A sad, rapid decline of a company that used to be great. - Anonymous employee Univar Solutions Employee Review

1.0
Apr 15, 2014
Anonymous employee
Recommend
CEO approval
Business Outlook

Pros

Somehow, Univar managed to hire and retain some really amazing people. I maintain friendships with a lot of the folks I met during my time there.

Cons

Where to start? I enjoyed Univar for many years, and then things started to change. New management came in and brought all of their "friends", which started the decline. Then more new management came in and brought their "friends" and the decline continued. A lot of clearly selfish decisions were made for good of upper management at the expense of everyone else. Long-term employees could see the problems, but they were ignored. We were told we wouldn't get bonuses or increases due to "budget cuts" while we were purchasing a private jet for the Pres/CEO. We were blatantly lied to in company meetings, made promises that weren't followed through, placated when there was nothing but more disappointment coming down the pike. I distinctly remember the new CEO telling us "only a few departments will be moved to Chicago for strategic reasons. The rest will remain in Redmond." Now, many departments have been moved (and I imagine it's only a matter of time for the rest), and many good, long-term employees have been laid off in order to rehire in Chicago. I chose to leave on my own because the environment had become so uncertain and frankly, depressing. No one enjoyed coming to work anymore and there was no employee recognition whatsoever. The whole situation is pretty sad, because this is a company that used to be great. A lot of selfish decisions have brought the company to where it is today. I truly hope things can turn around and bring the company back to what it once was, but until some change happens, I can't recommend this environment to anyone.

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5.0
Feb 3, 2026
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Pros

I enjoyed the job very stable and friendly people

Cons

A little outdated tech systems but doable

2.0
Mar 26, 2026
Anonymous employee
Recommend
CEO approval
Business Outlook

Pros

Exposure to large, high-value accounts and complex operational challenges. The role builds resilience quickly and provides strong experience in account management, problem-solving, and cross-functional collaboration. There is a high level of ownership in day-to-day responsibilities, which can accelerate skill development for those who are self-driven.

Cons

Since the acquisition by Apollo, the work environment has noticeably declined. While new processes were introduced, leadership often did not take the time to fully understand or follow them, creating confusion and inconsistency across teams. Employees who raised questions or tried to improve processes were not always received positively, which discouraged feedback and innovation. There is also a lack of alignment between departments, leading to inefficiencies, miscommunication, and added pressure on employees managing critical accounts. Workloads are frequently excessive without adequate support, contributing to burnout and turnover. Compensation does not consistently reflect the level of responsibility and workload expected, which further impacts morale and retention. Overall, the organization feels reactive rather than structured, and direction has become increasingly unclear.

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