Pros
The benefits packages are excellent. Not only are they inexpensive, but they are easily accessible through Human Resources if you have any dilemmas. The pay seems to be competetive with similar positions in other companies. It is easy to take pride in your work knowing that everyday you are saving lives. Most of the people that you work with are decent folks. Loyaly to the employees on just about every level is definitely above average. There are plenty of "personal time off" days given to each employee. They are accrued mostly through time worked and increase with time. After 4 years I have about 5 weeks per year PTO.
Cons
I have noticed throughout my time under the umbrella of the American Red Cross that often promotions are given to individuals that are less qualified than others due to favoritism. Communication between different levels, whether from national to regional or region to district, is sometimes non-existent. The breakdown comes from a constant overload of changes that we bring on ourselves in order to make ourselves better. It is done in good conscience but without any forethought to the follow through or consequences of said changes. Many times the changes fail to go through in some regions or districts and then becomes a huge problem due to that lack of communication. Also at times the changes contradict other changes that have been implemented which makes it impossible to do the job correctly.
