The Benefitfocus of today has lost the culture, excitement and reward that it used to have. When I started at Benefitfocus, there was a true sense of culture, opportunity and excitement about coming in to work every day.
Over the last 2.5 years or so, the company has completely changed - for the worse. I do not know one associate that is truly happy in their role. Coming in to work everyday is flat out exhausting - it has lost every ounce of hope and excitement that it used to have.
The company does not care about its associates - though they will do everything to make you think they do.
Only a few get opportunity for advancement, while the rest of us are day-to-day slaves (at best) who have to take the brunt of pissed off clients, internal escalations and continuous reorganization that ends up meaning nothing for 95% of the associates. Sure, the SVPs, VPs and Directors will get their promotions and opportunities, but the rest of us just get tossed around.
Many of the people you work with are rude. The executives/directors in your department are rude. But they are our leaders somehow.
It is so hard to explain the feeling you get when you go into work everyday. The software does not work most of the time, and those who are implementing the software in their various roles are held accountable and for something completely out of their hands.
I cannot tell you how many times a client and internal executive has laid into me for something not working in our software and it is completely out of my control. Those on the front line are just punching bags for the clients as well as internal engineers and executives who get to enjoy their inflated salaries and stock options.
The place has more than a professional effect on you. It's impossible to turn your brain off at the end of the work day - you end up taking all of the baggage home with you and it takes its toll on your family, your friends and anyone else that you come in contact with during the day. You cannot separate work and personal life at this place.
Overall, it's so bad that you want to just quit and walk out sometimes. It's not worth the stress. The associates at Benefitfocus deserve so much more than this - we invest so much in this company and there is no reward.
If you are reading this and are considering either doing business at Benefitfocus or joining the company as an associate, I would just highly caution you to think twice. It's not what you see on the website or hear at a corporate event (One Place). There are other places that can offer so much more.
