Hewitt Associates Reviews in Chicago, IL Area

Pros

Pay is good; benefits compared to others I've seen recently are good; Reputable company and ahead of most others in consulting and outsourcing in technology and a leader in the industry.

Cons

Employer/employee partnership lost some years ago - not sure how the career growth and promotion process works anymore. Seems who you know/how much you kiss up to certain leaders, and how you cover for senior management where they are unskilled. Disappointing past few years of loss of recognition in form of verbal praise and thanks and blindness to overwork of many employees to cover high volume of quality issues and understaffing.

Advice to Senior Management

You have lost or turned away the true heart and knowledge leaders that built the Hewitt business, and put profits ahead of your clients and employees. It was a disappointment to be part of the organization for over 15 years and see how leadership willingly trampled the engagement of employees and employee contract that inspired associates to contribute to the success of Hewitt for many years.People used to laugh about the tag line of Hewitt "SWAN", but it truly made Hewitt the successful business it was before Hewitt became the company that is an overpriced, low quality, assembly line of benefits admnistration.

Pros

Benefits are ok. Flexible work cluture as long as job done. Very high pressure work env. Good technology and infrastructure.

Cons

Management just look for cost saving. Doesn't care of the quality and key talent retention. No growth and career advancements.

Pros

Hewitt had open communication, a good training program, management that respected employees, and had opportunities for advancement or a career change.

Cons

Low pay. Most of the benefits were geared toward older/married employees with children.

Advice to Senior Management

Keep open communication, ensure decision making process is fair and transparent.

Pros

close to home, be close to the family/kids
corporate structure/experience provides excellent foot in the door
you can gauge your work somewhat
roomy parking garage/campus
clean office space/tools/computers/washrooms...well maintained building
24 hour access incase you forget something
reliable security for lock outs, car starting issues, badge issues
decent crowd of people
easy to find colleagues on campus
HR resources are available on site
built in CVS so you really could never call in sick unless you broke something
respectable place to work, fortune 500 recognized, known in the industry

Cons

Hewitt provides a job, you have to teach yourself how to do it
provide tools/minimal training/and very little leadership and expect you to carry on
when discouraged, leadership does not motivate their teams
no recognition for hard work/exceeding standards
bad performance reviews are bitter and uncomfortable instead of corrective
manager intimidation so you won't ask for help when you should
system's analysts don't want your input and your mgr does not care if you can improve something
opps to move across depts is nearly impossible, no support from leadership
irresponsible team members have been getting away with more after this merger
you are better off quitting, working at gamestop for 4 months, and then applying for that promoted role

Advice to Senior Management

the merger never should have happened
I left Hewitt for Aon and then came back
Follow Aon's leadership: support your team by encouraging growth with training and new opps
favoritism only gets you so far
imagine working on the mundane test plan, empathize with your staff and help out if they struggle
learn how to manage projects; ask Hewitt to pay you to get your MBA
most of all: stand by your team to gain real trust, we would be more loyal if you did

Pros

Prior to going public, Hewitt was a wonderful place to work. Great atmosphere, good feedback, good support, great benefits, fair pay.

Cons

After going public, benefits and atmosphere, attitude of leadership went into a tail spin. Perhaps not indicative of the firm overall, but poorly planned pet projects by middle management are considered sacrosanct. Those who point our risks, flaws or issues are punished. Text book example of 'the emperor's new clothes'.

Advice to Senior Management

Watch what your middle managers are doing, how they're running the business. You have a lot of petty fiefdoms being protected at all costs, including falsifying documentation.

Pros

The people I worked with were all good folks. The were patient and willing to train when asked. They appreciated my work.

Cons

As an intern, I came to understand that the department budget was built around our cheap labor. Also, there was no effort by the company or my management to get exposure to other parts of the company that would have been a good fit for permanent employment.

Pros

Training is good, cross functional work, great mentors

Cons

Conservative culture, intranet is hard to navigate

Advice to Senior Management

Keep up the exposure to interns

Pros

Big company
Many different positions
Diverse crowd
Good benefits
Good facilities
Good infrastructure

Cons

Communication problems between senior leadership and employees

Advice to Senior Management

Improve communication

Pros

Old benefits good, decent work life balance

Cons

Aon marketing department all talk, no action -- lots of younger employees without experience -- they want their employees cheap

Advice to Senior Management

You get what you pay for -- find talent, and retain it

Pros

The building in Lincolnshire was nice if you were lucky enough to get a space.

Cons

Hewitt was notorious for over-working it's people. The compensation and feedback was poor. I saw quite a few very productive and sharp people get laid off because they refused to play the political games that are required. Bad place to work.

Advice to Senior Management

Recognize the individuals who truly contribute and not just the ones you are friends with. Plan projects more effectively so the people don't have to work a minimum of 60 hours (working those hours should be the exception, not the norm).