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Portland General Electric

Engaged Employer

Portland General Electric reviews

4.3

82% would recommend to a friend

(415 total reviews)
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Maria Pope

86% approve of CEO

80% positive business outlook

Portland General Electric has an employee rating of 4.3 out of 5 stars, based on 415 company reviews on Glassdoor which indicates that most employees have an excellent working experience there. The Portland General Electric employee rating is in line with the average (within 1 standard deviation) for employers within the Energy, Mining & Utilities industry (3.7 stars).

Reviews by job title

415 reviews
1.0
Jan 6, 2020
Recommend
CEO approval
Business Outlook

Pros

Excellent individual contributors who are top notch at what they do. Virtually everyone on technical teams is technically proficient and willing to bend over backwards to get the job done. Most importantly, they are team players and a joy to work with.

Cons

PGE is in the middle of revamping several key areas of their IT ecosystem with decidedly mixed results. I was part of a new data science team that is led by management who believes intimidation, micromanagement, and fear are the best tools to achieve results. Strategy and tactics are often confused, creating an environment where there is a lack of shared vision. Meandering projects with moving goalposts lead to burnout and frustration. There are some outstanding contributors on these teams with great technical skills and thoughtful ideas who, unfortunately, are rarely listened to. Instead, a heavy-handed approach, where employees are distrusted rules. Technical development and documentation is downplayed in favor of endless Powerpoint presentations that will take up 25-50% of your time. I've literally seen managers take control of keyboards from employees at their desks so they can edit docs and emails while the employee helplessly looks on. In short, employees are not trusted to do their jobs and are constantly second guessed leading to an environment of uncertainty and doubt.

2.0
Nov 25, 2019
Recommend
CEO approval
Business Outlook

Pros

PGE's clean power and diversity aspirations are very inspiring. A lot of extremely smart and capable people are buried within the ranks in this organization. Might be fine for someone new to their career that needs expereince. If you are a nice, reasonably smart and somewhat competent white man who is good at flattering your boss you should apply immediately. This is one place in America where you can still find an openly unlevel playing field that works to your advantage and that no one seems seriously interested in changing.

Cons

Upper level management is completely disengaged in the grassroots. As such, many who quickly rise through the ranks are primarily people who surround themselves with yes-men and are good at perception management whether or not their competencies back that up. Very many of them are smart, likable white men who are incompetent leaders. The company boasts about its 20% of women on the board of directors and that women make $1.03 to each $1 that men make but this is primarily because women and people of color at PGE are underemployed. Other than the CEO there are very few women and people of color in management tracks and director roles except in more traditionally female and administrative leadership areas like HR/Admin/Legal. Those diverse leaders and managers who are there tend to be more qualified than their typically affable white male bosses and are promoted and advanced less quickly. If you have leadership skills and expereince to back it up, go elsewhere. You have options. You will advance more quickly and your talents will be more appreciated than at PGE.

5.0
Oct 28, 2019

Great Employer

Anonymous employee
Recommend
CEO approval
Business Outlook

Pros

Rapidly changing workplace that is getting more agile and creative. Things are changing a lot and for the better, I cannot wait to see what we continue to do and how we support our community.

Cons

Sometimes change can be a little slow, but that is a side effect of being regulated.

Viewing 298 - 300 of 415 Reviews

Glassdoor has 483 Portland General Electric reviews submitted anonymously by Portland General Electric employees. Read employee reviews and ratings on Glassdoor to decide if Portland General Electric is right for you.