Pros
Salary is above average for hourly and most exempt employees. Decent benefits comparable with rivals in the sector. A really good 401k/cash balance pension plan for newer employees. 9/80 work schedule and good job stability in tough economic times.
Cons
Whew where to start. Overall its a European run company and their global decisions are not always best for each region. The atmosphere here on the gulf coast is very different from Europe right now. The perception within the company is that non French employees are treated like second class citizens. The focus on cost control is so intense that they have cut and consolidated many positions and the consequences are showing up in the form of injuries, fatalities, and near miss incidents. Within the next 2-5 years the company will have a major release or explosion at one of the plant sites that will include fatalities. A visit to the plants exposes you to the epitome of the good ol' boy network. If you're part of the clique, then you are well taken care of, otherwise you are expendable. Employee turnover is rampant at all levels of the organization. Mediocrity is encouraged by not adequately rewarding high performers.
