Pros
There have good benefits. PTO starts at 4 weeks (which they had recently upped from 3). The medical insurance was pretty good. Paid more in premiums that at previous employers, but the coverage was excellent. Work hours are flexible, depending on which department one is in. Executives are excellent, unfortunately their vision is not put into practice by archaic Department VPs.
Cons
Oh, where do I start? If you want to know what its like to be a prisoner of Guantanamo Bay and receive daily waterboarding session, this is the place for you. The company's executives (Arne, Leeny) have an innovative vision and it is clear that they value their employees and embrace differences. However, department leadership not so much so. If you have any other opinion or ideas, be prepared to be squashed. There is no collaboration, although they will tell you they encourage collaboration. There is no empowerment. People have to fit in and differing approaches or thoughts are not welcome. VPs and Directors do not treat you as adults. Be prepared to be scolded as if you had gotten in trouble as a 5 year old with your mother. Employee engagement scores continue to be low and getting lower every year. Department leadership never takes responsibility but finds some sort of excuse. Then they come up with a game plan on how to improve, yet employees are fearful of repercussions and don't feel free to say why they feel the way they do. It has happened on many occasions that I have seen people speak up about why they think the scores are low, just to then be reprimanded for it. As a result, associates quiet down and silently suffer. The only thing that keeps you alive is the hope to get out. The result is even worse scores the following year. HR is completely useless. They are all buddies with the department leaders and you certainly don't feel like they are impartial. Often, you will wonder how people got into their positions. I can tell you its not for their professionalism, skills and knowledge. People get promoted by favoritism. There are plenty of smart people who aren't on people's agendas and therefore get passed over. The hiring process is the most ridiculous thing I have ever seen. Senior VPs review the candidates and then force the hiring manager to hire someone other than the candidate they have chosen. Or bypass someone better qualified due to longevity of another candidate. I could go on and on. It really is a depressing place. The only people who are happy, are the ones who have spent their entire careers at HQ. They don't know any better. The day I left was the most liberating feeling I have ever experienced.
