Pros
Lots of smart people to work with. Good PTO to start. Big global company doing interesting work, chance to develop good relationships with your customers.
Cons
COVID policies in US offices are horrific and dangerous. Employees forced to go to offices even for roles that can easily work from home like admin, sales or finance. Company lies during lockdowns to say all employees are "essential" when only lab staff actually are. No changes made to make offices safer like barriers, air filters, fresh air flow... nothing, just cheap masks. Employees aren’t even told when coworkers in the same small spaces test positive. They claim to clean all surfaces, but this isnt even happening regularly. Everyone is forced into offices because US management "doesn't like" the idea of people working from home. That's it. No real reason for why Intertek is putting employees lives at risk and no intervention from HQ in London to keep people safe. Wont even make exceptions for people with high risk family members. Absolutely unethical and immoral. The COVID response is just the latest example of an old school, bullying culture that doesn’t value employees, expertise, retention, or ethics. Even after years of high turnover, terrible feedback, and embarrassing reviews, there is no effort to change. There’s no leadership, no communication of strategy or goals, no 360 feedback, no efforts in diversity, wellness, sustainability or other things you might expect in a modern workplace. The offices don’t even recycle paper or cans for gods sake. The drive for profitability takes priority over everything, but that’s still no excuse, because other countries run profitably with more forward thinking leaders and happier employees. But the US hasn’t had new ideas or leaders since the 1990s and they don’t think they need any. Only work here if you really need a job, but plan to leave after a year or two because there’s nowhere to go, no one to look up to, no raises or realistic commission plans, and no real potential for growth. On the bright side you’ll be recruited by competitors because the entire industry knows Intertek is only good for a “starter” job, and when you’re ready to grow in your career and be treated with respect you need to move on.
