TDS Telecom – “TDS Telecom is slow-moving but stable.”

Pros

The location on Madison's west side is nice and available to public transit. The working facilities are also nice, and not too ugly as cube-farms go. I'm very happy with my immediate coworkers and the nature of the day-to-day work assigned to me. There are a lot of opportunities to learn new things and expand my skills through training and projects. Working in the telecom industry also provides some interesting technical challenges, and a respectable and well-understood work environment that I can talk to my grandparents about. TDS generally offers a good work/life balance with flexible hours, very little overtime, decent paid time off, and family-friendly benefits.

Cons

Promotions at TDS tend to be arbitrary and at times inexplicable. I've seen a coworker with little relevant experience and relatively weak skills repeatedly promoted seemingly for having been in the right place at the right time a few years ago. As a telecom, TDS is used to monopolies and regulation, causing it to move slowly at best, and make some awkward marketing moves. Bureaucracy is the name of the game, and problem employees are never fired, reprimanded, or even confronted about poor work or bad behavior. The chain of command is very important, and decisions are made by middle-managers far from the issues at stake.

Advice to Senior Management

Stop hiring and promoting "yes-men."