Pros
I have been with Azavea for several years, and I have found it worthy of a five-star rating throughout my tenure. In addition to the strong project management practices, free coffee (and snacks!), flexible work schedules, convenient location, great benefits, and incredible networking opportunities referenced as “pros” in an earlier review, I would add that Azavea is a B Corporation that works on projects with civic and social impact. Not many companies can make that statement. But my favorite benefit has to be the 10% research and learning program. Employees can devote 10% of their paid time to a personal research project of their choosing, such as working with machine learning algorithms, OpenCV or Google Glass. They can also spend that time learning new technical skills at conferences, training classes or workshops around the country. I have attended some great conferences through this program, with all travel expenses paid for by Azavea.
Cons
In responding to a comment made by a former employee about salaries, I just want to state that compensation always tends to vary, both between and within companies, depending on everything from company size to employee experience and tenure. Having worked for both large and small firms, I agree that larger firms do tend to pay more than smaller ones. That said, I think that in a large company, you lose a lot more than you gain. You experience a sense of anonymity and a lack of personal interest in you and your work that no amount of additional salary can ever make up for. In a small company – and at Azavea, in particular – you are so much more than just a small cog in a large machine. The experience is much more intimate, both with your colleagues and your clients. And as part of a B Corporation, you are actually able to see the benefits of your work on the local community and in communities around the world. That really makes me proud. In regard to the statement about wage tax, many nearby states and communities have reciprocal arrangements with Philadelphia, so that whatever you pay in wage tax goes toward your state or local tax bill at the end of each year. And in this economy, when so many employees are being asked to contribute large sums to their health care costs, it is a tremendous privilege to work for a company that not only pays the entire premium for a very good plan, but also gives you a large annual stipend to draw from to cover your co-pays and related expenses. I think this is a great benefit for people of all ages. Azavea will also match up to 3% of an employee’s salary each year to help with student loan repayments. What a great idea!