Atos Origin UK Reviews

Pros

The consulting culture at Atos Origin UK is very European, with excellent work/life balance and high respect towards employees. The company takes good care of its employees and this has resulted in very low turnover - with a large number of experienced consultants working for the company.

Teams work closely together focussed on solving client issues rather than office politics, creating a excellent productive working environment throughout the company.

Cons

Opportunity to grow are good at the lower levels and these rapidly reduce as people grow in the organisation.

Also the extensive experience on the team reduces innovation as teams tend to use tried and tested project approaches. There is little fresh thinking within the organisation.

Advice to Senior Management

Encourage a culture of innovation and rapid growth for consultants that contribute towards new ideas and business growth.

Pros

Very very difficult to think of them. If your face fits and if you are lucky you may progress. They have some good clients, mainly gained through mergers.

Cons

It is an extremely harsh, unforgiving culture which is the antithesis of the stated values (except their favourite "value" which is Profitability - yes really). It is fair to say that many people including those in quite senior positions feel bullied and downtrodden and the employee relations track record is really very bad indeed. They are constantly having to pay people off due to their poor treatment. Decent development is hard to find and there are constant demands form Paris for endless information for no apparent reason. A very unhappy place.

Advice to Senior Management

Ensure a significant change in country and global leadership - take the opportunity to bring in some really inspiring leaders. Oh dear too late.................... look what has happened.

Pros

Work life balance is supported. Some very good people across the business. Some good technical projects. Good place to get some project experience but you won't get on unless you know who to cow-tow to.

Cons

Massively siloed organisation where the imperative for service lines is to cover your back and avoid responsibility at all costs rather than be supported to take and manage risks. Very difficult to get decent staff in the required timescales to execute to a plan - then taken to task by the senior management because you haven't delivered. No incentive to go the extra mile. There are decent people here. Most are banging their heads against the wall but managing to deliver because of their talent and tenacity and despite of the organisation structure and unhelpful senior management. The business seems to want to badge and measure and genericise the workforce - reduce all staff to the lowest common denominator rather than recognise and reward talent and effort.

Advice to Senior Management

Realise there are very good and very bad staff in the organisation - and in the exec and senior management roles. Get rid of the dead wood and start to respect and treat well the good guys - before they all leave.

Pros

They do seem to recruit good people, eventually they all leave but nonetheless they had good joiners

Cons

My experience is that they would rather spend the time/money recruiting new staff (including expensive contractors) than promote their own staff.

Advice to Senior Management

Give your permanent staff more of a chance rather than always looking for external resources

Pros

Some of the projects on offer are interesting.

Cons

The major downside is the remuneration. The pension contributions were below average, the salary was below to average but the performance related pay year on year was terrible. I've since left but I hear the same excuse they gave me 6 years ago is still being used to give the vast majority of their employees below inflation increases.

Due to this remuneration issue, all the talent leaves and all that is left is either incompetence or complacency.

Advice to Senior Management

A serious look at the competitiveness of their remuneration packages is necessary to ensure they get some decent talent.

Pros

Work life balance
Some good people

Cons

Poor Salary
Not much good work
Poor Management

Advice to Senior Management

Get a good Sales Team and a New Management

Pros

Work varies from client to client, good place to develop IT skills, ITIL etc. Courses are encouraged for personnel development

Cons

You have to be used to working on your own, use your own initiative. Team/Management meeting are rare and only orrur 1-2 a year. Working long hours during tests and staying away, but they do give flexitime, but thats hard to book.

Advice to Senior Management

Management need to manage, not get involved in the hands on aspects. Keeping to agreed dates and times for appraisals and setting objectives that are realistic, no I cant fly to the moon without the training

Pros

Friendly environment, good projects, plenty of scope to make a difference

Cons

Not easy to be recognised, pay reviews are rare

Pros

Some interesting clients and projects. Generally good colleagues to work with. Very good if you are on along term project

Cons

Too Hierarchical (senior knows best)
Pressure stay longer on billable client
Management generally unaware of what the work was

Advice to Senior Management

Focus only on client value and move out when it is delivered

Pros

Competence of management
Friendly working environment
Variety of Work

Cons

Can be difficult as a starter

Advice to Senior Management

Continue strengthening over coming years