Beatrice Lang
Graybar Electric Company is a leading North American distributor of electrical parts, tools, and accessories. The company has been in operation for several decades, serving electrical workers with top brands and competitive prices. Graybar is an employee-owned company that offers various benefits to its workers, including 401(k) matching, profit sharing, comprehensive health plans, and paid time off. The company has a presence in several states, including New Jersey, Illinois, Missouri, and Iowa. While it has received mixed reviews from customers, with some praising their customer service and others criticising their pricing and parts procurement process, Graybar has been recognised as a Top Workplace in New Jersey on multiple occasions.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Publicly traded | No evidence of Graybar Electric being publicly traded |
| Employee ownership | Yes |
| Work environment | Good, fun but serious customer-oriented culture |
| Benefits | 401(k) matching, profit sharing, comprehensive health plans, paid life and disability insurance, paid time off, tuition reimbursement, more vacation time for new hires |
| Training | No formal training program, but employees are not given responsibility until they learn the SAP system |
| Work-life balance | Rated 3.6 out of 5 by employees |
| Culture and values | Rated 3.4 out of 5 by employees |
| Career opportunities | Rated 3.4 out of 5 by employees |
| Overall rating | 3.5 out of 5, based on over 863 reviews |
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What You'll Learn
Employee ownership
Graybar Electric Company is an employee-owned company. The company's strategy is to sustain itself as an independent and employee-owned entity, while achieving results that position it as an industry leader.
While some employees appreciate the culture of growth within the company, others have criticised the lack of growth opportunities, particularly in sales. There are also mixed reviews regarding the company's training programs, with some employees noting that Graybar does not have a formal training program, and that learning occurs primarily through on-the-job experience.
Despite some criticisms, Graybar has received recognition as a Top Workplace in New Jersey on multiple occasions, and 61% of employees would recommend working there to a friend. Overall, the company has an anonymous employee rating of 3.5 out of 5 on Glassdoor, with 68% of employees having a positive outlook for the business.
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Employee benefits
Graybar is a leading North American distributor of electrical, communications, data networking, and industrial products. It is a Fortune 500 corporation and one of the largest employee-owned companies in North America. The company has more than 8,200 employees, 292 locations across North America, and $7.3 billion in annual revenue (as of 2020).
Graybar became employee-owned in 1929 and remains 100% owned by its active and retired employees. The company's employee ownership culture is a key part of its identity, with employees encouraged to feel a true sense of ownership and share in the company's success.
Graybar offers a wide range of benefits to its employees, including:
- A profit-sharing plan, where employees can contribute to the plan on an after-tax basis. This is a benefit offered by only a small number of other employer-sponsored retirement plans.
- The opportunity to purchase company stock, which is not publicly traded. The share price has never fluctuated and the company has paid discretionary cash dividends every quarter since 1929, resulting in an annual cash rate of at least 10% every year since 1941.
- A culture that prioritizes communication, feedback, and creative thinking. The company offers an employee innovation program and encourages employees to stay informed about the company's performance and strategy.
- Community time off and matching employee donations to select charities, as part of the company's commitment to giving back to local communities.
- A collaborative and inclusive environment where employees from all backgrounds, cultures, and experiences are welcomed and valued. Graybar strives to create a workplace where employees feel a sense of belonging, ownership, and inclusion.
- Programs that help employees live well today and plan for the future, with a focus on long-term goals rather than short-term gains.
The employee benefits offered by Graybar are highly ranked, with the company placing in the top 5% of other US companies with 5,001-10,000 employees for Perks and Benefits Score.
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Work environment
Graybar Electric Company, Inc. is an employee-owned corporation. The company has an employee ownership culture, where employees feel a sense of belonging, ownership, and inclusion. Senior leadership considers the impact on employees when making important decisions, and the company offers programs to help employees live and plan well for the future. Graybar also provides employees with a profit-sharing and savings plan, to which the company has contributed an average of more than 10% of employees' salaries since 1956. Eligible employees can also choose to purchase Graybar stock.
Graybar is committed to treating others with fairness and respect and adheres to high standards of ethics and business conduct. The company takes pride in its work and demonstrates loyalty to one another, tying personal success to the company's success. Graybar prioritizes long-term success over short-term gains and strives to keep the company strong and healthy for future generations.
