Pros
From the moment you enter Mapcom offices, you immediately think "this place is different" in a good way. The kitchen is always stocked with snacks and drinks including a wide variety of healthier choices. The office "mom" often bakes cookies and other goodies for the staff to enjoy. There is an herb garden where the staff can obtain very fresh herbs cared for by mom. Downstairs features exercise room, shower, fully-equipped kitchen, washer and dryer and, wait for it, a 3-tap kegerator with micro/craft brew selections. The kegerator is tapped for special occasions, which include when a new client is signed. Staff are encouraged to eat healthy and exercise. In addition to the healthy food choices there are frequent organized fitness activities and contests. Outdoor meetings and walks in the park-like setting are the norm. The dress code is "anything goes" unless a client is visiting, which is fairly infrequent. Expect flip flops, full-on yoga apparel, and costumes on various occasions. All-in-all, there is much right going on setting a comfortable and supportive work environment.
Cons
Most of the problems are rooted in poor management practices at the top. Little respect is given for individual schedules. Meetings -- especially those including the President -- usually go long causing staff to scramble to find meeting space at the last minute. Only working 50 hours a week is frowned on. People are expected to devote their lives to the company. The President is an extreme micro manager getting involved in the minutest of insignificant of details such as what chotchkies to hand out in the exhibit hall at conferences. No idea is a good idea unless it's the President's idea. You often hear "if you want to do something different, you'll have to get [the President] to think it's his idea." People are paid incentives for ideas that, if implemented, result in new revenue. Sounds good, right? Unfortunately, how they implement it at Mapcom results in people keeping their ideas to themselves which discourages openness and collaboration. People are often hired to do one thing, but asked to something completely different. Countless stories abound of people being moved into different positions shortly after being hired. On the less significant side, office space is tight. Two people per cubicle is the norm here and "cubicle" is a bit of an overstatement.
