What's FERSTT? - Mid-Level Management, Technology Charles Schwab Employee Review

1.0
Jun 17, 2008
Recommend
CEO approval
Business Outlook

Pros

The stated company values are FERSTT: Fairness, Empathy, Respect, Striving, Teamwork, Trust. 4-week sabbatical leave every 5-years. You can ride the geographic strategy wave and cruise along if you are in Denver, Austin or Phoenix. 10% employee commission discount. Telecommuting. Public transportation to work if you are in San Francisco. Generous severance package if you are lucky enough to get laid-off. 15% discount for Employee Stock Purchase Plan (stock buys on February 1 and July 1 only).

Cons

Due to geographic strategy to leave San Francisco, there is bad morale eroding team & individual productivity. Employees undermine each other to make themselves look good to hang onto their jobs. Individual contributors and management alike abuse telecommuting policies. No one works on Fridays (branches may be the exception due to branch hours). Bad traffic & commute in Denver, Phoenix and Austin. If you are in Technology, expect long working hours to span San Francisco, Denver, Austin, Phoenix and India (offshore to Wipro, InfoSys and EDS Mphasis). Employee Stock Purchase Plan introduced this year only allows buying stocks on Feb 1 and July 1. No dollar cost averaging throughout the year. The 401K match only applies if you are employed on December 31. No 401K matching if you are fired, laid-off or forced to resign prior to December 31. The fattest end-of-year bonus payout is dragged out to mid-March.

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5.0
Jul 11, 2026
Recommend
CEO approval
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Pros

Easygoing, great atmosphere, good people

Cons

They value personal relations rather than actual work ability.

5.0
Jul 8, 2026
Recommend
CEO approval
Business Outlook

Pros

-I did not know anything about finance, just had sales experience to my name and an open mind to learning and they took me in and tought me so much. -Benefits are top tier, from the basics to some that you didn't know they even existed. -They give you 8 hours a quarter for personal development. -Good pay without even including bonus or language add ons. -You will learn a LOT -

Cons

-2 year role commitment -Very corporate so might not let be your true self in the job with peers.

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