I've been waiting to write this review to make sure that my "feelings" stay true months after leaving. Trek is a tricky place because the exterior looks amazing- from the outside it appears to be a company that cares about its employees and wants to create a great culture of innovation and "family". In reality the culture is extremely toxic starting at the top.
John Burke has slightly below average intelligence (an opinion shared by many) and is known as an egomaniac. I worked at Trek for 10 years before I finally had enough. I saw things happen during Trek's 23-24 layoffs that truly shocked me and showed Trek for what it truly is...a soulless and badly managed organization. There was zero accountability at the VP and director levels for the mistakes that led to Trek being in a terrible financial situation. All the VPs are people who came up in the business with John, and it truly is an "old boys" club. Most have been in their seat for 15-20 years. Because of this, Trek is a stagnant place for career growth outside of minimal movement to about middle management level. Once you hit that you better be ok with sitting for years doing the same job...which can be dangerous as others are also trying to climb the ladder so you'll have a target on your back the entire time.
As I got closer to working with John Burke it quickly became apparent that those mid-level to director level were biting their tongues and holding back from speaking facts in order to allow John Burke to feel competent. The goal seemed to be to massage his ego and ignore his failings. The closest thing I can relate it to is, working/living under a king from the middle ages- anything he says goes and he is accountable to no one.
When you understand this you understand Trek at the core. You can be "quietly terminated" for a multitude of things like riding the wrong brand of bike, listening to rap music in your car, or appearing intoxicated at one of the many company gatherings at which alcohol is freely available and consumed with enthusiasm. My entire time at Trek I felt like I was walking a tight rope and those examples are all reasons I saw people "not fit in" and be quietly removed or forced out.
The other area which really gets to me, and others, is Trek's culture of nepotism. Family members and friends are given opportunities in the business that they have not earned. For example, I have a close friend still in the business who has zero experience in the job they currently occupy. They were offered the job without having to interview because they were friends with the right people. Literally learning on the job with no college education and this is high level job for a global product line. They confided in my that it felt "dirty" but who turns down an opportunity for a promotion?
Last thing to note is the pay. The pay is absolutely horrible. Trek is a 2Billion+USD global company, but the pay is shockingly low. I doubled my income by leaving the company and the job I have now is less stressful and less busy then what I was doing at Trek. Trek knows that there is a pipeline of cycling enthusiasts who want to "live the industry life" and so there is no negotiation power from the standpoint of a current employee. Truly the mentality is "if you don't like it, leave". I get it, I was one of those people when I came on board and it took me years to finally admit to myself that the company I joined was actually a really crappy place to work. The nice facilities and employee purchases really made it hard to come to grips with.
Right now the company is going through extremely hard times financially and John Burke keeps trying to make a bid to run for President...I'm not kidding about that. He seriously thinks he could run the country...as his company falls into financial ruin. When you add all this together you have a company that looks great on the outside, but is run by a less then owner/president and a group of executives who have learned to pad that ego in order to retain their positions. Trek's only lifeline is its loyal dealer network that was built in the 90s- without that the company wouldn't exist. I would not be surprised if the Burkes take a payday and sell to a larger conglomerate in the next 5-7 years.
Like I said- I waited awhile to make sure I still felt how I feel months out and yeah...my new home is much friendly, much more fair, and much more generous than Trek ever was. Be a cycling lover, but don't work for Trek.
