Q&A With Mattel, Inc. Employees

They switched policy to unlimited time off and still maintain half day Fridays as of now.

Stingy. 2 weeks only for years 1-4; 3 weeks for years 5-14; 4 weeks for years 15-19; 5 weeks for 20+ years

There's good news and bad news. Bad news is, they are pretty strict with new employees below exec level starting at 2 weeks vacation. I came from a company where I had gotten up to 4 weeks vacation and there was no wiggle room in negotiating more at Mattel even though I was at the Director level. BUT we have year-round half-day Fridays...so in the end, you get WAY more vacation time and it's such an amazing thing to get long weekends year-round.

There are no set questions.

apply online

bright friendly people

Mostly nice, but it depends entirely on your department/group.

Typical Fortune 500 suite of benefits with annual increases in employee- paid insurance premiums. There was also a decrease in 401k match a couple of years ago. Beware that the 401k vesting period is 3 years, and it is 0% vested until the anniversary of the 3rd year. Horrible!

Typically only once a year and no more than a 3-4% pool, although sometimes even lower.

Depends on your function and manager.

Leaving every day.

It varies from day to day. Usually, extremely secure because there is a long-standing hiring freeze. On the other hand, RIFs are probably around the corner.

Depends entirely on your manager.

Depends on your role and department.

Non-existent unless you're in marketing.

Tell them you believe in the company and its "digital first" strategy -- whatever that is. Tell them that you think the "WONDER" values are inspiring even though they aren't really values. But the better advice: don't even try. Instead, save yourself the effort and decline the interview.

That it's "leadership" is a bunch of egotistical children who are only in it for themselves and that as long as they are in good with the current COO, they will continue to be employed and promoted beyond their capabilities, no matter how little they actually contribute -- or even how much they cost the company through their failures.

Beyond terrible.

Not very.

Different on every floor of the tower. Chaotic in the design center.

Half-day Fridays year round.

Unremarkable

Be yourself. "Culture fit" is very important -- not that there is a corporate culture. Every group is different, but mostly, you don't want to pretend to be something you're not only to find yourself surrounded by people who expect you to be the "other" person they interviewed.

30 minutes.

"Why do you want to work here?"

Not very challenging.

I only met with the hiring manager. It took several weeks, mostly because the offer was abysmal.