Hewitt Associates Reviews in Chicago, IL Area

Pros

Training and benefits, networking with other former Associates, who have also left, either by choice or not.

Cons

I worked for Hewitt for close to 10 years, and saw it change from a private company into a publicly traded one. Senior management was sending out one message, but doing something else entirely, instead of the focus being HUMAN resources, they seemed to change gears and the focus became profitability over humanity. The dehumanizing and abhorrent behavior of senior management is what is keeping morale down at Hewitt, and it's a shame, because talent is leaving in droves. This company will never recover its human capital. As I was given the bad news over the phone, by my so-called manager (she hadn't officially transitioned into the role yet, but seemed to relish the new responsibility, her first); Being told over the phone that I was no longer being employed by the firm, although I had 2 weeks to find another position within Hewitt, if I could, was an insulting way to be told that I was no longer needed. But her parting shot was "oh, don't worry about your vacation days being counted against you, just come back on Tuesday (it was a Thursday), we'll pay you out for your vacation days. Gee, thanks. It would be funny if it weren't just sad.

Advice to Senior Management

Do what you say you're going to do to improve business, and if you've got to 'chop heads', do it in a business-like and adult manner, don't wait until people are out of pocket to tell them over the phone, that's just lame, and cowardly.

Pros

Great Entry-Level Opportunities
Global Leader in HR Outsourcing
A larger percentage of smart employees than I've seen at any other employer
Lots of dedictated, motivated people - things can really get done at this place.
Exciting work environment - work responsibilities constantly change as new projects come in.

Cons

Work/Life balance is largely ignored (the best workers here are married to their jobs above all else).
The Global Sourcing Strategy is Myopic
HIGH Stress work environment.

Advice to Senior Management

Global Sourcing is a fantastic opportunity at face value... but the way we're managing it isn't realistic.

We need to pay well above market in our India locations - right now we're at the mercy of our employees because they can walk across the street and get a 20% raise. We should take the position that we will only accept the best and brightest... that we expect more than our competitors... and that we'll pay more.

In India we mostly have newbies (they call them freshers) who will stay with us long enough to get some experience and training before heading out... and people who perform low enough to be without value at another employer. Our best people consistently leave us.

This is a morale killer for the onshore staff. We are working with newhires (who mostly can't do the more difficult analysis needed for a quality product yet) and people who we KNOW are going to torpedo any project they work on with their incompetence. The pressure is on to avoid onshore hires... so we end up playing the role of Atlas... holding the world on our shoulders.

This strategy is unsustainable. I know we're playing a waiting game with competitors who are willing to accept tiny or even negative margins to compete with us... but we lose a lot of money on rework to our current business plan.

Pros

Benefits were great. Outstanding, ongoing training prepares employees for future jobs (if they remain in the field) both in and outside of Hewitt.

Cons

Constant re-organization of company with poor communication. Re-organization always meant more layoffs and often resulted in those left being understaffed and over-worked.

Advice to Senior Management

I don't presume to be able to provide advice for senior management. I will say that professional management level does not show enough appreciation for those that work for them and spend countless hours away from their families to work for clients.

Pros

I did well at Hewitt but towards the end of my stay, it became increasingly dificult to get work done. SLAs turned into 10 days for changes that affected client facing environments.
The groups I worked with had poor morale and were overworked.
The experience at Hewitt depends greatly on your manager, and that there is a good match for the job you are doing.

Cons

Morale was very low across the board.
It was difficult to get work done when people in other teams were not thrilled about being at Hewitt.
Dynamic changes at the company in response to the recession had many people on pins and needles and wondering if their livelihoods were going to be affected by the next round of RIFs.

Advice to Senior Management

What can you do...you are only repeating what executive level management tells you. You are no more in the know of what is going on than the rest of the workers.

Pros

-Relatively low-key job, not too high stress
-Good benefits (education, insurance), etc.
-Convenient location
-Big (stable) company atmosphere and culture

Cons

Absolutely no incentives for career advancement. If I am the best employee in the world, I get 5% raise. If I am okay, 3%. If I am pretty bad, 2%. Not sure if that motivates anyone.
Little trust to employees.

Advice to Senior Management

Offer incentives for career advancement. Remove the layers upon layers upon layers of management so associates can actually understand the big picture.

Pros

The time off allowed is generous when you start and you have the option to flex time instead of using vacation. They are generous with their bereavement time off.

Cons

Management lies and there is a spin to everything. Management makes outlandish statements and maintains those lies as if stating them enough times will make them true. There is an arrogance to management and i personally want to see the company come crashing down around their heads. Their pay is not a lving wage and makes it impossible to work toward saving for retirement. I am incredible annoyed when I see, "Making the world a better place to work." Working there is like being the child of a shoemaker or doctor -- it's really bad news. Pay stinks. Advancement is virtually non-existent. Managers are inept.

Advice to Senior Management

CUT THE CRAP. Your employees are not as stupid as you seem to think that we are and every time you lie or spin you only create resentment.

Pros

Flexibility to work from home some days, good amount of vacation time which I am able to take and encouraged to take.

Cons

Over bureuacratized organization that has embraced outsourcing in a big way without proper concern to training, communication, quality and succession planning.

Advice to Senior Management

Sorry I give up. I've given so much feedback that has been ignored during the past year that I am discouraged.

Pros

Salary decent, considering current market.

Cons

Complete and total lack of respect by senior management. Scary how little it takes in terms of negative feedback from a client before management totally freaks out.

Advice to Senior Management

Be willing to stand your ground on occasion.

Pros

Great Clientele. Consulting Team is fast, dynamic and recognized

Cons

Very Slow, Confused and Ignorant People Managers

Advice to Senior Management

Remove the older fat placed in reporting manager positions to manage people. They are not supported in the dynamic vision that the company boasts about.

Pros

Extensive training. Great Resume material.

Cons

Lots of outsourcing to India. Hours can be long. People were constantly leaving the company to due to low morale.

Advice to Senior Management

Don't be so quick to eliminate positions in the US if you are just going to call those associates back in a few months to see if they will consider coming back.