Pros
1.) The insurance benefits, 401k plan, and especially the free tuition (18 credits per year for employees and full-time tuition for spouses and dependent children) are the major reasons most employees work here. 2.) Some of the best coworkers I’ve ever had. There are always exceptions, but most of the employees I’ve worked with have been very friendly, kind, genuine people. 3.) Staff are not only allowed but encouraged to pray, have devotions, and discuss their faith, which is rare and refreshing. 4.) If you’re a good employee, your job is relatively secure. Due to the size of the university, layoffs are rare. If one department faces cutbacks, staff are usually offered the opportunity to be placed in a different (though perhaps not better) position. 5.) On the whole, low and mid-level managers are generally compassionate, hard-working, and well-intentioned.
Cons
1.) It’s no secret that Liberty does not offer competitive pay. Since Lynchburg is not a high-income area, it’s not a terrible wage for most entry-to-mid level employees in the region. For the industry, however, it’s quite low and the staff all know it. Despite bragging in the media about how much money they have, the university is hesitant to spend a penny more than absolutely necessary on their staff. Cost of living is given as a “bonus” rather than raises that might accumulate (and therefore actually match the cost of living each year), staff are charged for parking (even those who use their own gas and mileage to run company errands), salaried staff are not compensated for overtime but docked for any time they miss, just to name a few. 2.) Staff are seen as dispensable and valued accordingly. Many direct supervisors truly do care about their staff and try to find ways to reward them, but their hands are tied by a corporate culture where management tactics are often fear-based, expectations and stress levels are high, and employees are expected to be engaged, compliant, loyal, and give above and beyond to the company, while expecting little in return. Expectations change daily, job descriptions are vague enough to encompass drastic shifts in responsibility without any accompanying title or pay change, and exceptional workers are often rewarded with heavier workloads. Turnover is very high, with a majority of employees burning out within 2-3 years. As far as Liberty is concerned, however, there are plenty more where those came from. 3.) Career opportunities are limited and come at a price. On the plus side, Liberty is willing to hire a lot of young college graduates with little work experience, providing employees with an opportunity to build their resumes and gain skills. Once employees have paid their dues and established themselves, however, they often find themselves stuck. It is common for management to fill desirable positions with friends and family members or based upon internal politics, overlooking employees with more seniority or better qualifications. Employees are also unable to transfer to a job that pays less, even if they voluntarily request the transfer to obtain better hours or a job they enjoy more. Job postings do not indicate what a position pays, however, so employees must fill out an application just to find out if they are even qualified. That wouldn't be so bad except that employees cannot apply for any other job in the university without a signed advancement form from their director. This makes it impossible to even casually assess other opportunities or find out if you qualify to transfer to a different position without notifying your boss that you are thinking about leaving. Even if you don't want or get the potential job, you've now eliminated your chance of advancement within your own department. 4.) Liberty does not have a great reputation in the community. There are still many who love them, but a surprising number of residents consider them hypocritical, greedy, and untrustworthy. They aren’t really wrong. 5.) Hypocrisy is epidemic, particularly among the high-level executive leadership. I’ve seen some of the most eloquent speeches, prayers, and social media posts from leaders who, within the privacy of their offices, are well known to be arrogant, manipulative, and dishonest. They claim to be driven by Christian values but the entire town knows that money, sports, and impressive new buildings are their top priorities. 6.) There’s very little trust. It is not uncommon for leadership to lie or cover things up. Verbal contracts can and do change and management often does not feel obligated to honor promises or remedy mistakes unless they are documented, so get everything in writing. Employees may trust their immediate supervisor, or even the next couple levels of management, but they recognize that most managers have limited authority and are often left in the dark about major events and decisions. HR and top-tier leadership make most decisions, which are kept secret from even high levels of management until the very last moment, and are then conveyed with very little detail or rationale. Written communications are rare and purposely obtuse, which means that employees seldom fully understand them and they can easily be interpreted in the company’s favor. Honestly, the expectations you have coming in will determine job satisfaction at this company. If you are looking for a long-term career with competitive pay and advancement opportunities in a uniquely Christian, value-driven culture that fosters trust and transparency and makes its employees a priority, you are likely to be disappointed. But if you recognize that Liberty is just a billion-dollar corporation, like every other, and are just looking for a reasonable job with benefits and an opportunity to advance your education, this job may have a lot to offer.