What's the company culture at GEICO?

To anyone thinking of working at GEICO – DON’T! The benefits are good but that is the only tolerable aspect. Most of the jobs revolve around the call center and more positions are being pulled to be part of that madness. They track absolutely everything you do in every category you can possibly imagine and even if you manage to have a good call or good stats, they will find something wrong! The goal of management is to keep raises down.

They also penalize you if you call in sick, they give you sick days but they count it against you (your dependability). Unless you have FMLA protection, anytime you call in for anything if affects your dependability score which of course can affect a possible promotion or raise. If you are having a tough day, don’t feel good and want to go home you risk your dependability percentage going down or you risk making mistakes and screwing up your error ratio. One is just as bad as the other.

As noted, they do promote morons, if you have a degree in ceramics, they will promote you if you say the right things. They could care less about the person who actually may have some people or knowledge skills.

They spend untold dollars monitoring you (all kinds of stats, error ratios) instead of making a decent work environment. They love to issue errors (often they only way you know something was not supposed to be done), and if you don’t get the error, your supervisor may absorb it, so there is little incentive for the supervisor to stand up for you.

If you like being treated like furniture, like being stressed year round, like having the rug pulled out from underneath you every time you make a gain, then by all means, apply. But they will make it all feel better by ordering in Costco pizza to contribute to the obesity problem there. And don’t forget the impossibly silly simulated tests you have to take to even get in the door. Gives HR something to feel important about.

Angela in Macon, Georgia said: I have been at Geico 2 years now and I am not gonna lie the hiring process was a bit tedious but I made it an dtook the test and I love it . Geico wants you to be on time and be the constant proffesional with great customer service and interaction but in exchange you get great benefits great money parties all the time and always an incentive to selll sell Geico is even paying for me to go and get my masters. The profit sharing checks are nice and you determine your success at Geico not by who you know or who you do but what you do its a great company apply on line and give it a shot iT'S NOT PERFECT BUT ITS A GREAT PLACE TO WORK.

What if I applied for and am interviewing for a sales position, but meant to apply for a service rep position, will they still consider that for me (I'm not a licensed agent at all). Plus you have to wait 5 mos to reapply.

I worked at the GEICO in Fredericksburg, VA area....I will say that if you are even contemplating working there...DON'T!

Impossible goals, treat you like robots, ridiculous with their definition of "dependability". You will be micro-managed to death. One day, I had to use the restroom at it wasn't during my assigned 15 minute break. I had to go though or otherwise I would have peed in my seat. I RAN to the bathroom, scared to death and quickly did my business. I was gone for maybe 3 minutes. When I started back to my desk...a "suit" was there with a walkie-talkie demanding to know where I was! I was told to hold my urine until my assigned 15 minute break or lunch.

Another time, I called about an hour before my shift started. I had been in the ER with my sick 5 month old child and we hadn't even left yet. It was literally my very first time calling out. While I was away from my daughter (to make the phone call) she began to berate me about my dependability levels going down and asked, "If your daughter wasn't conceived through immaculate conception, why can't the father stay with her in the ER and you come to work?"

One last incident set me off. I was already driving up to the building everyday on the verge of panic attacks. I get to my desk at in the cubicle beside me, my co-worker (about 60 years old) appeared pale, sweating, rubbing her arm and chest. Before GEICO I was a supervisor for an emergency 911 system and recognized the signs of a heart attack. I pleaded with my co-worker to call 911, she refused saying "I am up for a promotion and can't have my dependability go down!" I told her that that was ridiculous and finally convinced her to call 911. As she was taken away via ambulance (it was in fact a heart attack)..my supervisor says to me, "Good job, Jams! I can't believe "A" wouldn't go to the hospital if she were having a heart attack!" I agreed and told her she was concerned about her dependability. She said "A's" dependability would go down!!

