Pros
- Some really good and supportive co-workers, even occasionally at the low- to middle-management level. - A variety of customers means there's a good chance to get experience with a variety of systems and platforms. - Opportunities for new positions are occasionally published, although this may be by accident. - Near several restaurants. - Safe parking. - Typically business-casual dress. - Modestly diverse in terms of race, creed, disability, sexual orientation or gender orientation.
Cons
- Perpetually understaffed. Management regards employees as a cost and occasionally eliminates positions during lulls, meaning outages and other busy periods never receive the support they require. - Managerial competence ranges from surprisingly good to breathtakingly bad. - Bathrooms constantly in need of attention and repair; at least one may qualify as a genuine hazard due to a persistent and undeniable sewage leak. The attempt to repair it consisted of an air freshener. - NSC Global now does the lion's share of hiring/firing, and seems to approach it from the lowest-bidder approach. From about 2015 on, new hires have ranged from above average to abysmally unqualified, with the median quality of new hires being poor. - Rules and regulations irregularly enforced - a habitually late employee may be fired rapidly or stay on for months, depending on their manager. - In the event of bad weather (e.g. snowstorms), Atos will occasionally offer to reimburse for nearby hotel stays. Anyone who declines (due to family, health concerns, not wanting to wear the same clothes two days running, etc) will then be marked as absent if they miss work due to a snow emergency. - Training done from a one-size-fits-all vantage, usually coming a few weeks after hiring. All useful training is done by your coworkers, who are generally helpful but are already overworked. Best way to learn your job and upcoming issues is by word-of-mouth. - Stairs are for emergency use only; typically one of the three elevators breaks down once per week. - Documentation, procedures, on-the-job training varies wildly, as Process Analysts and Managers are usually even more overworked than their team members. Some maintain a heroic fight, but plan to keep your own notes and be ready to rely on others for advice. - Pay is poor and likely to stay that way. A single company-wide raise several years ago did not cover cost of living. No potential for merit-based raises. Managers and the like may have more options available to them. - Likewise, opportunities for advancement nearly nonexistent. 2nd level positions pay at the same rate as 1st. - Third-shift/after hours staff expected to cover a dozen or more accounts. - No provision or considerations for anyone seeking training or education (e.g. recompensation for certifications, training, and the like), nor is their any incentive to furthering your skills. - Service-Level Agreements (SLAs) trump all other concerns. Projects, maintenance, and proactive work will be cancelled the moment a statistic is threatened. Taking calls is far more important than actually resolving issues. - Odd or nonsensical policy changes on occasion (ex: becoming "paperless" largely achieved by removing most printers and making paper nearly impossible to obtain; their announced goal of doing away with email and use collaborative communication instead (e.g. MS Lync) has mercifully never been realized, was never taken seriously by the rank-and-file, and seems to have been quietly ignored and forgotten). - Customers occasionally misled as to the number, type, and quality of people assigned to their accounts in what is euphemistically referred to as "leveraging". Your account's Manager, Process Analysts and 20 technicians are probably simultaneously supporting other accounts as well, but will be represented as dedicated to your account alone. - Occasional attempts at efficiency (e.g. Six Sigma, LEAN) generally result in lip-service implementation that changes nothing. - Attendance policy ensures that coming in early or working late is regarded marginally if at all, while arriving 5 minutes late is exactly as grave a sin as missing half a day. - Company-wide emails from upper management indicate a sense of satisfaction with the status quo.
