Belden Reviews

Pros

people and respect of management

Cons

benefits need to improve-vacation and expense allowance.

Advice to Senior Management

no advice needed

Pros

Focus on Lean Management and improving efficiencies

Cons

They don't walk the talk regarding their Belden values
They don't show appreciation to their employees often enough
They need to get the people piece right and be consistent with open, honest dialogue

Advice to Senior Management

Be more respectful of your people and show appreciation for their contributions. Make certain your actions are consistent with your cultural values and that they are not posters on the wall of the office.

Pros

pay decent...not a lot of work place choices

Cons

long shifts and weekends no early retirement

Advice to Senior Management

fairness

Pros

There aren't many good, much less best reasons to work for Belden. A good reason would be decent wages and benefits. If you can tolerate inept management.

Cons

I have absolutely no respect for Belden and their division management teams. For all the questionnaires and surveys the employees are forced into participating, management still doesn't have a clue. Part of the problem is that most employees that are left are afraid to answer the questions honestly in fear of losing their jobs.
I find it appalling that management would lower a ranking (evaluation) given by an immediate supervisor and doing so without asking his opinion. To say nothing of a manager listening to the accusations of a co-worker trying as usual to make herself look good. In all my years there, I've never had an unsatisfactory evaluation. But, after 20+ years of employment, I was discharged for poor work performance. I'm extremely disappointed with the Corporate Office for allowing underhanded schemes like this to go on in their divisions. Yes, Corporate management is aware of this situation and chose to do nothing.
I guess I should be grateful that the local management "team" waited until I finished my chemo treatments before letting me go.

Advice to Senior Management

Hire people that have experience in actually running a wire manufacturing business. Excessive meetings do not solve problems that exist within the company nor do they it sell wire.

Pros

Pay was decent and the yearly bonuses were a plus. The benefits were very good, including vacation and paid holidays.

Cons

My opinion of Belden is skewed due to being let go in a cost cutting move. Since the merger with CDT, employees have been laid off, some due to the recession, but many due to Belden's obsession with bottom line and share price.
Employee morale is low, and everyone left is looking over their shoulder.

Advice to Senior Management

Go back and talk to the CDT management team that you systematically eliminated after the "merger". They knew how to lead.

Pros

Decent Compensation and benefits. Good Products.

Cons

The management don't care about employees. They fire people left and right for no reasons...continuous turnover in upper and middle management, no growth opportunity until you have any connections with the management.Promotions are not based on performance but who knows who... run away when a recruiter calls about an opening. They will offer you a good package but GOOD Luck for job security .... good package is just short term...

Advice to Senior Management

Think realistic and develop and communicate the plans and objectives to employees.

Pros

Strong brand name, big installed base, strong distribution relationships

Cons

Stodgy , old boy, management. Low level of communication from corp. Not a cutting edge mfr.,
more a middle of the pack product mix. Lot's of get along to go along, from long term employees, not a company that wants to hear ideas from the field.

Advice to Senior Management

Get rid of longtime Regional VP's, who have no idea what goes on in the field. Have Reg. VP's spend more time in the field and less playing golf and sucking down drinks at tradeshows.

Pros

It is a traditional place to work. Very "old-school". It is a profitable business as its main business is copper cable.

Cons

There is no room for growth. The copper cable business is not a growth business. Belden needs to diversify their portfolio so that it can stay competitive. Employees are not given room to grow either. Stagnant business.

Pros

There are ample opportunies for advancement at Belden for those who are willing to work hard and take on extra responsibilities.

Cons

There has been a confusion about the direction of the company. This has negatively impacted the stock price and value of stock compensation.

Advice to Senior Management

Don't be afraid of the consumer market.

Pros

good products manufactured, good market

Cons

company is closed, moved to Mexico, everybody laid off

Advice to Senior Management

keep the jobs in the USA