Pros
- Laid back working environment, academic in style - Very friendly coworkers - Opportunity to learn new skills - Good amount of PTO (vaca and sick time is combined) - Company sponsored 401K contributes 10% of salary after one year - Annual Employee Appreciation Day (used to be hot food, now it's sandwiches)
Cons
- Poor management, no "atta boys" AT ALL. This may vary by department/manager - Project priorities rarely made clear by management - Management is very top heavy - Pay is WELL under market value - Annual raises in 2010, 2011, 2012 were 1%-3%, no bonus pay - Benefit premiums increase every year, STD and LTD salary % went down each year (now 60%) - Company used to pay employees when they closed for inclement weather. Now you have to use your PTO to cover your time out - even though you can't report for work - No real opportunity for growth or promotion if you have a BA/BS. Management will tell you there is, but when the rubber meets the road, you're stuck where you got hired - Perks such as Ice cream days and catered socials are few and far between now, contributing to lowered morale - Very clear distinction between the value of PhD employees and those with lesser degrees - Every minute of your day is charged to either projects or overhead, and it's your responsibility that you don't use too much OH - OVERALL - a company that in the 80' and 90's had a wonderful reputation for work/life flexibility, great benefits, good salaries, opps for promotions, lots of perks, has changed dramatically and is no longer the coveted company it once was