Does Human Rights Watch pay their employees well?

According to anonymously submitted Glassdoor reviews, Human Rights Watch employees rate their compensation and benefits as 3.5 out of 5. Find out more about salaries and benefits at Human Rights Watch. This rating has decreased by 5% over the last 12 months.

How satisfied are employees working at Human Rights Watch?

62% of Human Rights Watch employees would recommend working there to a friend based on Glassdoor reviews . Employees also rated Human Rights Watch 3.1 out of 5 for work life balance, 3.3 for culture and values and 2.7 for career opportunities.

What are the top reviewed jobs at Human Rights Watch?

Intern (38) , Associate (23) , Researcher (15) , Coordinator (12) , Internship (7) , Senior Researcher (7) , Manager (5) , Associate Director (4) , Development and Outreach (4) , Managing Director (4) , Research Assistant (4) , Summer Intern (4) , Deputy Director (3) , Development Intern (3) , Director (3)

What are the pros of working at Human Rights Watch according to real employee reviews?

"Great colleagues" ((in 21 reviews)); "Great people to work with!" ((in 18 reviews)); "The benefits are good" ((in 18 reviews)); "Gives opportunity to make a difference in peoples lives." ((in 7 reviews)); "Work environment is positive and supportive." ((in 7 reviews))

What are the cons of working at Human Rights Watch according to real employee reviews?

"It is an unpaid internship and living in New York City is very expensive so you have to find means to support yourself" ((in 16 reviews)); "bad management" ((in 7 reviews)); "There is little substantive work and support staff are made to feel guilty if they need to take overtime." ((in 6 reviews)); "The pay is low." ((in 5 reviews)); "Excessive workloads, poor managers and chaotic culture" ((in 5 reviews))

What are employees saying about Human Rights Watch layoffs in 2026?

Explore Glassdoor’s employee reviews to understand what current and former employees are saying about Human Rights Watch layoffs and their outlook for job security at Human Rights Watch in 2026.

Human Rights Watch reviews

3.2

62% would recommend to a friend

(180 total reviews)

Kenneth Roth

57% approve of CEO

33% positive business outlook

Ratings by demographic groups

Race / Ethnicity

Gender

Sexual orientation

Disability

Parent or family caregiver

Veteran status

Human Rights Watch has an employee rating of 3.2 out of 5 stars, based on 180 company reviews on Glassdoor which indicates that most employees have a good working experience there. The Human Rights Watch employee rating is in line with the average (within 1 standard deviation) for employers within the ONG y Organizaciones sin fines de lucro industry (3.7 stars).

Reviews by job title

180 reviews

4.0

Jun 11, 2016

On the cutting edge, paying for it with your persona life

Researcher

Recommend

CEO approval

Business Outlook

Pros

Best investigative research in the industry. Lots of autonomy. Lots of support if you get the right supervisor, can be a disaster if you don't.

Cons

Work/life balance is a myth and a dream. Extremely intense expectations. It's worth it because the outcomes are top-notch, but it's a lot of inputs.

4.0

Apr 6, 2016

Quality human rights organization

Anonymous employee

Recommend

CEO approval

Business Outlook

Pros

High quality human rights organization. The programmatic work is top notch and often has significant impact.

Cons

Management is under-qualified, and often promoted based on accomplishments and not managerial skills. There needs to be a greater internal focus on diversity, equality, and staff morale.

3.0

Feb 12, 2015

Summer Intern

Intern

Recommend

CEO approval

Business Outlook

Pros

Collegial and friendly office and colleagues Numerous interns from varying backgrounds (during the summer) Networking opportunities

Cons

Much smaller than NY office (less opportunities) No pay or subsidies, and living in DC is expensive Supervisors can be hands-off

Viewing 31 - 33 of 180 Reviews

Jobs at Human Rights Watch

Administrative Assistant - Human Resources Department

Senior Researcher, Criminal Justice