Pros
PTO for professional staff and benefits are significantly better than the firm I was with that merged in.
Cons
Feels like the employees are not getting their fair share. We were recently acquired by CRI, and while I’m sure our partners made out well, I figured being with a much larger firm would help our compensation. It did not. I know a lot of people say they aren’t in it for the money, but those people are living in a fantasy land. It is absolutely for the money to support the lifestyle you want and to support your family. When we were merged in, we were told what our raise was going to be and that was it, no negotiations, no comparisons to the market, nothing. Most of us who do have advanced schooling and certifications expect to be compensated well when working for a large company, but it seems as that is not the case at the moment, as every publication I have gotten my hands on has us somewhere in between the 25th and 50th percentile in compensation for my position. My office is filled with an older partner and a few managers who seem to be hoarding responsibilities that if pushed down could provide for some mentoring and professional development, but that does not happen. Billable time is being pushed very hard, which while I understand, I believe it would be beneficial for some of us to be mentored and mentor younger staff coming in so we can develop and be the future of the firm, especially during the less busy times of the year. At least in this office there is a resistance to change which I feel does not facilitate a good working environment.
