Pros
Upstanding Corporate values (Authenticity, Accountability, Passion, Curiosity) Regardless of what people may think, SAS UK remunerate very very well, possibly too much given the value obtained Work hard, Demonstrate right behaviors and you'll be rewarded - it's as simple as that If this doesn't work for you, suggest you find a better paid job elsewhere...but be willing to make concessions re: other qualitative aspects of your working life The grass is greener - whilst not perfect, better than most if not all other companies (it's the small, influential individuals that ruin it for the majority) A welcoming, friendly place to work where people will say hello in the corridor and hold doors open for you - sometimes it's the small things Fantastic grounds - maintained immaculately by a hardworking Estate team Great catering options in a subsidized restaurant Current Sales VP is of critical importance to the success of the organisation - genuine, approachable, transparent and trustworthy = helping to keep everyone motivated
Cons
Lack of diversity... If you're a Caucasian you're good - otherwise you're making up numbers Push to increase employment of women (at risk of positive discrimination) - this is a Tech Sales company in an inherently male dominated industry - fact No doubt, next push will be to target other minority groups - LGBT community, Wheelchair Users, etc. spending disproportionate budget on gender neutral toilets, ramps... Also helps to be middle aged Specific shortcomings: SALES - purely focused on themselves at all times, do not act selflessly or have any intention of integrating with wider business - added to which, lack of role model behaviors HR - Who are HR ? - Hardly ever there in body (flagrant stretch of working from home policy) let alone mind even if they are present - Incompetent at best but KPI's will tell you otherwise. Staffed by part timers that ensure they have each other’s back at all times - Smiling assassins Save yourself the time and Google the answer to your question MARKETING - Happy Clappy prima facie, where everyone seems to be a manager...but Business Ops hardly ever in office (vacation / work / sick / vacation / work / sick...repeat) IT - Generally, Male, Sweaty and Full of themselves - switch off and back on again and save yourself the trauma of engaging p.s. curtain haircuts went out of fashion with the Spice Girls CORP SERVICES - People that do the work are Outstanding. However, People Managers are APPALLING - known bullies with track records that Senior management continues to fail to act upon PSD - Great work ethic - but a lot of effort for very little contribution to bottom line. Also, PSD Ops is a closed shop run with aggressive management, Eurythmics 1908's - just nod your head, agree and move on if you want a quiet life FINANCE - Grey with a sprinkling of personality. Beware Mean Girls that congregate in corridors to gossip /moan about the most inane things LEGAL - Lovely, Lovely, Lovely but dominated ISG - Gimme, Gimme, Gimme "They've got it, so we want it as well" MEMEX - You're not Memex anymore - act like One SAS All the benefits of being a private company lead to poor embedded behaviors - akin to spoilt children (e.g. Sense of entitlement, Resistance to change - "This is how I've always done things", "I know what I'm doing - I've been here 20+ years" ) Being privately held aside, business is run like a charity instead of focusing on bottom line - Yes look after your employees and be paternalistic but priority surely must be on bottom line. Critical headcount requests are rejected but management will happily sign off on a five figure Xmas party only attended by the smallest element of the business / a totally unnecessary annual fireworks event / Summer party... ? Too much deadwood in the organisation - adding little to no value, at inflated salaries, living off of former glories, aided by reluctance to performance manage due to effort and difficult discussions required Don't fall out with influential people - sometimes (read most times) better to keep your head down, your nose clean and stay out of any politics - problem is, politics will some how find you and get you involved Too slow to react to change in the industry and conclude projects / implement systems (every project takes four times as long to implement, at twice the cost) - demotivating for talented, ambitious employees who are usually at no fault and failed by management indecision