Belden Reviews

Pros

Great history, Great product, Used to be a great team.

Cons

The management is clueless. All of them know how to think strategy, but no idea on implementation.

Advice to Senior Management

Employees are de-motivated. Think there is a need to take care of them.

Pros

If one is interested in Lean Manufacturing then Belden is the place to work. They will train you and work with you so you understand and can impliment Lean at your facility.

Cons

Don't plan on retiring from Belden. Your life span at Belden is about 5 years. With there Force Ranking, at least one in your group will be cut every year and replaced with someone at a lower salary then the one who was cut.

Advice to Senior Management

Stop moving jobs out of the US and bring them back. The knowledge and the dedication needed to continuously improve Belden is here in the US not Mexico or China.

Pros

Compensation is competitive but the benefits are below par. I was allowed to do my job and told to take ownership until about 4 years ago when our new CEO took over and brought his management team in.

Cons

Don't let on like you have a lot of experience and know what to do in a given situation. Negative comments have been made about "the gray hairs" at Belden.

Advice to Senior Management

Don't take yourself so seriously.
Demand the same level of performance form yourselves that you do from the grunts.
Display some common sense for a change.
Don't give the lean people a blank check, there needs to be more check-balance.

Pros

A lot of great people
Competitive pay compared to other companies
Decent benefits
Good fringe benefits
Many different areas to learn about

Cons

Management is too focused on the wrong things
People don't matter
It's all about the money
Getting too big for their britches - need to manage what they have before adding more to the already chaotic environment
Not enough work-life balance - if work isn't your life, you won't make it
Always looking over your shoulder wondering if you're next up on the chopping block

Advice to Senior Management

See above - figure out how to manage what you have before you put more on your plate
Remember that your people are your most important asset
Having meetings about meetings about meetings about being lean is not really very lean - maybe if everyone spent time actually working, things might get done

Pros

Older employees are very good and most regional manager. Good products lots of spec position but losing that fast

Cons

Only two upper level are past old school Belden people. All the rest are from non cable industry and not know the business and seem to be wrapped up in being yes men to their upper managers.
Everyone I know would rather be working for someone else or can't leave because they are to deeply invested. They hire non cable industry people and lose good people to other cable companies

Advice to Senior Management

Wake up

Pros

The legacy belden folks have their head on their shoulders. Other than that, compensation is fair, and benefits are pretty standard.

Cons

Untrustworty management and leadership. Empathy and candor is severely lacking. Run away if ever approached by this company ! It is difficult to find ONE happy and satisfied employee.

Advice to Senior Management

Take a moment and talk to the employees. Not just hear and trust the lies that fall on your ears by middle management. Leaders are supposed to Listen as well.

Pros

The company believes strongly in "lean" and therefore you get a good understanding of continuous improvement.

Cons

People development needs to be strengthened - all employees are not valued.

Advice to Senior Management

Understand that all individuals, not just high potentials, add value to the organization

Pros

traning
go market
products
quality
vision
recognition as a brand
diferentiation
learning
travel
liverty
responsability
tanacity
grow
total portfolio solution

Cons

salary, recognition as an employee, presure at work, high price against competitors, lack of commitment in Latin America, delyvery time.

Advice to Senior Management

His leadership is goos but it appears he is reading or seeing a diferent market or different company qhen they speak about results.

Pros

people and respect of management

Cons

benefits need to improve-vacation and expense allowance.

Advice to Senior Management

no advice needed

Pros

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

Cons

long shifts and weekends no early retirement

Advice to Senior Management

fairness