Ashland Reviews

Pros

This refers to Ashland Water Technologies in Wilmington, DE
Competitive R&D salary, the culture and coworkers are excellent. Very collaborative, team, happy atmosphere. There is a big effort to hire people who are "a good fit" and it shows. Big investment in career growth (trainings, conferences, ect).

Cons

This refers to Ashland Water Technologies in Wilmington, DE
Don't love Delaware
Health care is a high deductible plan
bimodal age distributions (missing the middle aged)

Advice to Senior Management

Not pleased how bonus were distributed across the business units. Not, sure how management wrote that equation.

Pros

People are like family, the area is very cost-effective.

Cons

Occasionally there is a distinct lack of communication between members of upper management at the site, which sometimes results in adversarial relationships rather than a teamwork mindset.

Advice to Senior Management

Communication is key.

Pros

Good location, good perks, some nice benefits

Cons

senior management was not competent, perks for senior execs were outrageous, chances for advancing were slim, training was non-existent, showing favoritism was a norm and not the exception

Advice to Senior Management

No advise because they wouldn't take it anyway

Pros

-Internal communication site
-Cafeteria, barber shop, gym, refexology
-International company - can interact with almost every continent on earth!
-Very knowledgeable and talented employees
-Great location

Cons

-Going through a lot of changes, minimizes opportunities for advancement
-Promotions are very political
-Not very diverse
-Salaries

Advice to Senior Management

-Hire more diverse employees
-Bring in some external talent to generate new ideas
-Need employee recognition programs for all levels of employees

Pros

A lot of opportunities due to the acquistion, and also a lot of changes.

Cons

The salary is not so competitive

Pros

growing company; has purchased some good specialty companies to make it become a more diverse specialty chemical company; Valvoline is on a roll

Cons

the health insurance doesn't pay anything until your family deductible has been met which is several thousand dollars; wish it was better

Advice to Senior Management

Put yourself in the the place of your employees when making decisions that affect them; they don't have the salary that you do

Pros

Benefits, 401k match 100 %

Cons

poor management with no pay increases

Advice to Senior Management

better internal communication

Pros

Free Parking
Jeans Days most Fridays
Credit Union on site
Office near the Interstate

Cons

Constant structural change with too many projects going on while they cut staff
Excessive unpaid overtime for salaried workers
The company has too many office locations (in different states); this cause communication problems and excess travel that would be unnecessary at any other company

Advice to Senior Management

Put more space between business sales/purchases and/or add appropriate resources to handle.

Pros

Good pay, Very generous with the expense report, love to wine and dine, stress the "Work-life balance", short hours

Cons

There middle management is really lacking, they have a lot of people who like to hear themselves talk, but not listen to you. There are a lot of very incompetent people who fly under the radar.

Advice to Senior Management

A lot of incompetent people are over-recognized and a lot of hard working people are under-recognized.

Pros

Ashland offers comparable salaries for professional people

Cons

Performance reviews are not entirely fair and there is not much recognition for a strong performer.

Advice to Senior Management

Reward your professional personnel for good performance.