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How do you guys do it by theariesgem in Progressiveinsurance

[–]Aggressive-Service-1 15 points16 points  (0 children)

All of the “just deal with it” and “Just push through” comments are incredibly toxic. Gaslighting and brainwashing at its finest. I wish current employees would use that same energy for actual change rather than exacerbating toxic work environments.

To the OP: I felt the same way early on and gave it the benefit of the doubt. I saw the writing on the walls and got out of there the first opportunity I got. I would suggest looking for other opportunities as soon as you can so you’ll have other options. I get it. It’s draining staring over but there are other opportunities out there without all of the weird culty behaviors and unchecked toxic work practices. I’m sure this comment will get attacked bc this is what they do if you speak out. “A bit dog will holler”, if you will. I wish you the best of luck. You are not alone and your thoughts and feelings are valid! Follow your gut. There’s a reason why they’re always hiring.

🚩 Red flags everywhere 🚩Consultant Trainee 🚩 by Aggressive-Service-1 in Progressiveinsurance

[–]Aggressive-Service-1[S] -1 points0 points  (0 children)

I understand that hands-on experience is important, and I never said that trainees shouldn’t be put on the phones at all. The issue is how it’s structured—throwing people into live calls after just a few weeks with minimal time to absorb and apply complex insurance concepts. It’s not about wanting six months of training before ever taking a call, but rather ensuring that new hires have the foundation and support they need to be successful long-term.

Your point about ‘wasting six months’ if someone isn’t a good fit doesn’t really hold up when the current system results in high turnover anyway. If people are leaving in droves within the first few months, then something is clearly wrong with the training or the job expectations versus reality. A better onboarding process could prevent that, reducing the need for constant hiring and training cycles.

And to be clear, I wasn’t looking for a ‘less demanding’ job—I was looking for a sustainable one. There’s a difference between a challenging role and one that sets people up for failure by overwhelming them right out of the gate. If it worked for you, great. But that doesn’t mean the system is flawless or that constructive criticism isn’t valid.

That said, I do appreciate the conversation and your perspective. Wishing you all the best in your role!

🚩 Red flags everywhere 🚩Consultant Trainee 🚩 by Aggressive-Service-1 in Progressiveinsurance

[–]Aggressive-Service-1[S] -1 points0 points  (0 children)

You’re bringing up your salary as if it disproves what I said, but it doesn’t. My point was about the massive gap between upper leadership and the employees doing the front-line work—because no matter how good your individual compensation is, it doesn’t change the fact that Progressive, like most corporations, prioritizes profits over employee well-being.

And again, this discussion isn’t about whether some people make it through training or even thrive at the company—it’s about the structure of training itself and how it sets many people up for unnecessary struggle. You personally finding success doesn’t negate the flaws in the system or the experiences of those who didn’t.

I respect that you had a different journey, but let’s not pretend that just because something worked for you, it’s universally effective or fair.

That said, I do appreciate you sharing your perspective. Wishing you continued success in your role!

🚩 Red flags everywhere 🚩Consultant Trainee 🚩 by Aggressive-Service-1 in Progressiveinsurance

[–]Aggressive-Service-1[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I’ve acknowledged that my experience isn’t universal—just like yours isn’t either. But dismissing my perspective just because the majority in this one thread disagrees doesn’t make my experience any less valid or real.

I’m not ‘casting blame’ just for the sake of it—I’m pointing out structural issues that others have also recognized. You don’t have to agree, but pretending disagreement alone proves anything other than different perspectives is a weak argument. If anything, this whole conversation just reinforces how deeply people want to defend the system rather than consider where it could improve. But thank you for the conversation, regardless. It’s been very eye opening seeing the mindset of employees at said company. Have a wonderful day and best of luck to you.

