Bonuses are rare, despite what is promised during interview. A recruiter and HR told me they are easy to obtain but would not share with me how they determined the bonuses. That should have been a red flag. Once I got there, I learned that the bonus equation is so complex almost no one can figure it out. What's more is that you and your team could make 100% of your goals but you could still end up with nothing. I was also told that everything was fine since the takeover and it was not hostile. Whoa, did that ever turn out to be false!
Beyond the bonuses, the worst aspect about the place is the low morale. I didn't meet one person there who seemed to be happy with their job. So many people were snippy and territorial. Since it was taken over, the company seems to have undergone an identity crisis. Employees who had worked at the old AB complain it's not the same, while employees who started after the merger complain about lack of direction, micromanagers (and there are many) and inability to see the big picture. Everyone complains about how cheap the company is. You can literally spend a whole day flying to a destination that should only take two hours, but because you have to choose the cheapest route possible, you end up flying at odd hours and with weird connections. Laptops don't work, and tech issues were frequent.
There is an inflated sense of purpose like I've never seen - it's beer for crying out loud, not brain surgery. Senior management takes themselves way to seriously. Yes, it's a big company and there are shareholders, but there should be some fun in beer. They don't even let employees crack open a beer at the end of the work day on a Friday. Something like that would go a long way with people. It's no wonder why people love craft. Heaven forbid, they actually love what they do and it shows! Which leads me to another point. They are trying so hard to make it seem as if they are an American company with craft beers, when they're not. That's why they don't say on the labels of their so-called "craft" beers who makes them. Just accept the fact that you are not American and you make a mass produced beer. That's fine, just play to your strength rather than pretend to be something you're not.
The bureaucracy and micromanaging is absolutely mind-boggling. It makes it difficult to enjoy your job and actually get things done.
There is zero flexibility and not much of a work-life balance. Surprising for a beer company. First place I've ever worked where there was no laughter or comaraderie. Incredibly high turnover, particularly in some departments. Overall, an absolutely depressing place to work and was by far the worst work experience I ever had.
