Hewitt Associates Reviews

Pros

The fellow employees were easy to get along with

Cons

the workload isn't fair for employees. they weren't fair in getting backup help when we were shortstaffed and they were very unfair with their raises.

the job itself wasn't what was described in the interview. it was essentially a glorified call center, you take phone calls from participants and have to perform calculations. its hard to balance them and you dont need a college degree to do this job.

Advice to Senior Management

be more understanding of your employees and their workloads. you expect flawless results but aren't always fair with compensation as well on the reviews.

Pros

Work Life balance
Good Compensation
Good Benefits
Employer respect its associates
Allows you to experiment with other skills and flexible in intra job transfer.

Cons

Not good with performance reviews and increment.
Micro management
Not good team spirit
Cost Cutting

Pros

Large company, great exposure to big clients.

Cons

Limited professional growth/advancement, at least before being bought out.

Pros

the ability to work from home

Cons

no respect, overworked, poor communication

Advice to Senior Management

go back to the old days of valuing employees

Pros

Opportunities for large scale, engaging work

Cons

Others are so busy it is difficult to get input

Advice to Senior Management

Promote a more open culture of honest communication

Pros

You will work with very smart co-workers. While pensions are becoming more rare, there is job security because few people do this work.

Cons

At times over the recent years, leadership has had some problems. Prior leadership led us directly to a buy-out by Aon.

Pros

Hewitt has always promoted work/life balance, and for me, they (mostly) practiced what they preached for 19+ years. Great people, and a booming business, for the most part. I was able to telecommute from 1998-2009, and my entire work group was virtual, this was a HUGE Pro. Even during more lean times, they tried as hard as they could to keep employees, again, for the most part. When I finally fell under the ax, I received a pretty decent severance package, and today I'm considered a retiree, since I met the requirements (service + age). Overall, my time at Hewitt was a very positive experience, and I would go back if offered an opportunity.

Cons

With business booming, there were several rounds of layoffs, each seeming to target more senior employees (with senior salaries). I survived a few, then in mid-2009 got riffed. Good severance pay, but today they're doing the same job, with more clients and less staff, so overwork is a problem for those left behind. For a benefits company, our employee benefits were only average.

Advice to Senior Management

Hire people (or bring back ex-employees) to fill openings left by RIFs. The workload is stifling. Be a little less beholden to the share price / stockholders, and get back to your core values (SWAN). Since the Aon merger, you've become almost invisible. Get back to the leading edge, and stay there. Thump your chest a bit!

Pros

Probably a good place to start your career. Unless you are willing to succumb to the politics, its a horrible place to grow your career

Cons

Have to be a complete suckup to get anywhere in this company. Managers and leaders are set in their old ways and are completely unaccepting of change

Advice to Senior Management

Get some young blood into the workforce - people who have been around for a long time are not accepting of any new ideas

Pros

Supportive co-workers
Good benefits
Company works hard to support team-building
Amenities on site are worthwhile. Company has an on-site medical center, good cafeteria, internal benefits fairs, etc.

Cons

Pay below industry standard
Minimal training
inconsistent evaluation standards from team to team
Atmosphere is like high-school. You have to work hard to be in the right clique and survival hinges on being popular with the "cool kids" (managers)
There is no follow-up or discussion on evaluations, so you don't feel like there is any real attempt at employee development. You're essentially on your own.

Advice to Senior Management

Managers should be trained to evaluate employees consistently and fairly.

Pros

Earning A paycheck is about it.

Cons

Management incompetence is at annall time high.

Advice to Senior Management

Be fair and open-minded.