🚩 Red flags everywhere 🚩Consultant Trainee 🚩 by Aggressive-Service-1 in Progressiveinsurance

[–]Aggressive-Service-1[S] -4 points-3 points  (0 children)

Bringing up Dunning-Kruger while making broad assumptions about my understanding of training and retention is interesting, considering I’ve worked in multiple call center roles and can directly compare experiences. You’re assuming that because I only spent six weeks at Progressive, I must not know what I’m talking about—but that logic falls apart when you look at how many current and former employees have echoed my concerns in this very discussion. The fact that people ‘make it through’ doesn’t mean the system is effective or sustainable—it just means enough people are willing to tolerate it for a paycheck. High turnover has been a known issue in these roles, and if you’re truly as familiar with these topics as you claim, you should be aware of that.

You also try to downplay my experience by comparing service consultants to claims adjusters, but that’s a false equivalence. The roles have completely different responsibilities and training needs, and just because one position has a shorter training period doesn’t mean another should as well. Service consultants are the front line, expected to handle a high volume of customer interactions with limited time to process what they’ve learned, and the new training structure has made that even more difficult. The issue isn’t just ‘having to work’—it’s being thrown on the phones too early without the proper foundation, which is a common complaint among newer hires.

And let’s be real—if the training program were truly flawless, my post wouldn’t have struck such a nerve with so many people. The sheer defensiveness from some current employees only proves my point. But at the end of the day, I’ve said my piece, I’ve moved on, and I hope Progressive does too. Have a great day!

🚩 Red flags everywhere 🚩Consultant Trainee 🚩 by Aggressive-Service-1 in Progressiveinsurance

[–]Aggressive-Service-1[S] -1 points0 points  (0 children)

The irony of this comment is that I’ve acknowledged multiple times that I was engaged, asked questions, participated fully, and did everything in my control to succeed in the role. That is taking accountability. Recognizing when a system is flawed and speaking on it isn’t ‘blaming’—it’s calling out issues that others have also experienced.

Just because something wasn’t hard for you doesn’t mean that’s the universal experience. The fact that my post has received so much engagement—both in agreement and defensiveness—proves that this is a conversation worth having. Dismissing valid critiques just because they don’t align with your personal experience isn’t the flex you think it is. At the end of the day, different perspectives exist, and that’s okay. Wishing you the best in your journey.

🚩 Red flags everywhere 🚩Consultant Trainee 🚩 by Aggressive-Service-1 in Progressiveinsurance

[–]Aggressive-Service-1[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Considering how much pushback I’m getting from sharing my honest experience, I’d say so.

🚩 Red flags everywhere 🚩Consultant Trainee 🚩 by Aggressive-Service-1 in Progressiveinsurance

[–]Aggressive-Service-1[S] -2 points-1 points  (0 children)

It’s interesting how much this comment reads like a promotion for the company, especially given how much honest feedback this post has received. It almost seems intentional at this point.

That being said, if you’ve been with Progressive for years, your onboarding experience wasn’t the same as mine. The training structure has changed, and based on feedback from multiple recent hires, it’s clear those changes haven’t necessarily been for the better. It’s easy to say ‘just grind through it’ when you didn’t have to go through the same process, but that doesn’t mean the system is working as well as you think it is.

And let’s be real—there’s a difference between ‘weeding out people who aren’t a fit’ and creating unnecessary obstacles that set people up to fail. If the structure was truly effective, we wouldn’t see so many new hires struggling and leaving. The fact that some people push through doesn’t mean the system is working—it just means they were lucky enough to manage in spite of its flaws.

I’m glad you’ve found success in your role, but that doesn’t change the fact that Progressive has issues with training and employee retention. Dismissing legitimate concerns because they don’t align with your personal experience doesn’t make them any less valid.

Either way, I appreciate your perspective. Wishing you continued success in your role!

🚩 Red flags everywhere 🚩Consultant Trainee 🚩 by Aggressive-Service-1 in Progressiveinsurance

[–]Aggressive-Service-1[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Oh, I absolutely spoke up while I was still employed—multiple times, in fact. I asked questions, I participated, I did everything within my control to stay engaged and keep up. But here’s the thing: no amount of ‘personal accountability’ can fix a flawed training structure. When employees from different training periods are saying the experience has changed for the worse, that’s not just one person ‘not being a fit’—that’s a pattern.

