INVISTA Reviews

Pros

Some of the best known brands in the fiber industry; best performing brands in the industry.

Cons

Often takes too much time and discussion for management to make a decision; often criticized for being too conservative; no cost of living/pay raise for 3+ years.

Pros

Ability to work on your own.

Cons

Horrible upper management. New managers every 6 months. no focus for field force nd not much conistency. Seem to make poor hiring decisions or promote people for no obvious reasons.

Advice to Senior Management

Try to get a clue. Your field force told you 5 years ago that we needed a green story and Sorona was a good product. you never listened and now you have had to let most of your field force go and are no longer a respected in the industry. Most competitors are laughing at you.

Pros

Good vacation and holiday benefits
Fairly flexible for telecommute opportunities on an as needed basis
Good initial training provided
Good 401k plan

Cons

Health insurance is expensive; coverage is not so good. Salary increases are practically unheard of. Typical financial acknowledgment of job well done is an on the spot bonus - no impact to salary. No cost of living increase; no merit increase. Bonus program is a joke. Performance review is purely subjective. Atmosphere feels very cult-like with its constant MBM speak, which you will be quick to realize is all talk and no substance. Very little positive recognition from management of employee efforts but very quick to offer negative criticisms. Company encourages employees to offer ideas for improving processes but their response to ideas is a quick explanation and rationalizaiton for the way they do things. Processes are very outdated; very manual; ripe with opportuntiies for error. Very difficult to get anyone to consider a better way. Very lonely environment where everyone is either afraid to speak up or else have given up hope of change but will share their concerns and frustrations in whispered conversations or off site discussions.

Advice to Senior Management

Invest in processes to bring them up to date. Invest in employees - there are savings that may not be immediately evident on the bottom line but are nevertheless contributing to a healthy bottom line. Open your mind and your eyes - really open them - to opportunities to improve benefits, processes, and tools. Do a better job recognizing employees and letting them know they're valued and important. Strive to create a warm and welcoming environment.

Pros

I see INVISTA providing opportunities for employees of all ages and experience levels to step up to the plate. It's performance driven, not seniority driven. With only 4 years at the company, I feel empowered and rewarded for speaking my mind and respectfully challenging the opinions of others, even those with much higher authority. Working here, I feel respected, rewarded and challenged every single day.

Cons

This place is intense! Probably not for those who want an "easy" job or one where they can only work half-heartedly. High intensity, high responsibility, and high rewards.

Pros

Privately owned view of the world very different than publicly traded companies. Long range vision extends way beyond the next quarterly earning which is common for public companies. Refreshing change from public company.

Cons

Forget raises & bonus. Convincing managers you should be promoted is the only way to get more money. Tend to use you up & then throw you away. You're never good enough at anything. When your provide innovative insight to business, management can't follow or understand.

Advice to Senior Management

Actually practice what you preach. When you do what you claim, workers will start trusting you & provide ideas for business growth & improvement.

Pros

Room for development and benefits are good.
Great focus on people development e.g. MBM, DMF etc.

Cons

Smell of rubbish from nearby incinerator but can't be helped.
Smell of organic chemicals in operation area.

Advice to Senior Management

The safety process is water tight and will be good to review to strike a balance with efficiency of permit application process.

Pros

Great people who are interested in your job satisfaction and personal development.

Cons

Territories tend to be large and base compensation is a little low

Pros

Starting Salary and starting bennefits will be decent. You will be treated as a professional and with respect. Business practices are exceptionally strong. Issues and problems are dealt with efficiently. Very few politcal games. Everything is aimed at value creation for the company through any means, as long as it is ethical and legal.The people you meet will be genuinely nice and the work environment is pleasent.

Cons

Do not look for your total compensation (base salary+benefits+incentive compensation) to keep up with inflation. Expect to lose 2% per year. Negotiate a high starting package because it will not improve much, if any, over time. Go in knowing that you have no job security, regardless of position. All people are equally vulnerable. Turnover is extremely high, and is twice that for similar companies, due to both voluntary and involuntary terminations.Your signing papers will cleary state in multiple places that you can be terminated at any time without cause. Take this very literally.You will be required to sign a Proprietary Information Protection document that is very close to a non-compete document. Your choice is sign or be terminated.

Advice to Senior Management

Koch, the parent company, requires use of excellent business practices, however, these practices are all about the company. These practices do not get the most from employees or retain the best people. Keeping up with the cost of living and having job security are important. Many people leave Koch and Invista for companies that offer such things. Koch accepts this as normal and acceptable as they want new blood and to pay starting salaries.

Pros

Good benefits, large company, and good people are the big benefits. People are mostly former DuPont Employees. Good office space and safety are plus.

Cons

Very slow-projects with 2 month ROI take 2 years to get funding. Poor opportunity for growth unless you are a new hire.

Advice to Senior Management

Have career discussions with employees. Consider 360 feedback. Take decisions and be willing to be wrong occasionally. There can be a bright future for the company.

Pros

Good benefits (insurance and 401k match)

Cons

The lack of communication throughout the company is frustrating. The parent company (Koch Industries) is not the environmentally conscious and compliant company that they would lead the public to believe.