Balboa Insurance Reviews

Pros

Good work life balance, network opportunities

Cons

Management does not know what they are doing. Cronyism is rampant. Part of every company but really excessive here. Advancement not based on merit.

Pros

Some of the co-workers were nice. The location at Bank of America was almost pleasant unless you were trying to prevent being run over in the parking garage.

Cons

This company has many problems. My deep seated resentment exponentially multiplied since being written up in March 2011. A number of these issues existed, stemming from my supervisor's unfounded and absurd mentioning of absences, acceptable by most of societies’ standards which were included within the written warning. I must add that these included, however were not limited to weather related absences due to ice as well as bereavement time due to my father-in-law’s passing. Surely you would agree that even the most skilled insurance adjuster cannot under normal circumstances alter, modify nor change weather patterns nor prevent death from occurring.

During these periods of write-ups, of which my supervisor designed after the Spanish Inquisition; I was threatened with being held accountable for insubordination. I resent and have never been accused of such intolerable behavior. My abilities to produce unrealistic and near impossible goals have never reflected my desire to get the job accomplished correctly and efficiently. I believe my record spoke for itself.

I held my position for two years without a raise in pay. This was due to my supervisor's decision to use score card results which were missing 1/6 of the previous year’s results which would have reflected favorably in my performance. I might also add that I, as well as many of the employees hired, were deceived into taking positions with Balboa with the understanding that they would eventually get to work from home. This action or inaction, however you prefer, has underscored resentment and frustration.

Advice to Senior Management

Find a better company to work for. Most management secured positions on remote islands with no phones oddly enough. Very strange that they should all leave at one time.

Pros

Balboa is now owned by QBE Americas. I can't speak to the new company because I was let go prior to new ownership. What I can attest to is the people I worked with at Balboa were great. I'm glad to have met many new friends and I learned so much while working there. I was given opportunities while there.

Cons

There were communication issues between senior management and staff. There were also issues with favoritism. Many promises were not followed through on. There was poor oversight of staff and audit department was not up to standards of other leading insurance companies.

Advice to Senior Management

Most of the leadership has moved on due to the sale of Balboa to QBE. I can't speak to the new management.

Pros

Good benefits and good salary.

Cons

There was no respect for management nor was there any desire to be accountable for work flow. In my department, management did not want to confront major dysfunctional issues, such allowing a culture of indifference, and unfounded self-importance. The focus on the customer was at best, inconsistent.

Advice to Senior Management

Management should make all levels of the organization accountable for their work and provide goals that are achievable, and have consequences if they are not met. Twenty-six days to response to a claims request is not acceptable.

Pros

- Nice location
- Good benefits.
- Good place to hang your hat if you have no ambition and be a yes man.

Cons

- Tied knit circle of the old timers who did not share the information.
- If you are in IT, there is no advancement in career path. New technology is frown upon. You learn nothing there except for the business process.
- The management is incompetent and threat by talents.
- Heavy top management.

Advice to Senior Management

Create the environment that attracts talents and maintain them.
Review your IT managers closely.

Pros

it's in Irvine which is a beautiful location

Cons

Low level of understanding of the industry in upper management

Advice to Senior Management

find a parent company that knows insurance

Pros

location, gym in building, people are nice

Cons

uncertaintly in 2008 due to Bank of America takeover

Advice to Senior Management

to move forward more quickly with regard to assigning responsibilities following the transition