Vantaggi
Exceptional corporate office support/resources. Mission, Vision, Values based company. Ability to offer some really unique solutions which is rare in the industry.
Svantaggi
Top level CORPORATE leadership has a clear vision for the company and communicates it effectively. However, middle management (EVP, RVP) in some regions seems to be stagnant and while they offer lip service, there is very little support for branch level staff. EVP level management team is not readily available but has to approve all pricing that is outside of the “pricing box” and asking a client to wait a day or 2 for your boss to get back to you is crazy and uncompetitive. Additionally in some markets this middle management team has a habit of sending everyone on a wild goose chase to accomplish something only to change their minds and not communicate….VERY DIFFICULT ENVIRONMENT. Sometimes expected activity gets in the way of achieving results and putting the customer first (despite the mission, vision, values which ask you to do so). The message of the company is to hit "PAR" (sales activity) first and then recruit on openings. As a sales manager, I understand the philosophy and the need to meet sales expectations, but I struggled constantly telling customers that we didn't have anyone yet having to turn around and focus on generating more business instead of taking care of what we had. It is a very fine balance, but there needs to be some balance. The company supposedly promotes work/life balance. They offer 9/80 schedule for hourly associates and restrict OT at all costs. This may be a perk to hourly associates, but it means the Branch Manager has to pick up the excess while still being managed to all of the same activity expectations of everyone that works for them. More troubling is that for management level employees who are exempt they are managed as though they are hourly requiring "butt in seat at 8am and 5pm daily” and "don't leave the office except for scheduled appointments.” Lack of trust in your management team to make the right decisions creates lack of trust from your management team.
