Former Goop Employees Claim The Pay Is Trash And They Offer Discounts And Freebies Instead Of Raises

September 29, 2021 / Posted by:

Business Insider got to the bottom of some Goop tea, and I’m not talking about one of their $400 matcha maker starter kits. I mean insider secrets. Gwyneth Paltrow has been called an “extortionist” by her customers in the past for overcharging for snake oil. And now employees have a similar tune to sing along to. According to sources, Goop not only pays their employees shit, but they also treat them like it too by offering discounts instead of raises and overworking them.  And if you don’t like any of that, well maybe Goop “just isn’t the right company for” you.

After starting in 2008 as a newsletter, Goop grew to a wellness company valued at over $430 million by 2019. But like all companies, there were some internal issues, and since Goop is OVER THE TOP in more ways than one, obviously those internal problems may echo that. As such, the company culture seems to be a drama level equal to a CW show about a wellness company. According to Business Insider, at least 140 people have left Goop since September 2019 and sources say the company had an interesting turnover rate even before the Coronavirus pandemic may have contributed to the “mass exodus.” And several higher-ups have quit that bitch. via The Blemish:

The Condé Nast veteran Elise Loehnen as chief content officer. One Kings Lane’s former vice president Erica Moore as chief financial officer. Connexity’s Juan Paul Ramirez as chief technology officer. InStyle’s former ad director Kimberly Kreuzberger as chief revenue officer. The veteran C-suite member Virginia Llewellyn as general counsel. Allure’s former executive editor Danielle Pergament as editor in chief.

BI spoke to four people who left the company within the last two years on the condition of anonymity. One person suggested leadership had no idea what it was doing and needed training, another suggested everyone acted like babies and avoided “conflict because they don’t want to hurt people’s feelings.”

Of course, the pandemic was a factor and all of Goop’s seven actual retail stores closed, with two never reopening. Their events business was previously lucrative but went digital and ad rates dropped over the entire media industry. Dozens of Gooployees were furloughed in March and April last year and a bunch left or were laid off. But sources say that people were jumping ship before that, and some big-name exits confused employees as many of the top brass who left were once some of Gwyneth’s “favorites.” One such employee was Juan Paul Ramirez, the chief technology officer who started in January 2018 and left in May with little explanation to his staff. Two sources suggested he was pushed out. He gave a statement to BI which said his departure was “amicable and well-communicated.”

The pay was also an issue, and one employee learned that Goop was paying them about 40% below other jobs within the same industry. Goop had a meeting about it, and senior leaders promised pay raises and perks, like free products and discounts. Because so many people left during the pandemic, three of the sources said they had to pick up extra work even though they weren’t being compensated more. Former employees talked about how overworked they were:

The sense of being overworked and anxious was certainly not unique to Goop during the height of the pandemic, but some said they felt the company’s approach contradicted its image as a brand centered on “wellness, health, mindfulness , and fitness.”

“There were points, like, I got burned out every single week,” the first former employee said. “I was super depressed and anxious, and I know a lot of people felt the same way. And I think with COVID, it was like, ‘Well, at least I have a job.'” But that wasn’t enough to quell unease for long, as the employee said they considered, “No, this is a wellness company.”

And when an employee complained about not being happy, they were allegedly told that “maybe this just isn’t the right company for them.” But one source said they felt they were treated with dignity and respect (scared of Goopy’s wrath, I see!).

A source added that they thought Gwyneth was holding on to her baby too tightly and that may have been why the company was a mess, saying: “Sometimes when you have founders who are also CEOs, that passion can be a blind spot… Sometimes their ideas fill the room.” And another source said that whatever the reason, it wasn’t just part of “The Great Resignation” and Goop employees were quitting for new opportunities in a pandemic:

“They keep trying to blame “The Great Resignation.” I call bullshit. No one wanted to change jobs in the middle of the pandemic. I felt like I had to.”

I hope these former employees know their anonymity is irrelevant. Do you think Gwyneth can’t find out? They’re about to wake up stiff as a board with Gwyneth hovering in the corner of their bedroom, having astral projected herself with one of her expensive Goop devices, transforming into a sleep paralysis demon hellbent on revenge–The BabaGoop! And I don’t know why these former Gooployees are complaining. I, for one, would love a discount on a $12,000 study pod and a candle that smells like my boss’ vagina.

Pic: Goop/Instagram

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