Pros
Decently flexible with scheduling, most coworkers were personable and very client-centered. The new business development model is a step in the right direction.
Cons
I worked at S&ME for ten years and was laid off (over the phone!!) due to restructuring (euphemistically). Ending someone’s employment is life altering, and doing so over the phone is beyond the pale, especially with layoffs that are planned weeks in advance. Prospective hires: take note. This is what you’re worth to S&ME management. The ESOP is a joke and not a good substitute for a 401k match. In a 401k plan, investments are self-directed. With limited exceptions, ESOP participants are stuck with S&ME stock. Over the past 4 years, a basic savings account would’ve yielded higher returns than the ESOP, and an index fund would’ve outperformed the ESOP exponentially. Vacation policy (use it or lose it) is unfairly And unevenly applied. Communication was always a struggle. If you’re not in the Carolinas, you don’t exist.