My experience inside Quicken Loans

Latest

Detroit eviction defense march against Bank of America. PHOTO/DAYMONJHARTLEY.COM
Detroit eviction defense march against Bank of America.
PHOTO/DAYMONJHARTLEY.COM

DETROIT— My first thought when entering the Quicken Loans offices in Detroit was: “This has to be a cult.” Everyone seemed so happy and excited—manically so—to be working; not at all like I expected from standard issue mortgage firm employees. The offices were brightly colored with an open floor plan which, we were told, “encouraged creativity.” Our tour guide went on about how “fabulous” Quicken Loans was, but quite frankly, I was more than a little freaked out. Are these people on drugs? I wondered. Perhaps they’re pumping oxygen into the place, to induce a false euphoria. Our guide spoke of “the culture” Quicken Loans aggressively encourages among its employees. To my relief, a fellow tour taker leaned over to me and whispered, “They could drop the ‘ure’ and just leave it at cult.” I was not alone in my observations.
We were told about Quicken’s “isms”, their core beliefs which are hammered into each and every employee. At the end of the tour, all of us were given books, which are also given to all their employees, that teach the reader about the “isms” with bright colors and pictures; it seemed like a children’s book more than anything. In fact, our tour guide told us that he had given one of these “books” to each of his children. Well, you know what they say: get ’em young.
It was my opinion that all of this friendliness had to be a cover for a fascist state. And that it was; we were taken into the basement of one of their buildings and proudly shown their security rooms.
Quicken has cameras on every single building it owns in Detroit. Dan Gilbert, founder of Quicken, has been buying up dozens of buildings around the city, so that adds up to quite a few cameras.
Now, this isn’t the only thing they do; they also track any tweet that has the word “Quicken Loans,” “Dan Gilbert” or many other keywords.
I am aware that after publication of this article, I will almost certainly be put on some sort of Quicken Loans “blacklist;” I’m sure it’s against the “isms” to say anything bad about the “company” (or cult, depending on who you ask) or their great leader Dan Gilbert. Frankly, I’m flattered that a company as large as Quicken Loans is threatened by me, a 16 year-old-girl.

+ Articles by this author

Free to republish but please credit the People's Tribune. Visit us at www.peoplestribune.org, email peoplestribune@gmail.com, or call 773-486-3551.

The People’s Tribune brings you articles written by individuals or organizations, along with our own reporting. Bylined articles reflect the views of the authors. Unsigned articles reflect the views of the editorial board. Please credit the source when sharing: ©2024 peoplestribune.org. Please donate to help us keep bringing you voices of the movement. Click here. We’re all volunteer, no paid staff.

LEAVE A REPLY

Please enter your comment!
Please enter your name here

Featured

‘We Need Urgent Global Climate Action’

Eighty-nine percent of people worldwide want their governments to do more to address the global climate crisis. Conference on tipping points says situation is urgent. Meanwhile U.S. govt does more to boost fossil fuel forms of energy.

May Day 2025: United We Will Win

International Worker’s Day is celebrated on May 1st around the world. Today, the entire U.S. working class, of which immigrants comprise an integral part, is under attack. The defense of immigrants is vital to the defense of the entire working class.

White School Officer Pepper-sprayed and Kneed Black Beaumont, TX Student, Complaint says. Will Feds Act?

A 6-second video, recorded by a teacher and reviewed by the Texas Observer, shows an officer grabbing a student’s hair, kneeing her in the face, and knocking the 100-pound girl on her back.

Pope Francis Dies After Easter Plea to End War in Gaza

"In his final public message, Pope Francis decried the “terrible conflict” in Gaza.

Bring Union Brother Kilmar Home: His Deportation Is an Attack on All of Us

The deportation of union brother Kilmar Abrego Garcia is a gut punch to the labor movement, a slap in the face to every worker who dares to organize.

More from the People's Tribune