Pros
Internal promotions/development is always the first option for vacant roles, with many examples of this in production and engineering. Production staff are given the opportunity to learn maintenance activities and develop new skills. They can even progress to engineering apprenticeships to fill engineering vacancies which is not common practise elsewhere. They reward hard work and performance by progressing through grade scales which come with significant pay rises per grade - 5 grades available for operators and 6 for engineers. Mix of cultures, genders and people from different walks of life in all roles - everyone treated fairly and given the same opportunities. Benefits package is OK/competitive with 25-30 days holiday, health plan etc. plus they pay 8% pension (3% employer and 5% employee with no deduction from earnings) which you can top up if you want to. Annual pay rise which isn't always at the rate of inflation but there is always something. They try to be open with staff and explain decisions made, even if they are unpopular, at least they explain their reasoning. Maternity leave is 13 weeks full pay and 13 weeks 90% pay which is good. 1 hour wellbeing time to take each week to do whatever you want with. Lots of change, which is usually positive and keeps things interesting.
Kontras
Hours are long at 40 hours per week, plus 5 hours of unpaid breaks - either -8:30 to 17:30 or 13:00 to 22:00 Paternity leave could be better at 4 weeks - still better than legal minimum. No matched contribution options on pension, though they do pay 5% employee contributions for you.
Pros
* Offer a lot of outside company events paid by the company to boost morale & encourage better working environment (needed frequently as the office and staff have as much personality as a funeral home). * Free parking but cramped to get in * Work from home Monday and Friday * I wish I could honestly think of anything else *Colleagues are somewhat helpful but very awkward & introverted to the point where it feels the equivalent of pulling teeth to even bother at times to ask for help at times.
Kontras
* No career progression *The job as a technical services consultant is advertised as a IT support role similar to a first line support at any other firm, however, it's far from it. You get told from the jump that the skills you learn are non transferable anywhere else as it's virtually a useless role. * Got asked if you're willing to get the same pay to stay role for 2 years and not progress (really?) *Co workers & management are about soulless and deadpan as you can imagine. The most talk you get is a hi (if even that) from 9-5. * I kid you not, one of the perks is getting a mug with your name it to drink coffee or tea from. * "Train" you for 3-4 months to learn things you will never use on the job. * Advertise for mental health but are the source of your mental health decline due to poor working environment & non-existent culture.
Pros
Some genuinely talented and hard-working developers who did their best to keep things running despite the chaos. Occasionally, teamwork and shared problem-solving made the job rewarding.
Kontras
Toxic culture driven by personal politics, not merit. Leadership routinely ignored warnings, broke promises, and promoted based on relationships rather than skill. Constant reactivity with no effort to address root causes created endless crisis management and high turnover. Trust and transparency were virtually non-existent.