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United Nations

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United Nations reviews

4.0

77% would recommend to a friend

(2,241 total reviews)

António Guterres

74% approve of CEO

57% positive business outlook

United Nations has an employee rating of 4.0 out of 5 stars, based on 2,241 company reviews on Glassdoor which indicates that most employees have a good working experience there. The United Nations employee rating is in line with the average (within 1 standard deviation) for employers within the Regierung & öffentliche Verwaltung industry (3.6 stars).

Reviews by job title

2K reviews
2.0
Jun 18, 2015
Recommend
CEO approval
Business Outlook

Pros

Most diverse workforce you will find anywhere; benefits; free language classes

Cons

This is probably the best place to work if you're generally unskilled and looking to stay and work in the US at US levels of pay. If you are actively looking to advance in your career and you are skilled, don't apply here because you will be stuck and unappreciated. The rules and procedures are too complex for staff to understand. Work processes are rote and unchangeable, thus innovation is almost impossible. Resources, such as IT equipment and software, are ancient. The biggest con is that senior managers are paid exorbitant amounts of money to do, in most cases, less work than their support staff do who are getting paid less than half as much, and even less. There are no true leaders here, no one that engenders inspiration.

1.0
Mar 8, 2012

Adult daycare

Anonymous employee
Recommend
CEO approval
Business Outlook

Pros

- Fantastic mandate per the UN Charter - Ability to serve humanity - Cushy benefits (if you can find out about them)

Cons

Professional management within the Secretariat is largely absent. Most decisions are issued top down without consultation from staff. Few decisions are made at lower than a P5 level. There's zero development of management: any bit of training, 360 reviews and coaching would help mediocre managers who lack self-awareness of their actions. Back office operations including IT and HR are barely functional--frequently depriving staff of tools and support necessary to do their jobs. Requesting benefits or entitlements can take months. I've yet to meet someone who's called the hiring or promotion process "competitive" and actually mean it.... leading to lots of questionable hires. Some managers seem inclined to hire people who will not ask questions. Salaries are not high enough to support a single-income family in New York or Geneva. Relocation support is minimal, even when moving halfway around the world. Most private sector positions hire relocation consultants to smooth the landing of their staff. It's extremely hard to figure out what official policies are.

3.0
Feb 2, 2020

Much to do about nothing

Recommend
CEO approval
Business Outlook

Pros

Great insurance. Steady hours. Generally great people to work with, with much diversity

Cons

Social politics. Poorly run administration, i.e. 10 steps taken to clear a document for dispatch when only 1 is needed. People move sluggishly until there's a threat to the relevance of their job, and then they come out swinging

Viewing 67 - 69 of 2,241 Reviews

Glassdoor has 3,955 United Nations reviews submitted anonymously by United Nations employees. Read employee reviews and ratings on Glassdoor to decide if United Nations is right for you.