Prudently managed company that offers solid job stability but with some areas of improvement within call centers
Pros
Parent company out of Canada takes a measured and conservative approach resulting in the company meeting or exceeding quarterly financial objectives as well as creating a corporate work environment of trust and stability. Unlike most other financial services firms, Great-West very rarely engages in employee layoffs. Their fortunes are not principally tied with the prevailing winds of the stock market like those of some other major financial services firms in the Denver area. New CEO with a sterling pedigree has been put in place effective last May. Lots of new talent as a result of JPM acquisition and merger with Putnam's retirement business. Very excited with the new executive management team.
Cons
Good ole boys (and girls) club mentality of VP level down to middle management. A "do as I say, not as I do" approach towards the rank and file staff. Favoritism and politics abound and if you're good at "managing up," you'll be successful with these sorts of people. Non-call center departments have a pretty good work/life balance. Call centers, however, not so good. Call centers engage in "lean staffing" which results in constant heavy call volumes, erratic hold times, and a "reactive" rather than "proactive" response from line managers. Unrealistic service level goals and the constant cancellation of employee meetings (one-on-one's, team meetings, training sessions, etc.) in the name of meeting those unrealistic service levels with the limited amount of staffing has had a poor effect on morale. High turnover due to burn out and stress has been common over the years, resulting in senior management imposing freezes on staff from posting out for other positions. This has created a culture of indentured servitude. A work force management system is used to handle the staff's daily schedule and activities. This system is seen as very restrictive and de-humanizing to staff. There is very limited ability to get time off for vacations or even schedule doctors appointments. WFO system viewed by phone reps and managers alike as uncaring, by-the-book, and inflexible. Line managers have their hands tied when dealing with WFO staff; very little authority or autonomy. The call center culture contradicts the work/life balance that senior management regularly claims to promote. Basically, there are two sets of rules-one for call center staff and one for non-call center staff. Thus, a vicious cycle has been started-high stress, low morale, and micromanagement/high turnover/inability to pursue other opportunities within the company/loss of talent to outside employers/low morale and turnover/repeat.
