Pros
-The work can be challenging and fun. Opportunity for developing skills if you take initiative and are a leader. -Everyone has a private, decent-sized office. There's a really cheap cafeteria and a gym. Nice, clean facilities. In-house graphics and printing department. -Casual atmosphere - attire ranges from jeans to suits everyday. You can pretty much dress according to your mood. -Benefits are decent. Generous leave time for sick leave/vacation, but no maternity leave. -Flexible schedule for some projects, along with working remotely from home. -I've never been micro-managed, and management is very receptive/appreciative of new ideas. -Senior staff members on my project have been excellent mentors, and they are kind and encouraging. Good at providing positive feedback. I have a lot of respect for them.
Cons
-Salary is below industry standard, and can be extremely discouraging. I'm not compensated fairly for the additional responsibilities that I've taken on over the years. -Some staff abuse the casual atmosphere and contribute little to project goals. It's particularly annoying when you know they're paid more to do less. When you complain and expect management to intervene, nothing changes. -When new staff are hired they are often ignored and not given assignments/training for extended periods of time. This was my experience years ago and other new hires have shared this opinion. -Some managers are disorganized and do not establish feasible due dates or guidelines for projects. Not the best at communicating effectively, either. Limited communication regarding project assignments and roles, and it is unclear how much the company supports internal staff career advancement. -Westat puts their employees' safety at risk by staying open during hurricanes and blizzards. -The free coffee tastes like potting soil.