Company is headed down the drain - HR Specialist Brenntag Employee Review

1.0
Feb 18, 2026
Recommend
CEO approval
Business Outlook

Pros

Flexibility with the hybrid schedule

Cons

A major challenge within the organization is the effectiveness and credibility of senior leadership, particularly within HR and at the executive level. There is a clear and ongoing disconnect between senior HR leadership and how the business actually operates. Even after multiple years in the role, there appears to be a limited understanding of the company’s core segments and how they function. This significantly undermines HR’s ability to act as a strategic partner and creates frustration across teams. Communication from the highest level of HR leadership is limited, inconsistent, and often lacks empathy. Many employees feel that decisions are made from a purely cost-driven perspective rather than with a balanced view that considers the people behind the work. The approach feels transactional instead of people-focused, which has negatively impacted morale and trust. There are also growing concerns about overall executive leadership. Feedback and reviews from the CEO’s previous organization have raised questions internally about leadership style and culture. This has made transparency, communication, and trust-building even more important, yet employees continue to feel a lack of visibility and engagement from the top.

Explore other reviews about Brenntag

5.0
Apr 15, 2026
Recommend
CEO approval
Business Outlook

Pros

Remote work, decent pay, great team

Cons

Not always the best communication among different teams

2.0
Apr 22, 2026
Recommend
CEO approval
Business Outlook

Pros

Flexible/hybrid work options depending on the team. Some strong colleagues and supportive direct managers.

Cons

-Leadership decisions lack clear rationale: Many strategic and operational decisions feel disconnected from on-the-ground realities. Initiatives are frequently rolled out without proper planning or follow-through, creating confusion and rework. -Top-down culture with limited transparency: Communication around major decisions is often vague or inconsistent, leaving employees unclear on priorities and direction. -Internal politics over performance: Advancement and influence can depend more on alignment with leadership than on results or impact. This slows execution and discourages initiative. -Inconsistent recognition and growth opportunities: Performance management can feel constrained, with limited differentiation for top performers. Career progression is unclear and often slow. -Cost-driven decisions at the expense of people: Many choices appear focused on short-term financial outcomes rather than long-term employee development or operational effectiveness. Lack of cohesive strategy: Teams operate in silos with shifting priorities, making it difficult to execute effectively or build momentum.

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