Embarq Reviews in Kansas City, MO Area

Pros

Embarq has tried to provide a good working environment with good benefits. There are, of course, exceptions, however Embarq strives to maintain a high level of flexibility for its associates. Our benefits, while not the best, are very competitive and are often superior to other companies in the same industry and the local job market (Greater Kansas City area).

Cons

Opportunites for advancement are very rare. It is not unusual for an ambitious and capable assoiciate to spend several years in the same position. I believe our leadership has missed a few opportunities to streamline and improve our internal processes as a means for cutting costs (as opposed to layoffs alone).

Advice to Senior Management

Don't carry unnecessary baggage (processes and applications) to the new company that will be formed after CenturyTel completes its acquisition of Embarq

Pros

Very flexible employer with a great work-life balance. I have never had an issue with using my vacation time or sick days. They also allow (most) employees the opportunity to work from home which is great. Several co-workers have shortened work week, or work part time. As a salaried employee they are very flexible when you need to leave work for a doctor's appt. or child's school event. The company has a good system set up for recognition of employees. Overall most people value hard work and recognize efforts of employees who do a good job.

Cons

Some groups can be quite political and gossipy. Benefits were recently decreased but overall they are decent. There are still some employees who are lazy.

Advice to Senior Management

I hope the Senior Management take a good approach to the upcoming merger. Use this opportunity to eliminate the "dead weight" and promote those that are high performers.

Pros

The work environment is friendly. The location is great for people who live on the Kansas side of Kansas City. Rush hour traffic runs the opposite direction. Cafeteria left much to be desired. Co-workers were wonderful, but management seemed to always be busy and unable to provide clear answers. That said, Embarq had just become its own entity and the direction for the company was still undetermined. The majority of employees within the group are attorneys.

Cons

Communication with management can be difficult. As a former Sprint company, there is always the concern of a massive layoff.

Advice to Senior Management

More communication, please.

Pros

Relatively good pay, and opportunity to progress in the company

Cons

Slow moving, unprogressive. Getting anything new done is like moving an ocean liner with a tricycle

Advice to Senior Management

Don't be so near sited and focused on short term revenue returns. While your concerns has been about access lines and increasing revenue - you have lost "customers", and therefore any opportunity you have for growing the business. Also there is too much management and not enough action. Reduce your management work force and empower your SMEs to more effectively advise, drive and ultimately make decisions. Hold them accountable - and you will get much more done, in less time, with less people.

Pros

The best reason to work for Embarq is living in the Kansas City metropolitan area. The people there are fair and decent. The company is populated with decent, honest people. Unfortunately, the world changed and left the company's leadership and culture ill-prepared to deal with a more competitive world. The internal culture is one of midwestern values where there is very little back-stabbing or ruthlessness.

Cons

The company is failing. There is a glut of mediocre talent at Director levels of management that rose in previous boom times. Most of them would not warrant those same positions today. The company is mired in its methods and thinking. It makes well-intentioned but unsuccessful efforts to refresh its thinking.

Advice to Senior Management

Sell. Which they've done.

Pros

The career opportunities are very open within IT. Like any other company within corporate America, the spoils go to the one that shows and proves. Embarq is no different. If you are a person that can execute you will do well.

Cons

The leadership is the same leadership as Sprint, which means it is awful. Embarq is in the middle of being brought by Century Tel. Meaning Embarq will be downsizing substancially very soon, which is unfortunate. Employee morale is also at an all time low. People dont know if they will have a job tomorrow or not. It is a depressing place to work.

Advice to Senior Management

Treat everyone as a partner versus a sub-ordinate.

Pros

The management is helpful and encourages you to work on your own projects.

Cons

Struggling company with the loss of wire lines really hurting them. There is a strong disconnect between the working class (see line technicians and field staff) and the corporate management.

Advice to Senior Management

Improve your processes and try to emphasis your core competencies. Don't try to be all things to all people. Get a video offering of your own.

Pros

Embarq is a company seeking an identity. This provides enormous opportunity to set direction and then follow thru with action. If one has a good idea, there is a very good chance it will get funding and be implemented. Embarq IT is relatively small so there is opportunity for quick action when properly motivated.

Cons

Embarq is a company seeking an identity. Sometimes ideas or personalities just don't fit. Change is constant and can be frustrating. Perhaps the most negative aspect of Embarq IT employment is the "old guard". Those individuals that came from Sprint when the companies parted. Too often the "old guard" clashes with senior management and the organization suffers as a result.

Advice to Senior Management

I am very satisfied that management is endeavoring to streamline the operation for the benefit of the shareholders and the employees. That said; leave the decisions about technology to the experts. The cheapest solution isn't always (rarely is) the best solution.

Pros

True focus on innovation. People are geninely committed to the success of the company.

Cons

There is workfoce shrinking going on.The core product (landline telephones) is a declining industry.

Advice to Senior Management

Keep pushing change and backing it up with your actions

Pros

The pay scale is decent. The benefits Embarq offers are better than average. If you get in the right group, you may get to work with some interesting technologies. The working conditions are pretty good although some of the building in Kansas City are getting dated. The flexibility at Embarq is one of the nicer things about working there. Depending on the team you are, you can work at home a decent amount. As a developer, the equipment you get to work with is not the latest technologies, but if you know the right people, you can get upgraded to something that works.

Cons

The incompetent management is one of the worse aspects of Embarq.. They are bent on getting as much of IT as possible moved offshore at all costs. So, if they think they can get away with it, your team will go too. The team I am on has about 60% offshore, so we are forced to work with staff from India that is very hard to understand and work with. We are also expected to have meetings very early to accommodate them. Many of the senior architects in IT know very little and are unable to lead and set directions for the company.

Advice to Senior Management

Take a look at what you are moving offshore and compare that to some competent developers onshore.