Hastings Mutual Reviews

Pros

Hastings Mutual is a very conservative, traditional company recently celebrating its 125 year anniversary. Employees are treated with respect and valued as management is typically well trained and talented. The company is generous with vacation time, and provides some alternative working arrangements for employees when asked to do so. The management team is very good at communicating what is happening at the company, and there are numerous charities that the company is involved with.

Cons

Because it is a very traditional company it seems to value employee longevity over talent and contribution. Even profit sharing benefits are setup based on how long you have been at the company with people below a certain number of years actually receiving half of what those over a certain threshold get. Reserved parking spots are for all employees with over 15 years of service. It seems like the values of the past rule the current behavior, and this often manifests itself in a hesitancy to make capital investments for the future. Compensation is on the low side.

Advice to Senior Management

Drop some of the archaic human resource practices, stop dwelling on the past and develop a viable strategy for the future.

Pros

- Great people
- Many training and development opportunities
- Very stable
- Financially strong
- Easy access to senior management
- Willing to change and move forward with technology
- Good core business hours - 8:00 - 4:30

Cons

- Change often comes slowly
- While some flexible work arrangements are available, it is a small few who are eligible
- Adoption of new technology/tools is often slow
- Still fairly command and control oriented through much of the company, although moving in the right direction

Advice to Senior Management

Management needs to continue to move toward a more participative form of leadership. Set the direction and manage to shared goals and objectives. Whenever possible give employees the room needed to make good things happen.

Pros

This is a very family oriented company which is also working on including flex schedules for most of their employees(4 10hr days or work from home options). I have been impressed by the leadership in this company as well. They are all very open with the employees and communicate the company goals on a regular basis. This includes the CEO himself. The benefits are wonderful, especially when it comes to paid time off and management is usually very understanding when you have to stay home and care for a sick child. In addition Hastings Mutual is very involved in the community and has it's own charitable organization.

Cons

Unfortunately, the pay is lower than you would find outside of the small community of Hastings but that is to be expected I guess. This company is also very clearly structured when it comes to ranks of employees. There is a clear distinction between the management and the regular workers. I have also noticed the lack of diversity not only in race but also in typical gender roles. Once you reach the VP or AVP level there are very few women in executive management roles. I would also like to see a higher match percentage for 401k contributions. The work day is also very set in stone. Most people get to work at the same time, eat lunch and take breaks at the same time, and then leave at the same time.

Advice to Senior Management

I would suggest upping the match percentage for 401k contributions. I would also work to get more women into upper management. It could be helpful to allow people to work outside of the regular schedule more often or to allow them the flexibility of taking a 1/2hr lunch instead of a 45min lunch and then take off 15min earlier.