Hewlett-Packard Reviews in Houston, TX Area

Pros

Benifits were OK untill you find out there are other companies who give out better ones.

Cons

Dishonest management. When layoffs come, they try to find a way not to pay the package. And they to look deep into your profile.

Advice to Senior Management

GO back to the way Compaq ran it.

Pros

flexibility
challenge
learning opportunities
reputation in foreign countries where we do business

Cons

low compensation
you are expected to work during vacation, if necessary

Pros

The people are good there.

Cons

Management is the problem because they don't want to invest in premium quality HW.

Pros

This has been a great first job so far. Competitive salary, signing bonus, and relocation package (especially when considering the low cost of living in the area). There is plenty of interesting work going on here, and I work with some very smart engineers who are always willing to help me improve my skills. I never feel like I have my manager looking over my shoulder...I am free to spend my time at work (and outside of work) as I please, as long as I'm getting my work done. I can't imagine a software engineering job that provides a better work/life balance...definitely better than it was in school.

Cons

Morale, mostly. There are a lot of people here who are still feeling burned by upper management from the Hurd era. Leo was slightly better, but the sale/spin-off of PSG and the Touchpad issues made us all look sort of silly. Young employees (anywhere from 3-5 years older than me) are looking for employment elsewhere, for understandable reasons. They have seen few bonuses and even fewer raises during their time here. This past year has been different, but the changes came too late for them. Just about every young employee I know got a bonus or a raise AND a bonus, but many took a new job that started in January 2012...the train had already left the station.

Some project timelines are a bit unrealistic, and some of the older employees are being overworked because of it...but I can only speak well to my own personal experience. Your experience is very dependent on how good of a manager you have. Some are obviously better than others. Also, upper management in the Leo era was hilariously bad at communicating big, important changes to the rest of us. Things have gotten a bit better under Meg, but there hasn't been anything quite as earth-shattering as the potential PSG sale/spin-off either.

Advice to Senior Management

Hopefully management recognizes that they need to continue rewarding people for their hard work. Keep work expectations realistic. DON'T DO STUPID THINGS, but if you must, please give the rest of us a heads up.

Pros

Work life balance
Friendly employees
Good office facilities and benefits

Cons

Outdated technologies
Slow development environment
Low pay

Advice to Senior Management

Should be more profit oriented.

Pros

Above average salary in the industry, good insurance benefits. Mostly self-manage working enviorment. Exposure experiences to latest computer software/hardware technologies.

Cons

Limited promotion opportunites, few salary increase, travel required, long working hours, required routine overtime work in communcating with manufacturers in Asia.

Pros

-a paycheck
-can buy a week of vacation
-flexible working schedule
-access to library of books online
-will beat outside offers by a certain percent

Cons

-Forced ratings - only 17.3 percent will get the rating they earned at HP
-Friends of manager get promoted, raise, bonus - HP = Highly Political
-Management chain lies about everything!
-The only way to get a decent raise is show them a job offer from another company
-Employees are not valued and are viewed as a commodity (number)
-The biggest downside is management/executives lying

Advice to Senior Management

-Tell the truth even when it hurts (you or others)
-Pay people what they are worth without making them get an outside offer to prove it
-Treat everyone below you the way you want to be treated
-Fire anyone who lies

Pros

I had a good 1st level manager who communicated well and treated us with respect.

Cons

So many to list. The biggest being the complete disconnect between Corporate management and the rest of the employees.

Pros

Telecommuting and salary is all that comes to mind

Cons

Poor communitcations, benefits, commitment to employees.

Pros

For the most part, I work with some pretty bright employees. Good benefits. Big community supporter.

Cons

Never ending reorganizations make for inefficiencies. Patchwork of systems--likely resulting from numerous mergers and acquisitions over the years--seem most surprising for an IT company!

Advice to Senior Management

Don't give away tens of millions of dollars to top management for NOT working!