Been awhile since this thread posted - 40+ months ago so I'm reflecting a bit -

I would say in hindsight GEICO was good for getting my license and learning the terms and product knowledge but other than that, it is hell on Earth. Think factory work minus the physical labor. Everyone I know who either was fired or otherwise quit has never regretted it. Money is nice - but so is sanity. I do not miss being recorded on every call and having it nitpicked and being monitored for every little statistic.. no thanks.

I am still working in my own office for the same company - going on 6 years and love it. I work in an agency selling P&C and L&H for multiple companies but work under a corporate umbrella so I still get great benefits. I usually make about 40K a year which in Southeastern VA is not bad. I don't have the notion to own my own agency anymore - mainly because people lie too much - 'Oh I told you I wanted full coverage on my 1989 Buick" after it's been totaled. You have to take really good notes and it can be tedious so for now I am happy working for someone else.

But anyway - I lasted so long at GEICO because I was a single Mom and had to pay the bills. But, honestly, I would rather sell myself on the street than ever put on a headset. To this day I don't use one. An adult leash. Being told when you could/couldn't go to the bathroom, or make a phone call. No thanks :)

Good luck to all!

I worked for Geico for 7 months...I was tricked into working overtime on profit sharing day..at one point I stood up and looked around..EVERYBODY was gone, and many never returned...That bit about integrity is BS...The top sales people have a Quality of 20% or lower...meaning..they CHEAT to sell policies...fact!! they sell so many policies that the company looks away. They crunch numbers in several differnt ways to suit their needs, i.e...if they like you, your numbers look good, if they dont like you, the same numbers are crunched differently, and guess what...chopping block..basically Geico is not a job, it's a hustle..you have to be a fake liar to work there..they will tell you that in so many words during your orientation..I worked my butt off doing overtime because everyone either quit or was fired for no real reason, the building is filthy..its like a building full of Steford Wives..they walk around smiling, because if you dont smile and tow the company line, guess what.,,chopping block..so now I have a new job, when I told them I had been fired from there, with no real reason, they completely understood...call the VA Unemployment commission, and they will officially tell you that Geico is one of the worst employers in the state, with one of the highest turnovers...sorry i ever walked through those doors..anyone who says they are happy there is lying to protect that paycheck...DONT DO IT!!

DONT DO IT!!

Not everyone is a liar, sweetheart. I put in 5 years and I sold for all 5 years was ranked 25 nationally and I did not lie or cheat to do it. GEICO is a good insurance product, however they put it out like a sausage factory. I have big issues with GEICO but thankfully I won my case with the Labor of Dept and got money they tried to tell me I couldn't get. But, don't classify everyone in sales as a liar or cheat just because you got fired. A lot of people were fired the same time as me - the same day in fact and it was a blessing from above. And my quality was ALWAYS over 95% and if I can find my sheets I will post them to refute what you're saying. Not everyone is dishonest, you have a lot of nerve!

ladylvn in Chesapeake, Virginia said: I worked for Geico for 7 months...I was tricked into working overtime on profit sharing day..at one point I stood up and looked around..EVERYBODY was gone, and many never returned...That bit about integrity is BS...The top sales people have a Quality of 20% or lower...meaning..they CHEAT to sell policies...fact!! they sell so many policies that the company looks away. They crunch numbers in several differnt ways to suit their needs, i.e...if they like you, your numbers look good, if they dont like you, the same numbers are crunched differently, and guess what...chopping block..basically Geico is not a job, it's a hustle..you have to be a fake liar to work there..they will tell you that in so many words during your orientation..I worked my butt off doing overtime because everyone either quit or was fired for no real reason, the building is filthy..its like a building full of Steford Wives..they walk around smiling, because if you dont smile and tow the company line, guess what.,,chopping block..so now I have a new job, when I told them I had been fired from there, with no real reason, they completely understood...call the VA Unemployment commission, and they will officially tell you that Geico is one of the worst employers in the state, with one of the highest turnovers...sorry i ever walked through those doors..anyone who says they are happy there is lying to protect that paycheck...DONT DO IT!!