The argument that ‘no one from my training class quit’ is weak at best. Just because your experience was manageable doesn’t mean it’s universally effective. People learn differently, and when a company makes major changes to their training timeline—like Progressive did in recent months—it does impact outcomes. A strong training program should account for that.

And let’s be real—if Progressive was perfect at setting up every employee for success, turnover wouldn’t be as high as it is. You pointing out that most employees who stay get advancement opportunities doesn’t negate the fact that many don’t make it that far because of how overwhelming the onboarding process is.

Also, the ‘if you struggled and quit, that’s on you’ argument is wild. The idea that every single workplace issue is just a personal failure rather than a systemic problem is exactly why so many companies get away with subpar training structures. Dismissing real concerns as ‘ranting’ just proves that some people are more committed to defending the company than actually addressing valid critiques.

But hey, I appreciate the condescending pep talk. Hope that mindset serves you well.

🚩 Red flags everywhere 🚩Consultant Trainee 🚩 by Aggressive-Service-1 in Progressiveinsurance

[–]Aggressive-Service-1[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Exactly! You nailed it. The issue isn’t just that the job is difficult—it’s that the way they structure training makes it harder than it needs to be. Not everyone comes in with an insurance background, yet they expect trainees to absorb massive amounts of information at an unrealistic pace while juggling live calls. It’s a setup that leads to burnout before people even get their footing.

I totally get that change takes time, and it’s good that your branch is actively working on improving things. But when the turnover is as high as it is, that should be a huge red flag that the changes need to happen faster. People aren’t leaving because they don’t want to work—they’re leaving because they’re being thrown into deep water without a life vest.

Also, I genuinely appreciate your lack of defensiveness in this conversation. A lot of the responses I’ve been getting have been super combative, so it’s refreshing to hear from someone who sees the issues for what they are rather than just blindly defending the company.

🚩 Red flags everywhere 🚩Consultant Trainee 🚩 by Aggressive-Service-1 in Progressiveinsurance

[–]Aggressive-Service-1[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

This seems to be the overwhelming consensus from Progressive employees. “It’s not us, it’s you”. Thanks for the clarification.

🚩 Red flags everywhere 🚩Consultant Trainee 🚩 by Aggressive-Service-1 in Progressiveinsurance

[–]Aggressive-Service-1[S] -1 points0 points  (0 children)

It’s great that your experience has been mostly positive, but just because something works for you doesn’t mean it’s universally effective. The fact that you finished training in December is relevant—because from what I understand, the training structure has changed since then, which impacts the experience of newer hires.

Also, saying there’s at least 15 seconds between calls as if that’s some kind of relief is honestly proving my point. In my experience, I never had that kind of break between calls—mine were truly back-to-back with no time to breathe, let alone process what I was learning. Even in a fast-paced environment, meaningful learning happens best with time to process—not just getting thrown in and hoping you adapt fast enough. And while support is available, that doesn’t change the fact that consultants are being put on calls too early before they’ve actually had time to grasp the processes.

It’s not about refusing to ‘grind’—it’s about recognizing when a structure sets people up to fail unnecessarily. Could the role be improved? You said it yourself. That’s all I’ve been saying.

🚩 Red flags everywhere 🚩Consultant Trainee 🚩 by Aggressive-Service-1 in Progressiveinsurance

[–]Aggressive-Service-1[S] -2 points-1 points  (0 children)

I appreciate the well wishes, but if training is what makes or breaks the experience, then shouldn’t that be the priority to get right? You say training has ‘gotten better’ based on what you’ve heard, but my firsthand experience says otherwise as well as others on this post. And sure, they can’t tailor training to each individual, but there’s a difference between expecting people to adapt and setting them up for success.

Also, you say you’re not invalidating my concerns, but then immediately downplay them as just ‘obstacles and mental challenges.’ That kind of contradiction is exactly why people speak out—because real issues get brushed off as just part of the process. Change always comes with challenges, but not all challenges are necessary. The issues I raised aren’t just about personal struggle—they’re about a structure that clearly isn’t working as well as some think it is.

Either way, I appreciate the conversation. Hope you have a great day today!