The company has a network of over 260 North American distribution centers and serves customers in various markets, including construction, commercial, institutional, and government. Graybar's products and services support new construction, infrastructure updates, building renovation, facility maintenance, repair, operations, and original equipment manufacturing.
Graybar has a strong commitment to customer satisfaction and adds value to the supply chain through innovation and continuous improvement. The company provides customized services and personal integrity, forming the foundation for building trusting, long-term relationships with its customers. With over 2,000 customer service and sales representatives, Graybar can quickly provide the necessary materials in emergency situations and ensure continuity of operations.
Overall, Graybar offers a stable and dynamic work environment with opportunities for growth and development. The company prioritizes its employees' well-being and success while maintaining a strong focus on customer satisfaction and long-term growth.
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Career opportunities
Graybar Electric is an employee-owned company that offers career opportunities with a range of benefits. The company has an overall rating of 3.5 out of 5 on Glassdoor, with 61% of employees saying they would recommend working at Graybar to a friend.
Graybar offers competitive pay, great benefits, and a positive work environment. The company provides 401(k) matching, profit sharing, employee ownership, comprehensive health plans, paid life and disability insurance, paid time off, and tuition reimbursement. They also offer more vacation time for new hires than the industry average.
However, some employees have noted that there is a lack of growth opportunities within the company, and that the management plays favorites, which can impact promotions, raises, and career progression. There are also complaints about poor training and a lack of investment in talent development.
Graybar has been recognized as a Top Workplace in New Jersey on three occasions, including in 2019 and 2020. The company's strategy is to sustain itself as an independent, employee-owned business while achieving industry leadership through innovative solutions and services for customers and suppliers.
The sales team at Graybar has the most positive reviews, while the customer support team offered the most constructive feedback. Employees appreciate the company's culture of growth and employee ownership, with some having worked their way up from entry-level positions to supervisory roles.
In terms of challenges, employees have mentioned the need to learn the SAP system, which is not particularly user-friendly for newcomers. There is also a perception of the company being a "good-ole-boys club", with a lack of formal training programs and a steep learning curve for new employees.
Overall, Graybar Electric presents career opportunities with a range of benefits, but individuals should be prepared for a potentially challenging work environment, where hard work and learning new skills are necessary for advancement.
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Work-life balance
Graybar Electric Company is a leading North American distributor of electrical, communications, data networking, and industrial products. It is one of the largest employee-owned companies in North America, with a revenue of $6 billion in 2014. The company has a strong culture of employee ownership, with employees earning cash and stock dividends.
The company has received recognition for its work-life balance, leadership, compensation, and benefits. It has been ranked 48th on the Forbes list of America's Largest Private Companies and 399th on the Fortune 500 ranking of America's largest companies. On CareerBliss, Graybar Electric Company has an average rating of 4.1 out of 5, with 96% of employees recommending working there. Employees have praised the company for its culture, growth opportunities, and supportive colleagues.
However, some reviews on Indeed.com suggest that work-life balance at Graybar could be improved. While some employees appreciate the required one-hour lunch break every day and the close-knit teamwork environment, others have noted that full-time work involves long hours and overtime, which can lead to missing out on personal life. The company's old-school culture and resistance to change may also impact employees' work-life balance, especially for those starting their careers at Graybar mid-way.
Overall, Graybar Electric Company offers a range of benefits, including profit-sharing, employee stock options, and retirement plans. The company's employee ownership culture and long-term focus provide stability and opportunities for those seeking a long-term career. However, individuals with ambitious or innovative mindsets may find the pace of change frustrating.
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Frequently asked questions
No, Graybar Electric is an employee-owned company.
The company has an overall rating of 3.5 out of 5, based on over 863 reviews. 61% of employees would recommend working at Graybar to a friend and 68% have a positive outlook for the business. The Sales team has the best experience at Graybar Electric compared to all other departments.
Graybar Electric offers best-in-class benefits to its employees, including 401(k) matching, profit sharing, employee ownership, comprehensive health plans, paid life and disability insurance, paid time off, tuition reimbursement, and more.
Some employees have complained about the pay scale and contract, while others have praised the company for its great pay and benefits. There are also complaints about a lack of growth opportunities, with management being "stingy" with promotions and raises.
Graybar Electric's New Jersey branch has been recognized as a Top Workplace three times, winning the award in 2019, 2020, and 2025.
