Small Company Feel, Big Company Response
Pros
At Praxis, you are more than a number or a resource to fill a spot. They care about your individual career success and see how that benefits the company and customer. Praxis management (even the VPs and President) knows each employee and invests in our education and advancement. While we 'feel' small, we prime contracts and are able to bid and compete against large companies. We have never stopped growing organically, despite the tumultuous environment over the years. Lay offs almost never happen - Praxis allows for time on the bench, and encourages employees in between jobs to contribute to the company in various ad-hoc ways. We have great parties (3 each year) and there are always sporting tickets up for grabs (O's, Nat's, Redskins, Ravins). Great referral incentives, profit sharing, health care contributions (we even have a high deductible health care plan that is covered at 100% after deductible), snacks and drinks always available at the parent office, free swag from Under Armour and Lands End, exchange closet, etc. Open communication through quarterly all-hands meetings - they even ask for your q's and don't shy away from answering the hard questions. I've always gotten very respectable salary increases without having to ask, even when the economy is down. My manager always keeps tabs on my performance and actually talks to the people I work with - performance reviews do not stress performance review paperwork to prove my yearly worth to the company. Paid time off benefits are very good - I'm up to 5 weeks plus a week of personal leave, which you are free to use without justification (unlike some of the big companies that won't even tell you there is such a thing as sick leave) I was able to change careers with the blessing of Praxis - this was by far the biggest benefit I've experienced in my employment. The encouragement to step up and do new things was incredible. They also are very supportive of working reduced hours to create a work-life balance.
Cons
As with any contracting company, if you work at a customer site, you don't get over to the parent office very often, but Praxis tries to keep the employees well-informed and involved. There is always an excuse to get over and socialize. We used to get snow days paid for 'code red' days, but that was not sustainable, so we have to take leave just like everyone else now.
