Supportive culture with strong growth opportunities, with some slow processes
Pros
I joined Henkel at the beginning of this year and can honestly say I've been really impressed so far. From my first day, everyone made me feel welcome and supported, which made settling into a new role much easier. One thing I've noticed is that Henkel genuinely cares about its people. Throughout the year there have been lots of initiatives focused on wellbeing, inclusivity and personal development. We've had speakers come in to talk about topics like nutrition, hormonal health, managing stress and reducing burnout, as well as sessions raising awareness around sustainability and water usage. It feels like the company looks at employee wellbeing in a holistic way rather than just talking about it. The office is also a great place to work. There are plenty of spaces for focused work when you need to concentrate, but also areas designed for collaboration or simply catching up with colleagues over a coffee. It creates a really positive atmosphere. What excites me most is the number of opportunities available. There seems to be endless scope to grow, whether that's moving into a different role, exploring another division, or even working in a different country. It's clear that internal mobility is encouraged. Although I've only been here a short time, I already feel like I've found a company where I could build a long-term career. It's rare to find an organisation that combines great people, a supportive culture and genuine opportunities for growth, but Henkel seems to do exactly that.
Cons
One thing to be aware of is that, as with many large organisations, processes can sometimes feel a bit slow. Approvals in particular can take longer than expected, which can occasionally delay progress. It's not something necessarily surprising given the size of the company, but its something to get used to if you are coming from a smaller, faster moving environment.
