I worked for Highmark for a little over 3.5 years, and it was 3.5 years too long. The amount of time and work they expect from you is not nearly reflected in your salary. I was once forced to work a 33 hour straight day during an online release, and wasn't even thanked by upper management. I was told afterwards to take a nap, and come in the next day. So let me thank you for allowing me to take a half day to catch up on sleep I was forced to miss. Working at Highmark created personal relationship problems as well, because there was no time for my significant other - or a personal life in general. I would work around 9 hours a day in the office, and then come home to log back into the system and work another 4-5 more. Not counting the weekends that were lost because of hours put into poorly timed and rushed releases. On top of this when I was finally let go, because of "poor reviews" (and mind you these poor reviews were because "not enough work was getting done" even though I worked 60-80 hour weeks) my manager called off that day. Along with my manager calling off, my director pulled me into an office at lunch time (after working a 13 hour work day the day prior) and informed me that I was being let go. To boot, he could not even look me in the eyes while letting me go. The nerve of him and my direct manager calling off the day I was being let go just goes to show you what upper management mentality is like in Highmark. The team I worked with was a great team, and we did our upper management's job's for them. This was the thanks I got, and couldn't even be looked in the eyes. Since I've been let go my manager was also demoted, and my director's position has been completely changed. The Highmark building may look strong and tall, but it's crumbling from within - and everyone is out for themselves and to make you do the work to make themselves look good.
