Capital Group Reviews

Pros

CG's benefits are amazing - better than any place I've worked.

Cons

The growth opportunities could be improved.

Advice to Senior Management

Pay attention to the development plans - rather than telling associates what they should put in their plans, really look at what associates want to do and how they want to progress.

Pros

Collaboration with brilliant colleagues, competitive salary and generous benefits.

Cons

Project production process requires lengthy schedule and approval cycle can be reduced. Strict brand identity limits creativity.

Advice to Senior Management

See Cons.

Pros

Good Pay, Good Benefits, nice work environment

Cons

Working long hours with recogniztion, no real promotions
Your satisfaction will depend on the department are area you work of. Some really good, some not so good.

Pros

Retirement plan is good. Managment tries hard.

Cons

The communications from management seem canned. Associates are encouraged to give feedback but management has prepared for all questions -- like a good politician.

Advice to Senior Management

Get feedback in one on one situations instead of in large meetings

Pros

You get paid well. They pay for your bus/train pass. You get a pretty good schedule, and the job isn't too stressful.

Cons

You get paid well, but you do put up with a lot of stuff that really wouldn't fly other places. Your career advancement is based on who likes you. Period. If you make the wrong enemy, you are done and may as well find another place to work. HR doesn't respond well to issues in the workplace. Things that are supposed to stay confidential may not. I know if one instance where an HR person was asked to keep the person's name confidential who had complained. And she didn't. Also, incompetence doesn't mean you'll lose your job. It may mean you get promoted. Seriously.

Advice to Senior Management

Do an anonymous 360 interview for your middle managers. They are really creating a place of low morale and things are going on that are making good people leave. Hold them accountable for what they do. And ask their reports how they're doing. You'll be surprised at what you hear.

Pros

Nice people, nice offices, fantastic benefits.

Cons

IT is stagnant in technology. While most other places strive for newer technology close to leading edge, we are still in the 1990's.
The IT staffers, developers, and admins do not seem to exude initiative, but rather just keep their head low and churn their daily tasks...

Advice to Senior Management

Hire some of the contractors that are around. Most have real experience and great ideas.There are even some former IT Managers and Directors floating around that could breathe fresh ideas and methods into our groups.

Pros

wonderful peers, excellent compensation, beautiful offices, IT support is terrific!

Cons

i've seen a LOT of so-so "managers" who just keep doing what ever it is to get ahead. no matter who they step on, or leave behind. and they are still there. such a shame. the organization has lost many dedicated, talented associates. it was one of the best places to work, at a certain place and time.

Advice to Senior Management

pay particular attention to middle management, who use psycho babble when they communicate.

Pros

MRP
Clean offices
Always make payroll
Investment offices have free drinks and snacks
Billions in cash on the balance sheet

Cons

Dictatorial approach to management. Good people are now simply going through the motions, waiting for an opportunity to leave.
They say they treat associates with respect, but all outside of the 400 or so shareholders are treated like pawns and yet are expected to have the same fanatical "I'll sacrifice anything" mentality that those who get their dividend checks each July pretend is the case..

If there were a stock rating attached to CG, it would be : "AVOID"

Advice to Senior Management

Think about the damage you're doing.....

Pros

Master Retirement Plan or in other words 'the golden handcuffs'

Cons

At least in IT, managers are brainwashed daily from the day they are brought on board. They are trained to throw any sub-ordinate under the bus to cover their own failures. They are taught how to motivate by picking on one person at a time. I did not see anyone in my department get promoted and I was there for 10 years. If you are single and an IT employee, don't get married while working here because your spouse will grow to used to the compensation, not allow you to leave and you will live a life of cubicle hell.

Advice to Senior Management

Remove some of the dead weight managers in the IT department.

Pros

Between the salary, bonuses and retirement contibution (15%), most people end up making more here than they would be able to anywhere else, even though they are working below their potential. The "golden handcuffs" keep a lot of people at CG.

People are very respectful. You don't find the yelling or abuse you would get in entertainment or other high pressure environments.

In most departments, there is good work/life balance.

The work environment is nice.

Cons

There really is no career path and no training or development opportunities. In the last year or so, it has gotten even worse because they've tried to put the burden more on the associate, like it's our fault for not developing ourselves. There are not a lot of opportunities for moving within the company and we don't have internal training except for IT so makes it kind of difficult.

CG has started to move faster in some areas, but still is very slow in some things which can be very frustrating.