Charles Schwab Reviews

Pros

Charles Schwab has very strong morals and ethical values.

Cons

Mostly lateral movement within the company.

Pros

- Great people
- Good benefits
- Care about the client

Cons

I've read several comments about how poor the managers are and how political it's become to work here -- it's true, except maybe for a few pockets.

I've seen/heard managers talk about their direct reports behind their backs, I've seen passive-aggressive/subtle bullying towards some very solid employees who just don't happen to play the game right, and I've seen Directors with supposed "influence" get away with a lot of bad behavior just because of their titles and who they report to.

There are a lot of nice people here but in many ways it's a very selfish, hater kind of mentality and an oppressive & toxic environment to work in because it's so passive aggressive & political... there are only a few departments and people with Director and above titles that I would trust and want to work for.

Advice to Senior Management

- Practice what you preach, treat employees the way you treat clients
- Create a culture that rewards true leadership, respect, merit, open communication and fairness; and a culture that says no to bullying, infighting and immaturity.
- Train managers to respect their directs, give them the benefit of the doubt and never talk about them behind their backs, especially without proper context and/or all the facts.
- Go on a roadshow to sit down and talk with the rank and file to get at the truth about what motivates them and how they feel about their managers.... you'd be surprised how toxic certain departments are

Pros

As long as you play corporate politics you are safe - whatever you do don't rock the boat. If you do it is time for constructive termination

Cons

Management is incredibly weak - mostly interested in protecting their little kingdoms and collecting they pay

Advice to Senior Management

Listen to people = listen to people - listen to people

Pros

Nice people
Clean building
Good soup in the cafeteria
Free hand sanitizer containers
Good benefits
Good work / life balance
Company will allow you get any licenses you'd like (even those that aren't required for your job)
Employee Appreciation Week is entertaining

Cons

Low pay
Difficult to advance
Many departments are offshoring or are about to start offshoring positions
Morale is low
30 minute lunches
Our department is constantly bullied by other departments instead of acting like we are "One Schwab"
You will take on far more responsibilities than you're supposed to and will not get a raise

Advice to Senior Management

If you are offshoring positions in your department, please do not tell us its because 'there were no qualified workers' in the location you were searching for. Just tell us you were trying to save money instead of lying to our faces.

Pros

It is a good place to train fir a career in financial services. The ability to have an impact on your job and to use your intelligence is limited.

Cons

Most positions at the firm require you to interact with clients in a ver prescribed manner. Unfortunately, its become a leave your brain at the door organization.

Advice to Senior Management

One of the main problems at Schwab is there is no input from line staff which leads to a culture where there is no improvement to existing programs. Generally, new products and services are initiated and not improved -just disgarded.

Pros

Good way to get experience right out of college,
Company will pay for certifications

Cons

NO career devlopement, hard to get out of the department you are in, they say they have a work life balance but there is not work life balance its more like you will work and have a life when they tell you

Advice to Senior Management

make it easyier for emplyees to move to different departments get rid of the time you have to be in the department IE 1.5 years.

Pros

Schwab has great benefits including medical/dental. They provide vacation and sick time as well as a 4 week sabbatical every 5 years.

Cons

Schwab reorganizes way too much. I've had about 5 different managers in the last 3 years. They also promote just about anyone to management. Out of all of the managers I've had since I've started working there there was only one that was great at being a manager. Also, everyone I know there has said that they were only promoted when they started sucking up to their managers. Promotions are not based on ability as much as how much management likes or dislikes you personally.

Advice to Senior Management

I think management at Schwab needs to take more management training. They also need to realize that not everyone is cut out to be in management. Most technology people aren't going to be good at managing people and should stick with what they do best.

Pros

You are forced to adapt and embrace change.
You must embrace technology.
You must go with the flow.
You have a 4 week sabbatical every five years.

Cons

The pay is not competitive.
Every couple years, top management is replaced.

Pros

Solid company, growing Colorado presence

Cons

Low pay, has a history of layoffs.

Pros

Decent place to work. Good environment.

Cons

Some challenges for senior management to understand the true nature of a problem and what to do about it.

Advice to Senior Management

Do not micromanage employees.