Pros

Very good benefits: 6% 401K match, Employee Stock Purchase Plan (purchase stock at 85% of market value), good Health plan, affordable dental and vision, target bonuses for some roles.

The gym at the 1000 Main location is excellent and a free trainer is available.

Reliant has a very collegial and respectful work environment.

Cons

Senior positions are often filled externally rather than internally. Post-Enron, the company invested much less in employee training. However, fewer training classes were partially offset by the availability of internet "self-training" resources.

Advice to Senior Management

Joel Staff, the CEO when I worked at Reliant, did a good job communicating with employees in his weekly voice mail. Also, giving away points (redeemable for merchandise) to recognize people for living company values was a good program.

I would like to see a culture of greater accountability and more promotions given internally. Delivering high quality training will facilitate more internal promotions. Reliant should reinstate the rotation program they had for high potential employees during the energy boom.

Last, Reliant still has some brilliant senior managers, many from McKinsey. However, their intellectual strength doesn't necessarily translate to superior managerial skill. Human resources should ensure the are rewarding the right behaviors.