Entergy Nuclear Reviews

Pros

It has a family environment where everyone knows and cares about everyone else. People are willing to help others when ever necessary. Coaching is always provided in a positive way. The companies attitude toward training is very serious. Can benefit from corporate fleet knowledge and tap those resources for problem resolution. John Herron cut his teeth at this plant and has gone to bat for us regarding issues with the state.

Cons

It sometimes appears that corporate is disconnected from the rest of the fleet, requiring immediate answers from plant personnel who are very busy. The personnel modeling program describes the ideal amount of personnel to be working at a plant. Unfortunately, this leaves many people with more work which could be alleviated by hiring another body.

Pros

Job security is one reason to work for Entergy.

Cons

Employees are in general dissatisfied

Pros

Great benefits and competitive salaries if you negotiate a good starting point in their salary structure. The work of the company has the potential to be very interesting and rewarding.

Cons

The company wants to be a leader in the industry, but seems unwilling to put forth the investment in their people and processes to allow those resources to take root. The company also has a geography problem, as many are unwilling to relocate to an area that is perceived to be poor and uneducated.

Advice to Senior Management

Take the advice of the people you employ, make timely decisions, and recognize that sometimes the tough solution to a problem might be the right answer.

Pros

Aging workforce. LOTS of retirements expected in the next five to ten years make for excellent advancement opportunities.
Good compensation (salary).
Secure job. Due to the difficulty in hiring quality people, even below-average performers will not worry about their job.

Cons

Performance indicator driven company, to a fault. "Accountability Model" enforced for management personnel, Union craft can commit murder and not be held accountable for anything.
Public humiliation not uncommon. Unrealistic bonus formulas for management personnel mean no payout for month-long 72 hour weeks during outages, when union craft get time and a half regardless of performance or outcome.
Staffing very poorly managed. First Line Supervisors are mostly unqualified for the job but hired because they are "internal" to the company (easy to hire) vice recruiting industry leaders from other companies or industries.
Corporate management is poor, the "fleet" concept is still just a concept.

Advice to Senior Management

A company in decline. Emphasis needs to be placed on quality hires vice plugging the holes with warm bodies who won't or can't perform. We are bleeding quality people and refusing to see it. Recognize people's sacrifices by hiring the help they need and we may stop losing them to Excelon, Progress, and TVA.

Pros

Employer offers above average pay and benefits. Nuclear power is a greying industry meaning that the high number of retiring employees leave openings for younger employees to quickly advance.

Cons

The large number of people retiring or close to retirement also means a loss in knowledge leaving the remaining workforce underexperienced and overworked. The worklife balance is poor at best due to understaffing and ineffective leadership. People are not treated with dignity and respect. Union/management issues place a constant strain on the workforce (both sides).

Advice to Senior Management

Maintain a fully staffed workforce. Treat one another with dignity and respect.

Pros

Employees are very friendly and open to listen to others. You have the ability to make an impact to the organization which is a positive.

Cons

Red tape to get things done often can get in they way.

Advice to Senior Management

Continue to listen to your employees. Think of long-term objectives instead of short term fixes.

Pros

Positive work environment
Pay is OK
Excellent management team

Cons

Health benefits lower than averge for the cost

Advice to Senior Management

Keep the trend going in excellence in Nuclear.

Pros

The People are very respectful, VY is an excellant plant, runs well, and great teamwork from all departments.

Cons

Middle Managment is so nice that at times when they need to take a hard line, they usually do not. The State of Vermonts government is essentially so inbred it would cut off its own nose to spite its face, it will drive anyone crazy.

Advice to Senior Management

Sometimes, taking a hard line on an issue is necessary.

Pros

At Entergy, you don't need to worry about what you will do with your free time

Cons

No priorities, mean people, unrealistic expectations, liars

Advice to Senior Management

Set some priorities

Pros

Fairly high compensation with respect to other companies. Good amount of time off, is asked for during initial interview. A ton of practical hands-on experience. Lots of knowledge available through older employees.

Cons

Very little training in regards to job. All of the experience in the company is retiring leaving all new engineers with little time for training. Management is continually in meetings. Don't expect to see your supervisor for the same reason. Limited amount of feedback, mostly negative.

Advice to Senior Management

Cut the meetings and get back to what matters - people. If you want to make your engineers do performance indicators, then spend the time to read what they have written. PI's are a benchmark, not something to just make "green."