AXA Equitable Reviews

Pros

Great benefits
if you like the typical 'corporate' structure, they have it
If you're in NYC, go for it; otherwise, forget it

Cons

pay grades are low for the industry
little opportunity for advancement if not in NYC
agents treated like kings; employees like serfs
they pay lip service to HR policies, ethics code, culture, values, etc. but don't follow them
Hierarchy & bureaucracy make it hard to get anything done or changed

Advice to Senior Management

Respect employees & their input--they could cut your expenses & raise your profits. If you're going to have written policies, codes & values, FOLLOW them. Decentralize/segment this dinosaur of a company so that smaller business units can get things done.

Pros

Professional people and normal hours

Cons

Favoratism and layoffs are rampant and considered normal course of business.

Pros

If you are an insurance broker or actuary, this may be a good place for you.

Cons

Downsizing of long-service, well-qualified employees is a sign of what the company values (and doesn't value) in its employees.

Pros

Intelligent and Comitted People - Best in the Industry
Work Hard but Have Flexibility When I Need It
Very Good Total Rewards
Global Resources and Opportunities with AXA Group

Cons

Too many whiners - need to manage them up or out!
Some Sr. Leaders still looking up to Executive Committee for direction (and empowerment)... come on already... it's there for the taking!
Sr. Leadership needs to walk the talk on not tolerating poor behavior

Advice to Senior Management

Keep up the good work Mark (Pearson)!

Pros

Very good work life balance.

Cons

Not enough incentives to motivate workers.

Advice to Senior Management

To increase the competitiveness of the business AXA needs to increase the competitiveness of its people.

Pros

Great views from the Jersey City office (except it is in NJ and the commute there is horrible!)
Diversity programs are well done
If you fight hard enough for it, you can actually get some good development opportunities at AXA
Trips to Paris (if your job has a global reach)
Health center has a nurse on staff all the time for basic medical needs

Cons

There is no work life balance. None. People work very hard with no recognition. You get a lot of vacation days but good luck trying to use them. The pay is fair and benefits are pretty good. It is a big sacrifice though for the work load and hours you put in. Management is terrible. It is the old boys network at its best. Promotions are based on favoritism. Company struggles with strategic direction and moves from one product to another in hopes that it will be a "game changer" but so far nothing seems to stick in the market. The former head of HR (Blevins) allowed her few favorites to run the entire show and to the detriment of the entire department. If you work outside of NYC (even in Jersey City), you will be a second class citizen.

Advice to Senior Management

Many of the words and phrases you use to motivate the employees sound great. The problem is that actions do not match words. Get some women on the executive team -- it is a blatant old boys network across the top.

Pros

The people at the workplace

Cons

Not many growth opportunities here at AXA.

Advice to Senior Management

N/A

Pros

global experience, large global company

Cons

micro manage environment, lack of trust

Advice to Senior Management

your people are biggest asset

Pros

The work load is very challenging, you will not get borred. Good benefit, work from home.

Cons

too much red tape and some upper management don't have a clue.

Advice to Senior Management

have a can do attitude, hire the right people.

Pros

The benefits are good. Pay is not up to industry standards.

Cons

Management is a joke. It's like the 'good ol girls network'. They don't recognize employees for outstanding accomplishments; it's the same people nominated for advisory committees, 'Rising Star' award EVERY year and whether you're in the 'clique' or not which is very small! So many good employees and so many bad leaders! I was there for 3+ years and was never happier to leave a place. Much, much better pay and hands down by far much better management!

Advice to Senior Management

Get a clue and cut your 'Management' staff, not the workers! Get new blood in Charlotte.