Hello, I am a member of GEICO's HR team and have read your posting. Thank you for taking the time to provide this feedback; I plan to share this information with our management team.

I have worked for GEICO for 2.5 years now. I began in a call center and after my orientation period, I posted into an outside auto damage adjuster position.
I read of these comments and i am extremely surprised. My experience with GEICO has been 99% positive. However, there are a few things i will agree with.
GEICO is a strict company. They do hold their employees to a very high standard. I do not believe this is a bad thing. If people can achieve them by working hard then its not "impossible" standards. I believe we should work every day as hard as we can and do the best we can to learn and improve ourselves in our careers.
That being said, the call center is a difficult setting. It does get tedious at times. But so do most jobs. I believe the people who really have an issue with GEICO are the ones who want to come in to work, half ass it, and just collect a paycheck.
Work is stressful at times guys..NEWS FLASH!!!
I have doubled my starting salary with GEICO in just over 2 years. I dont know what other company i can do that with. They are strict but fair. They expect you to come to work. The dependability rating they are talking about states that an employee needs to be at work 97% of the time...basically, you can call out sick, just about one day a month, or 12 days a year. We are given 5 floating holidays, several weeks vacation, and a 8 other holidays off. This is not a low amount guys.
I understand the frustrations here. Still, if you work hard, learn and improve every day, GEICO will reward you.

Hope this helps from the other side of things.

What the poster doesn't mention about dependability is that if you did not plan and get approved time off, and it's not accepted under FMLA then it is held against you. I used to constantly get bronchitis while working there. I haven't had it since I left. I have no idea what caused it because when I was there, we did not sit THAT close to each other or deal with the public. Maybe it was talking so much on the phone (10/11/12 hour shifts depending on my day). At any rate, My request for FMLA was denied. So anytime I was out it was held against me. I wouldn't have a voice to speak with when it got bad and your job is to talk. If I can't talk, I can't work. My supervisor felt bad for me but if it's not scheduled time off, then it comes off your %. It's not a fair system - it's run like a factory. And yes, I haven't made that kind of money in my life since - I was over $60K a year but I can tell you being able to call out, or have a school emergency with my child, and having peace of mind says it all. I felt like a caged rat in that place. No windows nearby, if they are nearby, they don't open. You're in hell. A rat race to sell the most, have the best times, etc. If you can work while being micromanaged and you have no obligations outside of work that would keep you from being there, then do it. They told me to file FMLA I had to be out of work at least 5 days. Well, I worked a 4 day work week. It was impossible. I felt like they made it really hard to call it a career and then one day it was cut short. But anyway, there's always two sides and the truth to any story. But if you have kids, babysitter issues, any problem that may come up spur of the moment, it will be held against your % and when you're below 97, you do not make bonus or get raises or any other extra perks. Do yourself a favor and work somewhere you have a voice, where you have choices, and you're not treated like a factory rat

Anwkb in Houston, Texas said: I have worked for GEICO for 2.5 years now. I began in a call center and after my orientation period, I posted into an outside auto damage adjuster position.
I read of these comments and i am extremely surprised. My experience with GEICO has been 99% positive. However, there are a few things i will agree with.
GEICO is a strict company. They do hold their employees to a very high standard. I do not believe this is a bad thing. If people can achieve them by working hard then its not "impossible" standards. I believe we should work every day as hard as we can and do the best we can to learn and improve ourselves in our careers.
That being said, the call center is a difficult setting. It does get tedious at times. But so do most jobs. I believe the people who really have an issue with GEICO are the ones who want to come in to work, half ass it, and just collect a paycheck.
Work is stressful at times guys..NEWS FLASH!!!
I have doubled my starting salary with GEICO in just over 2 years. I dont know what other company i can do that with. They are strict but fair. They expect you to come to work. The dependability rating they are talking about states that an employee needs to be at work 97% of the time...basically, you can call out sick, just about one day a month, or 12 days a year. We are given 5 floating holidays, several weeks vacation, and a 8 other holidays off. This is not a low amount guys.
I understand the frustrations here. Still, if you work hard, learn and improve every day, GEICO will reward you.

