Coworkers are amazing, Management is not - Anonymous employee SNA International Employee Review

Thanks to the reviewer for recognizing the exceptional talent of our company’s workforce and the fine work of your supervisor and the back office team. I am glad you find the work rewarding – this contact supports an incredible government mission. The company competes for work as a federal contractor and must execute within rates negotiated with the government. Unfortunately, rates (and salaries) are not tied to inflation in government contracting; instead, an annual escalation is negotiated with the government before the contract is awarded (i.e., in Year Zero of a five-year contract); escalations are not designed to address unanticipated jumps in inflation/deflation. Our company applies all escalation increases directly to employee compensation. To provide context to the scientists and professionals considering employment with SNA, this review focuses on one location of one contract: Honolulu, Hawaii. Honolulu is one of the most expensive places to live in the US, and while we try to explain that living in HI is not the same as being on vacation in HI and that the cost of living is very high, some people find that island life is more costly than expected. Before offering a position, our recruiters and program managers talk candidly about the pros and cons of living in HI. Our goal is no surprises – we want our staff to love their job and be happy where they choose to live. Also, we are fortunate to have a terrific government client who consistently goes the extra mile to support our workforce within the rules and regulations imposed by the FAR. Since we value providing the best support to the US government, which also serves the US taxpayers, salary increases and bonuses are merit-based. The company recognizes and rewards high performance and positive impact on client missions. We reward productivity over longevity and do not have (or intend to have) a tenure-based pay scale. This high-performance expectation may not suit everyone, but it’s a cornerstone of our commitment to excellence. Some employees on this specific contract have increased their salaries by 20+% over several years. The reviewer has a misconception regarding the work of government employees. While our team may work alongside government employees, roles and responsibilities are distinct. Government employee duties extend beyond what SNA staff are tasked with or privy to. It may not be clear from the reviewer’s perspective, but government employees have more responsibility than contractors. The company is 100% supportive of employees who want to “go blue” and become government employees, and we encourage our employees to compete for government positions. Starting out as a government contractor is one of the best ways to move into a government position. Thanks for taking the time to review SNA.