Pros
- The benefits are good: great health and dental coverage, good pension plan, good work-life balance - I've worked with great people across the organization who are eager to help you even when what you them to do is not in their job description. - Your work affects teachers and students you have personal connections with, so it is meaningful and rewarding when you produce something that is appreciated. - Upper management realized that change was needed in the education market, and they're trying to make the necessary changes to transition from a publisher to a "learning company".
Cons
- The restructuring is taking years. In the meantime, work projects aren't being approved until the restructuring is figured out, which means many people don't have enough to work on, which means there isn't much to sell, so people are let go because profits weren't as good as hoped. Retiring people aren't being replaced. People who quit aren't being replaced. People who go on maternity leave aren't even being temporarily replaced. There is no (or very little) infusion of fresh blood and energy. It's depressing. Walking down the nearly-empty hallways can be spooky - a stark contrast to the past, when the atmosphere was more vibrant (although never an extrovert's paradise!). - It is a very conservative company, with upper management in the same positions for 15+ years, and doing the same things for 15+ years. - It is hard to grow and get promotions, even with outstanding work. You may get verbal praise/thanks, but eventually you'll want more opportunities, a performance-based raise, a promotion...something! Right now, you get extra work from all the people who are quitting/being let go, but you're not rewarded for doing the extra work. - Bad managers are not dealt with at all...the company pretends they don't exist OR acknowledges that they exist, but does nothing to improve the situation. There is one middle manager in particular who is notorious, and she's held the same position for years, while her direct reports continually change because no one can take her verbal abuse for very long. Perhaps managers aren't receiving support/training on how to be good managers? There are too many who feel that micromanagement is the way to go... - I've found that my recent projects require less mental engagement than before. This is partly because of where government funding and curriculum cycles are at, but I feel like I'm doing a lot more data entry and file management type of work than content development. -The digital platforms that have been developed are ungainly, unfriendly beasts that frequently crash or break. The exact OPPOSITE of what teachers want/will use. It's demoralizing developing content for something that you know the end user will hate....if they use it at all.
