunately the increased salary offered for those positions does not cover the cost of living increase for relocating to an expensive Chicago suburb. Lots of new products are introduced every year but many are rushed to market and have formulation or performance issues. This led to messy recalls, upset customers, and lawsuits. Sales was regularly given "cover" stories to feed to customers to minimize liability. These stories often involved blaming product failure on the end user applying the product incorrectly even though RO knew it was a formula issue. Pay is below industry standard and bonus program is really flawed. Many in sales felt that achieving one's bonus was out of his control. One could max out many of the bonus categories but if the sales quota was missed then you received no bonus. There were several people I know of that missed out on their bonus because RO ran out of product to ship.

Explore other reviews about Rust-Oleum

5.0
Jan 7, 2026
Recommend
CEO approval
Business Outlook

Pros

Co-Workers Benefits Culture Learning Opportunities

Cons

There has not been many con's for me at this point.

4.0
Jun 19, 2026
Recommend
CEO approval
Business Outlook

Pros

Great brands & quality products, wonderful coworkers and community, pension plan, leadership development focus, learning investment.

Cons

Below industry base pay, recent uncertainty of bonus achievement, flat growth, influx of oversight by parent company (less entrepreneurial spirit), recent reductions in force.

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