Pros
1. Valuable Experience: Eastman Chemical Company provides an excellent opportunity to gain experience on large-scale projects and initiatives within a complex corporate environment. 2. Competitive Compensation: The company offers a competitive salary in the Kingsport area. 3. Employee Support and Wellness: Eastman is committed to employee well-being, offering various resources such as mental health services, recreation clubs, discounts, and volunteer opportunities. The vacation time is also generous. Paid parental leave is offered, and the short-term disability pay is 100%. 4. Positive Work Environment: There are many genuinely kind and supportive colleagues, contributing to a pleasant and collaborative workplace environment, most of the time. 5. Leadership Quality: With a good leader, your experience at Eastman can be positive.
Cons
1. Cultural Shift: The company has drastically changed in the last decade. Eastman was once known for its collaborative and transparent environment, where employees were happy and proud to work. Now, it has become another cutthroat corporate environment. 2. Declining Ethics: Despite promoting inclusivity and open communication, employees do not feel safe expressing dissenting opinions due to fear of retaliation. Annual surveys indicate a lack of confidence in the company’s commitment to a supportive work environment, with bullying and retaliatory behavior from leaders often going unpunished. 3. Persistent Layoffs: Layoffs have become a yearly occurrence, creating job insecurity among remaining employees. Many positions in IT, supply chain, marketing, HR, and other departments are being outsourced to cheaper labor in Mexico and India, leading to the loss of long-term, dedicated employees. 4. Underfunded Projects: High-priority projects are initially funded but often lose their budget after a year. Teams are then expected to achieve the same results without adequate staff, budget, or resources. 5. Disconnected Management: Middle management is often not transparent with upper management and the executive team, creating a disconnect between leadership and frontline employees. Upper management appears out of touch with the day-to-day realities faced by employees.