Employee Engagement & Retention

Every fall we conduct an anonymous survey measuring the level of employee engagement at REI. The online survey is available to every employee and covers a wide range of subjects including operational and leadership effectiveness, communications, and the co-op's benefits package.

Last year, 83 percent of employees provided valuable feedback so we can learn how to make REI an even more rewarding place to be part of. Being "engaged" means employees are satisfied with their jobs, committed to their work, loyal to REI and willing to help shape our successes.

Of those that responded to the 2007 survey:

• 79 percent consider themselves highly engaged team members — retail industry norm is 55%
• 80 percent are extremely satisfied with REI as a workplace
• 92 percent have fun at work
• 91 percent would refer a good friend or family member to REI for employment
• 90 percent gave REI a favorable rating, indicating their work environment was welcoming and inclusive

In 2007 our employee turnover rate was 36.5 percent, well below the retail industry rate of 101 percent. We credit our strong workplace culture, sense of employee ownership, and comprehensive benefits package for helping us retain our talented workforce. For the past four years, our turnover rate has declined, and in 2007 was the lowest in 10 years.

Employee Engagement Index

Overall Company Turnover