Pros
I was fully committed to the company, singing its praises in the Northern VA market, investing in company stock, and recommending others to apply and join the best team I’d ever worked for. However, my experience in Knoxville, TN was starkly different. Consistent pros: company wide-trading training, opportunities for career growth, busy time of the year in this industry is spring through fall.
Cons
Approximately 1/3 of the facilities in Knoxville fall short of Extra Space's standards as touted in industry magazines where they recruit for facility management opportunities. The district leadership fosters an environment treating employees like minimum-wage retail workers, characterized by constant negativity and minimal support in daily operations due to high manager turnover. The overall tone being set is one of disposability and lack of respect to managers. I felt what I encountered was completely unacceptable. ESS professes support and respect for its employees. My attempts to engage with the 'employee experience' department left me feeling abandoned. Despite making detailed reports, assurances of investigations leading to interviews never materialized. The work environment grew increasingly toxic. As someone averse to conflict, I was deeply disappointed that my efforts to improve conditions only led to more grinding days rather than the smooth operation it should have been. Assistants have little to no choice in which facilities they have to work at. Newer company standards are for 1 person to run 1 or more facilities singly can be overwhelming during busy season or for new hires as well as seasoned managers.