Foresters, The Independent Order of Reviews in Toronto, ON Area

Pros

good culture and people, enthusiastic, friendly and willing to help

Cons

boring, tedious, bureocratic and time consumin

Advice to Senior Management

nothin

Pros

=Challenging job, lots of interesting projects
=Growing company and gaining brand foothold in the marketplace
=Competitive compensation & benefits

Cons

=Toxic culture of rudeness and entitlement at senior levels
=Getting promoted depends on who you know (or have previously butt-kissed), not what you know
=Incompetence at senior levels, with some promoted into roles they know nothing about
=Callous and arrogant leadership with zero appreciation or empathy for the employees who are doing their work for them.

This place used to be a great place to work years ago, then senior management got too used to doing whatever they wanted and forgot how they got to where they are today. Now employee morale is the worst it's ever been and management appears to have no clue because they are too busy taking credit for how well the company is doing and congratulating themselves over expensive lunches and corporate get-aways. Meanwhile, line employees are busting their butts working overtime and ducking everytime another glass door slams and an executive meeting is in progress, particularly when HR people drop in for a 'visit'.

Advice to Senior Management

Wake up and smell the coffee. Just a few short years ago, some of you were working in crappy jobs and barely able to meet objectives, so quit acting like the company's success is all because of you. You got where you are because of who you know or worked with in past jobs and you wouldn't be where you are if the people you have working for you today didn't do all the work while you took the credit. Sad but true.

Pros

Small organization made it possible to work with number of departments on several initiatives. Large multi-year change management strategy provided opportunities to manage projects across product, sales/marketing, legal, technology and risk management areas.

Cons

Not all products competitive. Pay scale was lower than industry average. Sometimes felt there was complacency/self entitlement amongst mid-management and staff.

Advice to Senior Management

Strengthen product lines and price products more competitively. Provide more competitive pay scale and incentive programs. Improve development and leadership capabilities of mid and senior management within organization.

Pros

Lot's of change, good or bad, leads to opportunity.

Cons

If you are not part of the boys club, you are out.

Advice to Senior Management

When you outsource you loose control and the ability to develop a competitive edge in the discipline you outsource.

Pros

Opportunities for professional growth and advancement were abundant.

Cons

Might be considered by some to be an organization of "cliques", but overall it was a great place to work and I would love to go back if given an opportunity.

Advice to Senior Management

Seems like you've been able to manage to turn membership around in the time I've been away from this company. I'm pleased to see the company thriving.

Pros

Hight Salaries, good benefits, bonuses.

Cons

Management there are dinosaurs....who have been in their positions for over 25 years. They get rid of great people, or they get sick because of the stress and overwhelming workload. They need to get rid of these idiots so they don't lose good quality people!!!

Advice to Senior Management

You are all going to be outsourced as that seems to be the only solution to all the big expense problems.....management has run the company to the ground. Used to be a great company!!

Pros

Benefits, excellent pay, and pockets of goodwill...if one is lucky enough to find them.

Cons

Areas of the organization that do not generate profit tend to be very highly emotionally charged and employees worry about who will be let go next.

Advice to Senior Management

Long-time employees go out of their way to protect their turf. Basic respect in the workplace is not widespread. Bad behaviour is, and it's very covert.

Pros

Foresters pays well and has a good work/life balance.

Cons

Foresters is stuck in the past unwilling to change. Management would rather listen to consultants than there employees. Foresters has decided that outsourcing is the only way to lower costs as a result many departments will be outsourced in the coming months / years.

Advice to Senior Management

Insure that processes are in place before chasing premium. Go after quality business and stop wasting money on bad business. Your employees and customers have good ideas however many feel they are not being listened to. Marketing is your weakest area focus on getting help in this area.

Pros

A regular paycheck and the possibility that sooner rather than later some of the long time (10+) employees, those with no vision or motivation and who fear change, will be "packaged" out.

Cons

1) Seeming excess of employees entrenched in the past (many employees have 10+ years tenure), who are literally glued to the "old way of doing things. 2) Suffers from an identity crisis (i.e., is Foresters a fraternal benefit society that sells insurance or an insurance company that wants to make a profit while promoting good work in the community?).

Advice to Senior Management

Be bold: 1) Take the initiative and weed out the 10+ employees; 2) clearly define Foresters identity and stick to its core business.