Bridgestone Americas Reviews

Pros

Union pay was good until 2009.

Cons

Union is weak to demand wage/benefit increases. The company is in the driver's seat when work conditions and pay is discussed

Advice to Senior Management

Invest capital in Lavergne and the employees would respond positively.

Pros

Some managers are good and fair. Some departments seem to keep workers challenged, but rewarded. Seems like a relatively stable company.

Cons

Evaluations are not always meaningful, depends on the manager. Promotions and awards seem somewhat random. The environment ncourages the image of competance, rather working together toward a common goal.

Advice to Senior Management

Many of the older managers need to get over the "good ol' boys club" attitude.

Pros

Recently raised vacation period from 2 weeks to 3 weeks.

Cons

No chance for advancement because hiring freeze, reducing work force through natural attrition
Experience (old) work force means stagnation, no new ideas, everyone afraid to change the status quo, people with no technical skills in managment positions just because they have been with the company for 30 years.

Advice to Senior Management

Instead of waiting for Japan to push down a 5% ROA goal, they should set their own stretch goal of 10% ROA and make the necessary changes to achieve that. The cream will float to the top and the whey can then be discarded unceremoniously.

Pros

Very satisfied with my job and peers. Opportunities for advancement are abundant and management treats employees well at the corporate level.

Cons

Salary structure could use improvement. Very small raises are given each year - not really enough to cover COL increases so I'm actually losing money year year I work there.

Advice to Senior Management

Restructure salary increase policy. You may be safe during this down economy, but once things improve you WILL lose your best employees to other companies that will pay better and reward employees economically.

Pros

Bonuses and people. The benefits are also ggod and if you preform really well there will be trips and incentives that you cab get, other than that there is no reason to stay at a company like this.

Cons

No time for self, there is not a life-workplace balance. The stores are opened seven days a week and store managers are required to work every week-end and can not be off consecqcative days.

Advice to Senior Management

I would tell them that the job is very stressful and they need to give managers more days off and more vacation time. The also need to increase salary and get more training for upper management.

Pros

Company will be around for a long time

Cons

DEEEEEEPLY political culture, may be in transition, still a long way to go

Advice to Senior Management

Follow your own procedures instead of letting individual senior managers operate under the radar

Pros

I love being a technician and solving problems this may not be the best paying job in the world but I do love what I do just wish the company was better.

Cons

the management is terrible one of the worst companies I have ever worked for. On the outside they seem to really care for the employees and customers but what it really boils down to is profits and bottom dollars.

Advice to Senior Management

Work on honesty and treat others how you would want to be treated

Pros

The pay scale and advancement opportunities are endless with this company. There are several tiers to the upper eschelon of management, and if you are willing to relocate then you can proceed up the ladder as far as you like. The automotive industry as a whole is pretty stable, and the management seems to be very consistent in it's expectations.

Cons

This company requires you to be available constantly. When you are a store manager (Upper middle management) you must be available to take care of emergencies if they pop up. That means driving to the store in the middle of the night if the store alarm is going off and the cops need you. Also, it seems as if they are unable to balance Work and Life very effectively. If you work for Firestone, you will be guilted into not taking time off when you are ill, hurt, or unable to otherwise work. It is looked down upon, and because it is a male dominated organization taking time off is akin to being a sissy. Although it is a corporation and it must remain profitable to survive, they do not provide much in the ways of training for management skills, and yet expect extraordinary results from their store managers. They pile on pressure until you perform, and will constantly treat you as if you are expendable.

Advice to Senior Management

This place is a business, having to work 12 hours a day five or six days a week is cumbersome and causes disengagement. Instead of focusing on the bottom line you should take better care of your people and let the bottom line take care of itself. When your employees are happy then your customers are happy. It's a win-win.