Lowe's – “Job advancement limited at headquarters.”

Pros

Lowe's has successfully managed the business during the recession, by avoiding major corporate office layoffs. Additionally, store closures have been kept to an absolute minimum.

Cons

Outside talent is often chosen for management positions over the development of current employees. Even high performing individual contributors are passed over, and seem to be kept at their current level far longer than necessary. This is a tendency of the headquarters environment. Stores generally offer good advancement opportunity.

Advice to Senior Management

Please develop your high potential individual contributors, so they are allowed to become top candidates for open management positions. When growth is limited, in times like these, value them for the contributions they make by compensating them more competitively. Strong management is critical, but the contributions from experienced, highly motivated individual contributors can separate us further from our competition.