Hope this helps from the other side of things.

Question - off the record of course since your name isn't posted -but if you are working "outside" and you had a school emergency, no one would know. You just don't schedule appointments, go do your thing and go back to work. When you're a rat in the call center, any single time you call out without prior notice is held against you. It's awful.

Shann346 in Maryland said: Hello, I am a member of GEICO's HR team and have read your posting. Thank you for taking the time to provide this feedback; I plan to share this information with our management team.

Yep, then after 5 years, 1 week before profit sharing, they find reasons to fire you - along with your friends and off you go - I won my Dept of Labor case against GEICO and got all unpaid bonuses with interest plus the money I had towards retirement account (pension, when they still had it). They got rid of me then tried to steal what I was owed. And HR is posting here like they do anything? HA! You guys are the ones who execute it all! So ironic!

actually I am an AD adjuster, but i am in a RX shop. meaning i have a set schedule everyday like everyone in the office. I run one of the busiest shops in region 5. I have my set 8 to 430 schedule every day. So the time slots and opportunities to miss are the same for me as everyone else.

I have been at Geico in the claims dept over 4 yrs. Take it from someone who is still employed there-AVOID THE PRISON AT ALL COSTS! I have only stayed so long since the city in which I live has a terrible job market (there we are sucked in at Geico and taken advantage of by management since they know this). I believe there is at least one ongoing lawsuit against our office right now for being over worked with absolutely no compensation (literally no pay at all for overtime that is required in order to maintain the company standard for performance/goals) I myself feel like I could at any moment have a nervous breakdown and have literally gone to a therapist to discuss my stress from work (everything else in my life is fine I swear!). Not only do they place you in this high stress position and treat you like a drone but there are instances when they choose the most unqualified supervisor to make your job even more unbearable. I started to see the therapist during the time I was under a supervisor who said she 'was on my side' and 'saw what an assett i was to the company' and had to leave work early several times after breaking down in the bathroom from the stress this supervisor added to my already hectic job. Despite trying to make me beleive she was 'on my side' she literally had this sick sadistic side to her in which she would purposely try to push me over the edge so she could see me break apart and then report it to her manager as me being 'insubordinate'. There was one instance where she listened to a phone call I was on with a verbally abusive customer in order to measure if I responded 'correctly'. Well while she listened in and gave no advice at all (great supervising huh?) and just sat there I apparently did not respond exactly how she would have since after the call I was called into her supervisors office to 'discuss it'. The moment I told her supervisor what this customer was saying to me he asked...to be cont.

"why didnt you just tell the customer you were going to disconnect if they continued to talk to you this way?! You don't get paid to take verbal abuse like that!" My response "Well I didnt know I was allowed to do that" and then turned directly to my supervisor and asked her "Why didn't you tell me that?" Her response was around the lines of she just wanted to see how I reacted. In other words she knew I was being verbally abused to the degree that I could have disconnected with the customer but she choose to instead watch me get berrated like it was some kind of freak show she wanted to see the ending to. Thank goodness I didnt have to deal with this too long since other people had to courage to also stand up for themselves against the tactics of this unrelenting supervisor and she was eventually demoted (no one else will have to but I got to deal with it at the cost of my sanity). I know other supervisors that instead of positive reinforcement when you achieve a 'coveted' goal they tell you it wasn't good enough and 'instruct' you all the things you should have done instead. This has caused people who are known to be very mild mannered to loose it. (when instead they actually deserved a pat on the back!). Other supervisors have made associates cry at work. One such supervisor had the nerve to ask me what my 'relationship was like with my mother' since we did not seem to agree on something. She is by no means someone I told anything personal too and she obviously crossed a line in which she had no remorse to (even when I started to cry right in front of her afterwards).
Im glad I could vent. This is what you could face here if you apply. Not that there are not good benefits, but at what expense?

