Poor leadership - Analyst Sherwin-Williams Employee Review

1.0
Feb 24, 2026
Recommend
CEO approval
Business Outlook

Pros

Honestly, I think this really depends on where you work, what department, and who your leader is. Some employees may have great leadership, and others not so much. Because this company has so many divisions and departments, it's hard to answer this without others really understanding why my department has ZERO Pros

Cons

Headquarters has around 3,000 employees. If you happen to be in this building in a department with a lovely Director that values you and your ideas then you are winning. If you are in this building under a Director who rules with an Ironfist then you must be in my department, and I feel for you. I am not sure why people like this are allowed to lead a team, but this is the reason why I will give SW a low rating. This comes from the top. The top allows people like this to manage and ruin employees who have ideas, gifts, and experiences to share to make the department better. I think this small department has lost about 5 people so far. Some left for early retirement, and some have run for the exit to greener pastures. Also, HR does not care what you think; they are only there to protect the company!

Explore other reviews about Sherwin-Williams

5.0
Feb 10, 2026
Recommend
CEO approval
Business Outlook

Pros

They have a competitive benefits package

Cons

Sometimes the hours can get long

2.0
Mar 29, 2026
Recommend
CEO approval
Business Outlook

Pros

Great work life balance, people Director level and below were good to work with.

Cons

Upper management has made truly questionable decisions the last few years that hit morale hard and will leave lasting impacts: voluntary separations, removing 401k match, RTO 5 days a week. Anyone with two brain cells could tell you that long term you are going to lose your best people for a short term benefit to expenses. Systems and data are embarrassing and the company fix is to go with an ERP system that hasn’t even been fully built (but they got a good deal). Rollout has been delayed and full of issues. Heck, SHW didn’t even use Microsoft for email until like 2019 because they didn’t want to pay the license fee. Again, letting costs impact long term success and ability to operate. Average midwestern white men fail upwards all the time, especially if they started their career at SHW. Finance VPs are comically disproportionate to being white males, and there is a heavy gender/racial bias within the company (I guess move this to a pro if you are a white male?). Overall, it feels like there is no vision for the company the last 5 years and decisions are made solely to maintain the short term stock price and keep investors happy.

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