Bridgestone Americas Reviews

Pros

When you read most of the other reviews (which are not good) consider the source! I started as a basic laborer, and over several years moved all the way into store manager. Let me say this if you don't mind working hard (god forbid you not be lazy) this is the company for you. Consider this with no college education you can go from making ten an hour to six figures. Yes the hours can be long, yes it is hard work, but anything in life worth doing can be difficult. The benefits are awesome in today's economy steady work is hard to find, and at this place there is loads of potential!!!!!

Cons

Long hours, but that's retail!

Advice to Senior Management

Work out a better program for allowing managers to have more time off, it is crucial for the main man to be in the store most of the time, but to hold on to the good ones you need a more flexible schedule.

Pros

Coworkers were friendly and dedicated. Benefits were very good. The company culture was very comfortable for many years, and therefore employee retention was high.

Cons

Downsizings that began in 2008 and accelerated in 2010-2011 have really sapped morale. IT resources, which used to be pretty good, have been cut far too much, which reduces productivity. Some managers are technically strong, but are very weak leaders. Employees who are stuck under those managers are just trapped in their careers.

Advice to Senior Management

Be willing to get rid of the managers that everyone knows are weak, even if they are in senior management positions. Be willing to invest in IT personnel and understand that this will actually improve productivity in the long run.

Pros

Big company, room to travel

Cons

Needs reorganization of the company

Pros

low stress for the salary level.

Cons

The heavy process orientated model does not fit the real world, the constant requiremetn to have projects in green status versus yellow or heaven forbd red is unethical and leads the business to source other IT providers options, i dont blame them

Advice to Senior Management

Talk to the people in the trenches...

Pros

Benefits ok for the industry. Good products to sell. Generally stands behind the products. Largest Tire Company in the World.

Cons

Supervisors in sales do not hold themselves to the same standards as their employees. Supervisors (when in the field) see by price and expect sales force to sell by quality. Management does not stand behind or take care of their employees. Since buying Bandag it appears that Bandag is running the company - this is very odd.

Advice to Senior Management

Bridgestone did a much better job in running the company before the Bandag purchase. Get back to basics, support your employees, and have Bridgestone emplouyees run the company instead of Bandag.

Pros

There are very few pros I can think of when describing Hibdon Tires Plus. Some would have to be, Knowing that while working there I have the ability to help customers while also having fun at work.

Cons

This is the easy part of this review. Cons would have to start at. Low salary with little to no benefits. Long hours usually 10 to 12 per day 6 days a week. Which wouldn't be so bad if the pay was better but it's not. Pay starts as a measly $1.75 above minimum wage which is horrible. I have worked fast food jobs that pay better and require less knowledge to perform at.

Advice to Senior Management

I would have to advise them to look into paying your employees more along with changing the benefits package around. Only having one time a year you are eligible to make changes is ridiculous.

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

Opportunity to run your own business/and sell your heart out. Decent health benefits and vacation schedules. Some bonus opportunities too.

Cons

Retail environment you will be working saturdays sundays/holidays and late night hours. If you do not make your sales goals and get a minmum number of credit card signups. you will be going to school at 6AM on Monday mornings to explain why you can't convince people to open up a new credit card and you will have to have a plan of action on how will do better next week.

Advice to Senior Management

Use a follow by example approach to motivate your employees to success. Daily threats and intimidation will not foster people who care to do thier very best. You will only get short term results. And frequent turnover.

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.