Allstate Reviews

Pros

Get to learn a lot. Lot of freedom to explore new ways to do things. Not forced to follow set pattern

Cons

Not too keen to keep developing in the long run,

Pros

Owning an Allstate agency is a great way to be self employed. I enjoy being responsible for my own success.

Cons

Can not control rates and underwriting guidelines. Can be difficult in a bad market. We are not
*really* self employed.

Advice to Senior Management

Lower rates, spread the risk, communicate with agents before you communicate with customers. All in all a good experience for me.

Pros

Great benefits/recently reduced premiums
Generous PTO bank
Management supports work/life balance (work from home, PTO, flexible work schedules)
Great coworkers
Has programs to motivate employees to be more health conscious
Many networking opportunities within the company
Great facilities in the home office

Cons

There are a lot of resource capacity issues in ATO and business. It is very hard to get anyone's attention because everyone is stretched so thin project wise. Instead of hiring more people to fill in the gaps from more projects being slotted for release, we are laying people off. The quality of releases is going down because everyone is simply stretched too thin.

Advice to Senior Management

Stop the yearly layoffs. It is hurting employee morale and causing a lot of good talent to search for employment elsewhere. The CEO and senior management should take modest pay cuts before layoffs are even discussed. There is without a doubt more than enough work to go around.

Bring the salary 'bands' more in line with the IT industry standard. People are dropping like flies because people aren't happy with their salary and the constant threat of layoffs.

If these two changes are enacted, morale and productivity would skyrocket.

Pros

Flexibility...profesionalism...fun...excellent place for first job

Cons

Cronyism...more objective performance maanagemetn needed

Advice to Senior Management

Advancement if motivated and with the right sponsorship

Pros

Opportunity to be self-employeed
Agency ownership
Gain knowledge of insurance industry through hands on experience

Cons

The company labels agents as contractors but treats them like employees without the benefits or salary. For example, Allstate sets your office hours and decides when you can close your agency, they require you to attend their meetings at your expense, and attend their trainings.

Advice to Senior Management

Design a product for the rural market or watch it slowly disappear. Treat your agents as your most important resource. Agent moral is very low because agents feel they are irrelevant to the company.

Pros

Allstate is an old company with a long history in the personal lines property and casualty insurance business. There are many opportunities to do different things at Allstate. The work is never boring.

Cons

Senior Management appears confused about its goals and its plans of actions. A program is started and dropped quickly with little evidence of planning ahead. Opportunities for advancement or promotion are possible, but the criteria for either is often unclear and extremely discretionary.

Pros

A long career with varied assignments which led to personal growth. Very flexible with family life balance issues.

Cons

Very political in making promotional decisions. Company has lost its way under Tom Wilson as reflected in market share and profitability declines. Define push to replace older workers with younger less expensive employees. Salary to low for experience and value added. Obtained 27 per cent increase from new employer after my RIF.

Advice to Senior Management

Need new leadership at the top. Must become price competitive in the marketplace to stop market share losses. Pay claims to have better customer satisfaction.

Pros

Good Work and Home Life balance

Cons

Glass ceiling, cronyism, mismanagement, old-world approach to work and recognition.

Advice to Senior Management

Get real. Other Insurance firms are eating you for breakfast.

Pros

Work / life balance
Co-workers
Benefits
Attractive campus (home office)

Cons

Layoffs
Outsourcing
Emphasis on cost reduction even if quality and/or dependability suffers
Employee moral

Pros

The company has a great product and lots of tools to help you succeed. Selecting a supportive agent in a good demographic will help in your success.

Cons

You are not an employee of the company. As a sales associate you work for the contractor/independent agent. As a result, the agent may not be able to offer as many benefits as a corporation.