Vantaggi
The industry is going through a pressured situation currently, and although Peabody is one of the strongest coal entities in the world, and strongest in the US, it is not immune. In the early 2000's, the company was growing rapidly and very profitable. The challenge was to update systems and processes. The company had a small-company feel, although it was Fortune 500. The growth pressures slowly changed the esprit d'cor, and acquired entities brought new cultures that changed the corporate timbre. Coal will not go away soon, but an employee here needs to take the long view and understand that financial and career rewards are years in the future.
Svantaggi
With the addition of new entities, including the last, large acquisition that has proved to be financially and operationally difficult, the culture of the company has become much more somber. Mounting financial losses and high leverage contribute to the declining mood. In the days of high growth, most with aspirations found the ability to move up. Who you knew mattered, but everyone had a shot. With limited opportunities to advance, who you know has become paramount, and advancement is often not clearly merit-based. Benefits, once a big plus, have become average and slip further backward every year. Large bonuses and adjustments to equity compensation to offset declining stock prices occur only at the highest levels.