Pros
There's perhaps only two positive things I can say about working in finance at Dish's headquarters: it's very easy to advance by just sticking around, and it will make every job after you leave seem like a dream.
Cons
Dish as a company is behind the times in every way, and is making no effort to improve. The environment at the Englewood headquarters is toxic, and management (from the very top down to lower level) shows no sign of even acknowledging the problem. Some of the most glaring cons are as follows: 1.) Respect. It is very clear that Dish does not respect, or trust their employees in any way. Likewise, employees neither respect or trust the company. Almost everyone openly mocks the company and it's policies, often in the office. 2.) Compensation. Pay starts off competitive, but tiny yearly increases mean you will quickly fall behind the hot Denver market. Dish is cheap in every way, and will not pay to keep talent. 3.) Turnover. Dish's turnover is shockingly high, and the finance department was no exception. People become fed up and burnt out at a rate i've never seen. It's difficult to build work relationships outside of your unit as the people you connect with usually leave soon after. Talented managers and employees have no reason to stay, and they don't. 4.) Working conditions. This is something that should be a non-issue anywhere, but it is an issue here. The Englewood office is outdated, overpopulated, and difficult to work in. Overcrowding is the main issue -- there are simply not enough bathrooms or space to comfortably house 2000+ people in this building. Overcrowding coupled with an open office is a disaster that leads to low productivity and aggravation. There are none of the typical open office design elements that help combat visual and audible distraction. 5.) Management. Management is a problem from the top down at Dish. I feel that lower management is forced to embrace the toxic culture pushed down on them, and even good managers cannot make any meaningful change that will impact their employees. Most do not even try. 6.) Rules. Dish sets strict rules that have a negative affect on moral and productivity. The company expects you to be flexible for them, but will not be flexible with you. 7.) Productivity. Productivity is low at Dish for many reasons. The extreme turnover is the main cause, but many employees simply do not care about their job. This can make it difficult to stay motivated or to find help on a project. 8.) Work life balance. New employees in finance will enjoy six months to a year of reasonable work life balance. After a year, most will become overworked and stressed as work piles up and team members continually quit all around. Senior members of the finance team are always overburdened, unhappy, and unsupported. 9.) Reputation. Dish has a stigma in Denver, and other local employers are very aware of it. Be careful of branding yourself with a scarlet letter.