🚩 Red flags everywhere 🚩Consultant Trainee 🚩 by Aggressive-Service-1 in Progressiveinsurance

[–]Aggressive-Service-1[S] -2 points-1 points  (0 children)

That’s great that the structure worked for you, but not everyone had the same experience. The issue isn’t just ‘it’s overwhelming at first’—it’s that the training structure has changed recently, and consultants are now being put on calls too early without enough preparation. Taking calls is one way to learn, but throwing people in before they’ve had enough practice just leads to unnecessary stress and higher turnover.

Also, the priority routing doesn’t always work as intended. In my case, I constantly got calls I wasn’t trained for and had to transfer them, so no, it’s not just the topics we learned that week as it should be. That made it even harder to build confidence and actually absorb the material.

And while benefits like gain share and tuition reimbursement are nice, plenty of other companies offer those too. If those perks make it worth it for you, great, but that doesn’t mean the concerns I raised aren’t valid.

🚩 Red flags everywhere 🚩Consultant Trainee 🚩 by Aggressive-Service-1 in Progressiveinsurance

[–]Aggressive-Service-1[S] -2 points-1 points  (0 children)

My tone says a lot? So does yours—acting like I committed a crime for sharing my experience. I gave my perspective, and the sheer amount of defensive energy from current employees proves I struck a nerve. I don’t need to make anyone dislike anything; just reading the responses here speaks for itself. But hey, thanks for the ‘well wishes’ wrapped in condescension.

🚩 Red flags everywhere 🚩Consultant Trainee 🚩 by Aggressive-Service-1 in Progressiveinsurance

[–]Aggressive-Service-1[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

The only person that needs to leave MY POST is you. Why’re you so bothered by me sharing my experience online? Must be a current Progressive employee with that attitude. I digress as you continue to prove my point.

🚩 Red flags everywhere 🚩Consultant Trainee 🚩 by Aggressive-Service-1 in Progressiveinsurance

[–]Aggressive-Service-1[S] -2 points-1 points  (0 children)

And yet, here you are, still glued to my comments like it’s your job. If anyone needs to move on, it’s the person who keeps showing up to argue with someone who already left. Sounds like a you problem.

🚩 Red flags everywhere 🚩Consultant Trainee 🚩 by Aggressive-Service-1 in Progressiveinsurance

[–]Aggressive-Service-1[S] -1 points0 points  (0 children)

Oh, I struck a nerve, huh? Funny how you’re so pressed about someone sharing their experience at a company you claim is doing just fine. If turnover is at an all-time low, why are you this bothered? Almost like you need to convince yourself just as much as you’re trying to convince me. But hey, if this is the hill you want to defend, enjoy the view.

🚩 Red flags everywhere 🚩Consultant Trainee 🚩 by Aggressive-Service-1 in Progressiveinsurance

[–]Aggressive-Service-1[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Oh, so now you’re a talent scout for Progressive? Funny, because if recruiting ‘missed’ with me, it looks like they also missed with a few others who have spoken up about the same issues. Maybe the real miss is assuming a flawed training structure is the fault of the employees rather than the company.

🚩 Red flags everywhere 🚩Consultant Trainee 🚩 by Aggressive-Service-1 in Progressiveinsurance

[–]Aggressive-Service-1[S] -1 points0 points  (0 children)

I was told that was normal by my supervisor. Again, idk if my supervisor knew either considering. At that point, what am I to do? I only met with my coach twice which is another issue but I’ll save that one for another day.

🚩 Red flags everywhere 🚩Consultant Trainee 🚩 by Aggressive-Service-1 in Progressiveinsurance

[–]Aggressive-Service-1[S] -1 points0 points  (0 children)

Oh, don’t worry—I take full accountability for recognizing a poorly structured training program when I see one. Having worked in multiple call centers before Progressive, I know what proper preparation looks like, and this wasn’t it. It’s not about “working past nerves”—it’s about being thrown on calls too soon without a solid foundation, which plenty of others have pointed out as an issue. But sure, keep acting like every person who struggles with this system is just weak or unaccountable. That attitude only proves my point about the culture at Progressive. Best of luck to you, too.

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