Looking Back at Lockehhed Martin Aeronautics Company
Pros
Lots of holidays and vacation - At least 10 days Christmas break each year; get 4 weeks with 5 years and beyond. Very competitive pay for Dallas-Fort Worth area of Texas - Beat out similar companies in the vicinity. Relatively manageable work load - Not that many occasions for overtime; up to 2011, overtime requests were readily granted if there was a dire need and can be proven so. Comparatively good team work - Team members tend to stick together and look out for each other; also share technical information without overly guarding "trade secrets". Reasonable 401K savings plan and a funded pension plan for those who joined before 2006 and had 5 or more years with company.
Cons
Big , bureaucratic style of management, almost government-like, top-down communications, seldom chances for worker-bees to speak out or appeal unfair supervisory or project decisions. Assumption is that management is "almost always right". Hard to obtain information on clerical and support staff due to big bureaucracy. Takes a long time to receive support in terms of office maintenance and travel orders. Middle to upper management approval always needed for most matters, supervisors cannot have say-so in lots of important decisions. Old boys network, promotions nowadays if you meet the criterion of "who you know and not what you know"; hard work does not make a significant difference, even though one receives a bit more compensation on an annual performance review basis; promotions to senior or managerial levels requires Engineering VP approval. Old days before F-35 start-up in 2002 were fairer with annual increment process that accumulates merits each year toward promotions. Difficult to obtain transfers - "who you know" invariably gets you places. Good luck if it is not "who you know" but trying to do it with "what you know"! Be careful of certain people who show biases and at times even prejudice against others who are not U.S. born or hold differing opinions; can be ultra-hawkish and cling to one-sided strong opinions. Unionized labor workforce - hire relatively few janitors who may be overworked; less than clean bathrooms. Few offices with privacy, open bay arrange by cubicles with 4-feet partitions (don't talk too loud over the telephone, or socialize by talking too much and loudly. Eliminated reimbursements for continuing education courses - Must apply for degree programs in Engineering , MBA, etc., to get reimbursed. Poor performance with bad grades at school result in refusla to reimburse. Charge $'s for using company operating gymnasium and pool, etc. Could increase allowance per person company pays for annual Christmas luncheon (only $20).
