Florida Power & Light – “FPL is a large. well led stable employer with locations throughout the US offering many varied career opportunities.”

Pros

Large stable employer, well led, with a conservative management team, opportunities in several business units, locations throughout the US, industry is in demand. FPLs offers various classroom and on-line training classes. Also offered are advanced supervisory training programs. Benefits provided offer options suitable for most families and are reasonably priced. FPL offers both a traditional non-contributory pension plan (6% of base pay) and a 401k that matches employee contributions of 7% up to ~ 4.75%. The larger sites have fitness centers and on-site basic medical facilities. The medical facilities are normally staffed with nurses daily and doctors one or two days per week.

Cons

Like any large employer it is possible to get stuck with a poor boss. Promotions to management positions tend to be based on more on technical skills, where the people skills may be more important. The quality of information systems varies, improvements are now occurring (post Y2K) but the change is slow. Layoffs are rare but there was some very significant downsizing in the late 1980s to early 1999s. Like any other Utility, FPL is subject to decisions made by its state's public service commission. FPL works very hard to maintain good relations, but is subject to potentially unfavorable decisions that can affect its business in a way not experienced in private industry.

Advice to Senior Management

Keep improving FPL's financial strength, do a better job in evaluating the value of companies purchased, enough with the emphasis on diversity - you've done a great job, promote VPs who are not micro-managers.