Pros
Interesting line of work, ESOP benefits are fantastic in this day and age (if you can survive long enough to become vested in your share that is), and fair amount of autonomy in particular positions. If management cleaned up a bit, this would be a fantastic job, perhaps even for a lifetime.
Cons
Management tends to be...greedy, considering they're the ones who truly benefit from ESOP by keeping turnover rate just high enough by booting others out of the program before vestment, kicking the funds back to themselves in their secure position within the company. Often a negative atmosphere (people hardly ever seem happy, probably die to being treated as nothing more than robots or else face the potential consequence of being replaced by one), and just overall bad company culture (advancement opportunities are there, but work/life balance will suffer until you finally "make it" IF you ever do). Don't volunteer working an hour or more of overtime or weekends thinking you'll be pardoned on the occasional tardy (even 1-2 minutes!). They are penny pinchers to nth degree, and you better be as well going into employment at an employee owned company (not "employee operated" though of course).