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American Red Cross

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Amazing job but poor quality of life - Disaster Program Manager American Red Cross Employee Review

3.0
Aug 31, 2023
Recommend
CEO approval
Business Outlook

Pros

Organization is truly devoted to helping people affected by disasters. You live the mission and the values daily.

Cons

Salaries are below national average. To maintain a low overhead, they have very few employees, leaving the weight of the programs to few staff members. staff performs the tasks that would normally be performed by 4 employees.

Explore other reviews about American Red Cross

5.0
Jun 30, 2026
Anonymous employee
Recommend
CEO approval
Business Outlook

Pros

Great humanitarian mission, non profit

Cons

None, great place to work

1
2.0
Mar 15, 2026
Recommend
CEO approval
Business Outlook

Pros

You feel connected to a larger mission, and go to bed knowing you did good work. Most of the volunteers are amazing people. The job is a good stepping stone to other disaster management jobs elsewhere. PTO policy is generous and Healthcare is decent.

Cons

You are INCREDIBLY overworked and GROSSLY underpaid. You get zero work-life balance. Even when you're not on call, you'll still get tons of calls from volunteers with questions and concerns. If a volunteer is unavailable to respond to a fire call or tend to any other responsibility day or night, you're on deck. You're salaried, so there's no overtime pay. Your pay barely covers the basic cost of living in today's economy ($40k-$50k). Diversity is bottom heavy, meaning there are lots of employees of color in entry level or lower management roles, but beyond that there's a steep drop off. Most of the volunteers are great, but the Red Cross is so desperate to keep them, that poor behavior and language (racist/sexist/phobic) is not properly disciplined or responded to, if at all. Employee retention is poor, especially in the Disaster Specialist role, because they burn you out so quickly without decent pay.

2
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