Toxic culture, racist undertones, and exploitative pay *do not recommend for people of color - Recensione dipendente - Internship presso Cariloha

1. Deep Seated Racism and Cultural Bias As a person of color, I cannot overstate how isolating and painful this internship became. Despite being one of the top sales performers in the company literally setting records. I was treated like I didn’t belong. I was excluded socially, targeted with false accusations, and terminated without warning after one low performing month, while white interns with consistently bad numbers remained untouched and were eventually promoted. There is an unspoken but very felt culture of white Mormon favoritism. If you’re not white, Mormon, or related to someone who works for the company, you’re treated like an outsider. Period. The team dynamics are cliquey and cold. People don’t try to get to know you, and there’s little support. Doesn’t matter how much you may have in common or how nice you are. You will never be seen as one of them. You will never be considered an equal counterpart. 2. Rampant Nepotism Many interns are hired because their parents, aunts, or family friends have ties to Cariloha. These interns often have poor work ethic and very low sales, but they know they’ll never be let go. Their mediocrity is protected, and it directly impacts everyone else especially high performing interns who are expected to pick up the slack. It’s demoralizing and unfair. 3. Horrible Pay with Predatory Commission Structure You are paid $600/month that’s $150/week to work 40 hours/week in a demanding retail environment. That is less than $4/hour. They promise commission, but you only earn it if you hit a goal that’s often just barely out of reach. This isn’t a bonus it’s a dangling carrot. If you miss it by even a couple hundred dollars you get nothing. The system is built to make you work like you’re earning commission, without actually paying you fairly. Managers don’t do much better. They might earn $1,000/month, but are also subject to the same “no commission unless you hit the goal” rule. 4. Poor Living Conditions Yes, they give you housing but much of it is roach infested, poorly maintained, and in sketchy areas. Several interns had to deal with pest issues that went unresolved for months. The quality of life is far below the standards you’d expect for a professional internship program. 5. You’re on the Hook for Car Repairs The cars they provide are not well maintained, and when things go wrong which they often do interns are expected to pay out-of-pocket. So even though a car is “included,” it ends up costing you hundreds of dollars that you’re barely making in the first place. 6. Little to No Real Growth Opportunities They talk a lot about “career paths” and “growing with the company,” but in reality, there’s no upward mobility unless you’re one of their “favorites.” It is 100% a popularity contest. Promotions are rare, training is inconsistent, and they don’t truly invest in developing interns into leaders unless you already fit the mold or have connections. 7. No Job Security, Even If You’re the Best I was let go after one low performing month (keep in mind that specific store had been underperforming for months before I took over and continued to underperform after I left) , despite 10+ months of outperforming and breaking records. There was no warning. No coaching. Just a sudden switch and I was out. Meanwhile, interns/managers who had months of poor performance were given multiple chances. The standards are inconsistent and discriminatory. 8. Emotionally and Mentally Draining The pressure to constantly overperform, deal with microaggressions, and carry the weight of the store while others coast is exhausting. Especially as a person of color, the experience can be dehumanizing.