Eastman reviews

Eastman as a company fundamentally does not know what it wants to be. Investors can't tell either which is why our stock price has been all over the place since we began our journey to be a "specialty" chemical company. One thing that is clear is that we are a cost cutting company. The last few years have been nothing but one cost reduction initiative after another. If we do not cut cost then we will be bought out. Same story year over year. Many of those initiatives end with positions being cut. Now that we've cut most of what we can at current facilities, we're outsourcing what is left to India. The performance management system implemented over the past few years is a forced ranking system. Company PR personnel will respond to Glassdoor reviews trying to argue the opposite but its true. You can meet or even exceed your goals but at the end of the day you will have no idea what to expect until you are told what bucket you made it into. On top of that you are judged not just by what you accomplish but also on a buzz-word list of behaviors. It is no wonder so many people have left the professional ranks over the past 2 years. It is more important that you fit the Eastman mold than actually contribute to the bottom line. At a site level there is continual communication on focusing on what is truly a priority. What is missing and has been for some time is what the priorities truly are. This has created an environment of frustration and boredom. People end up working on what they think is important or nothing at all. We are consistently told to push back on management and coach up when we believe something isn't right or that we are going in the wrong direction. Do so at your own peril. You will be labelled a resister of change and it'll come back to bite you on your "Behaviors" section of the performance review.

You get the sentiment, through all the resources that are thrown into quarterly investor calls, that the company is extremely sensitive to investor demands. There is a substantial level of tension in the executive suites leading up to every investor call. Historically, the organization had a longer term vision. Right now it's just "Journey to Specialty." The CEO doesn't live in the region, which is a huge statement (I believe he lives in Florida). If you want to thrive in the specialty chemical space, and have career options, it's best to identify employers around other dense populations. If you relocate to Kingsport, and lose your position (there have been lay-offs and cost pressures consistently on a 3 year tick), you may damage the opportunities for your family. There are no other substantial chemical employers within 100's of miles. The HQ is a brand-new facility, but when you go around the other facilities in Kingsport, they scream 'old age and lack of investment.' It truly is a facade. I'm not 100% sure why a young professional (male or female) would relocate here, other than to be near family. Johnson City continues to grow and that's good to see, but Kingsport with its plumes of steam in the air and the smell, it gives you the feeling you may be getting cancer every day. Beyond diversity in the CHRO seat, there is little female or diverse representation in their executive board (all white males), and I think future employees should look at this, because it is a reflection of leadership values and mindset towards diversity AND diversity of thought. If you have a family, and want your children growing in a diverse environment, this may not be the best region for you. Eastman Chemical is an underwhelming employer through a global lens. You would do much better to look elsewhere. If you are physically tied to the region...then this is your best financial option.