When I started at GE benefits were very good. However, over the past several years this has changed dramatically. Now (2010), GE benefits are among the worst in the industry (For instance, bearing a child in the hospital with minor complications will cost over $10k out of pocket now with GE's best available Health Choice option). Tuition reimbursement use to have no retention agreement, it now has a 4 year retention agreement. Dental care is reduced, employer contributions to 401k are now lower for new hires, and employees typically work 60-80hr weeks for 40hr pay (no more overtime pay... this has been typical for the past 2 years). Combine the greatly reduced benefits with industry average wages and the net utility an employee receives is uncompetitive.
When I started there I was put on a engine program collocated in in the basement of one of the facilities (this is where a large majority of engineers are). These buildings have been flooding for many years and have had issues with mold, but management will not acknowledge the problem (in fact they will even show bogus test results (probably paid off by the company) that show no mold issues). Even when the janitors acknowledge having to clean up mold problems. I can go on for days... what I am saying is that the work environment is horrible (I wouldn't trust that you would get a window seat either as they have been doing for new hires, they just end up in the basement after less then a year somehow).
1) Uncompetitive salary
2) Bad benefits
3) Horrible work environment
4) Unparalleled bureaucracy