I recently applied for a claims rep job at Geico in Dallas... Angle info on that job? Anything talk didn't like about it? Reading all of talks commented making me a little nervous about applying there.. I already did the phone interview. Now just waiting to do the pre employment testing.

I was fired from there this past week. I didnt pass the exam on the first try. I passed half (the state part) but not the general part. So I re took it, and failed the same part. They fired me, but said I can still re take it, and if I pass, They will see about putting me in another up coming training class for computer training. Cool right?
Wrong.
I retook it, PASSED and called HR to tell them I passed. This was Wed. She said she would call me back, but never did (I called her at 1 pm) the next morning, Thursday, I called them again to see about going into another class. I was super excited because I passed, because I didnt give up, I was DETERMINED to pass! She said she would check with the management team to see about me coming back.
I got another call. But not from her. From a man. Who informed me that I would not be coming back, despite the fact that I got my license, seeing as how "I struggled, them more then likely I would cont to struggle in training as well and would ultimitily fail." I was shocked. I told him that I had been told that I could come back after I got my licensed (it had only been a week) He didnt care, and made it clear that he didnt. He acted annoyed with me that I was upset, like he fully expected me to be happy about it! "you reaction right there is something we dont need at the company" Oh excuse me! Let me send you a thank you card for calling me a failure and ASSUMING I would fail! Alot of us struggled in class for licensing. Makes me curious now how everyone is doing and after reading these forums, how they will cont. to do. So glad now I dont work there, but glad I was able to obtain a license. At least they were good for something!

JustSomeGirl38 in Largo, Florida said: IDP is just a position where you will be trained in the call center for Customer Service first. Then, if you do well enough there for several months, you will be trained to do the call center for Claims... then Sales... call center again. However, the standards for the IDP are higher for promotions, transfers, etc. Rather than 95%, I believe the expectation is 97%. You MAY be hired at a grand or two over what the 19 year old next to you makes, because you have a degree... but not much else. Everything else is pretty much what everyone has brutally commented here.

If you love the call center environment, then maybe you might like it. It can be very humiliating, degrading, frustrating and silly. Maturity level runs right about 10th grade average... but it may be like that in every call center. I really don't have enough experience to say for a fact. Either you love it or you hate it.

Hello, I applied for the Personal Injury Claims Rep position at the Woodbury, NY location & just got off the phone with them after my first interview. I have a multitasking & typing test set up for this Monday. I'm not sure I want to go after reading all this. Does anyone have more information about the PIP position specifically? The bad reviews here are mostly for CSR or call center positions it seems. Im wondering how different the PIP position is from those? I was only interested in it because it started off paying $43,735. Is it worth it???

Hello, I applied for the Personal Injury Claims Rep position at the Woodbury, NY location & just got off the phone with them after my first interview. I have a multitasking & typing test set up for this Monday. I'm not sure I want to go after reading all this. Does anyone have more information about the PIP position specifically? The bad reviews here are mostly for CSR or call center positions it seems. Im wondering how different the PIP position is from those? I was only interested in it because it started off paying $43,735. Is it worth it???

How honest do you have to be when it comes to previous employment on the application? Is there away for them to find out. I just had a lot of little jobs and don't really want to explain them all.

Kris in Monterey, California said: How honest do you have to be when it comes to previous employment on the application? Is there away for them to find out. I just had a lot of little jobs and don't really want to explain them all.

Hi Kris - I work in GEICO's HR dept and wanted to reach out to you. We do conduct background checks of applicants who have accepted employment offers, and a complete application with full work experience and education is required as part of our process. I would recommend being honest and thorough on your application, as this is the information used by our hiring teams.

If you have specific concerns regarding your background and would like further information, please call the office to which you've applied and ask to speak with the Human Resources manager. careers.geico.com/give_us_a_call

I hope this was helpful to you.

thanks