Pros
I could go on forever here and for me, the biggest benefit of this company has been the people who work here. We are people who love taking care of other people and I'm surrounded by folks who care passionately about the work they do. In 2011, I walked into our old buildling, sick to my stomach at the idea of working in a cubicle... for a call center. I was absolutely sure I was selling my soul to pay some medical bills. This was going to be temporary...6-12 months max...then I’d find my way back into something I was passion about doing for work. On my first day of training I left impressed and surprised by the spunk, kindness and energy of the associates I had met. Almost 12 years later, I am still continually impressed and often struck speechless by the kindness of the people who work within these walls (and now all over the country thanks to remote work!) When I proposed to my husband, my co-workers we’re there for me to help cover shifts and scheme my plans. When I decided to start my own business, my bosses/coworkers/peers helped me find the right job within the organization that would accommodate the chaotic schedule of entrepreneurship. When my husband and roommate both broke themselves (in separate accidents two weeks apart) my team stepped in to aid and the People Department (our version of HR) helped me get the time I needed to take care of them. When my grandmother had a fatal stroke, my team stood by my side while I take in the hard truth that my grandmother would soon be gone and they helped me get flights to Kentucky to say goodbye. Right before the pandemic, I got to travel to Nepal with a large group of coworkers where we built water towers and provided eye care to a small remote village in the hills. The kindness and warmth I’ve received is keeping the light on inside of my heart. You see, it turns out I didn’t sell my soul all of those years ago. I was walking into the place that would help guide me to it. In addition to all of this, 1800Contacts has provided ample opportunities for me to grow and develop as a professional. We have a $2500 yearly tution reimbursement program that I have maxed out several times over my tenure. I've moved into leadership roles and from the call center to the people department. I've gotten to work with Marketing, IT, business development, the distribution centers, customer service and so much more. I've also had a slew of medical issues over the years and our health insurance has kept me afloat through it all. After I sold my business in 2019, I set my mind to improving my finacial wellness. I took a course through work that taught me the 8 pillars of finacial wellness and have successfully saved up a ton of money with our 401K match and HSA programs. If you are a hardworking, fun-loving, accountable human, then this is a great place to be!
Cons
This probably isn't a con to most people, and I don't love being on video meetings all the time. I crave in-person connection and community. I think that this will shift to be more even over time, we are already starting to see it settle into a new rhythm. I also think that is salary is your biggest motivator, then we might not be the right organization for you. We take pride in having a high total compensation package, stability, and a great culture. To successfully do that we aren't able to pay top dollar like the Tech startup companies that pop up often. Personally, I don't see this as a con either because believing in the mission of my organization, being treated well, having great health insurance, worklife balance, and ownership in the company are all more important than having the highest salary possible.
