VocaLink and Mastercard - integration only to a point.
Pros
Good salary, work isn't difficult. Benefits and pension plan good. Nice offices in Angel Lane and Harrogate (Dunstable is a dump and so is the town itself). I would've said remote working policy but sadly this has changed - see below.
Cons
The acquisition and integration of Vocalink took place years ago, however it still seems like an us/them situation. Hardly any crossover regarding Mastercard projects or staff, unless you count dealing with the inept and clueless HR department. Unless you are in good with the right people, career opportunities are limited. I've seen management promote people with less time in the job over senior employees, or create roles out of thin air for others - without any internal advertising. Definitely a lot of favouritism going on. That reflects poorly on some of the management. That they're engaging in favouritism just goes along with some of the other disappointing behaviour I've seen here - dishonesty, bullying etc. Mind you that is only limited to one or two managers. A worrying aspect that has increased since I first joined is the blame culture. Previously mistakes were treated as lesson learning, however there has been a palpable shift in what appears the need to assign blame to an individual or team. Training is also sorely lacking. We are promised training every year, but it never materialises. We're only directed to Mastercard's buggy and insufficient internal training, however a lot of it is high-level material and insufficient to really assist in some of the more detailed or specialist tasks. We're also denied point-blank any training on complimentary technology, as we're told it isn't in our remit - despite the fact there are other teams utilising it. A very big issue for me is Mastercard management's recent decision to force staff to come back 3 days a week, plus mandatory Mondays and Fridays has gone over like a lead balloon. We've been told that attendance will be strictly monitored; those not adhering to it will be placed on some sort of naughty list - if still not attending as per management's expectations dismissal will follow. For a company that lauds itself with employee well-being and blows its own trumpet regarding green credentials, this appears to be an incredibly poor decision. Quite a few offices have been closed and now there will be even more people battling for fewer seats and carpark spaces on the mandatory in-office days. Depending with whom you speak, this poor decision is down to managers in the US needing hands-on time with their team in order to advance in their own sphere or supposedly junior team members craving face time with management. Neither are plausible and are just flimsy excuses for trying to exert more control over the workforce.
