Vantaggi
Possibly the best thing about the company is its people. Very interesting, friendly and for the most part agreeable people. The culture is more employee-centered than most institutions, and this makes a lot of sense for a company whose greatest assets are its people. Flexible employment schemes, telecommuting, ability to move between offices and a decent work-life balance are part of the larger picture of this employee-centered culture. The work is pretty interesting and offers you a steep learning curve in the beginning, and the opportunity to meet a huge variety of interesting people. As in most companies, the curve flattens gradually but there are enough opportunities to move sideways across departments within the company.
Svantaggi
For most departments and positions, the pay is inadequate for the qualifications of the employees, who can earn better salaries outside. The bonus scheme has been reevaluated to address this concern, but base salaries still remain low. Vertical movement within the company is somewhat limited, and being promoted takes as much luck and politics as skill and performance. In some departments, qualified people are stuck at the same positions for long periods, while in others young stars rise quickly. It is sad to see qualified people get stuck and lose their motivations.