JEA Reviews

Pros

There are some great people to work with at this company. The work-life balance is very good, work is important, family is first. Because it is a medium size utility, you can get opportunities to stretch yourself professionally that you would not at larger companies. It is a good place if you are looking to settle down through retirement.

Cons

The overlay of city politics results in decisions not necessarily in the best interests of the financial health of the company and the service of the community. The union/civil service rules create a sense of entitlement and prevent non-performers from being let go, causing the performers to have to work harder. Many management salaries are falling further and further behind industry because of multiple years without salary increases. The company has too many silos and does not operate as a team. Morale is currently low.

Advice to Senior Management

Develop a mid to long term plan to address the salary and morale issues and communicate it to you employees. External customers will not be served well at a company that serves its internal customers this poorly; work on that cultural issue. The CEO should address the disfunctional way in which his executives are currently operating and remove any that are performing poorly. Do not be afraid of change, stagnation will drag the company down.

Pros

Pension plan (if this is what you are looking for)

Exposure to the latest and greatest technologies. JEA generally stays up to date with the latest technology products, and there are constant projects going on. If you are part of these projects, you will receive sufficient training and product exposure.

If you are a contractor, you could possibly stay at JEA the rest of your career making double what a JEA employee makes.

Cons

JEA was a good place to work right out of college, but eventually, you come to the realization that no matter how talented you are, you are only going to move up so high. Most of the high paying jobs are currently filled by dead weight civil service leeches waiting out their 30 years (or more) so they can retire. In the mean time, the young talent who actually does the work get frustrated and leave, which was my case.

JEA uses public perception as a reason not to give its employees bonuses. Rate increases would draw news crews and public outcry. Employee moral continued to plummet the longer I was there, and seeing completely unqualified people promoted through the ranks was the final straw.

Pros

There are a few very intelligent, caring and hard-working people
Good location in downtown Jacksonville
Job security for civil servants
Casual, secure working environment

Cons

Intentional erroneous communication from middle-management
Stereotypical "dead-wood" city government mentality characterized by low productivity and "good- old-boy" networking
Finger-pointing incompetents embedded in human capital infrastructure
Fractured and "silo'd" policies, procedures and methodologies

Advice to Senior Management

Take a fine-grained focused look at what is happening beneath the executive management level
Anticipate change and be proactive rather than maintaining a reactive leadership posture
Rapidly hire subject matter experts and individuals outstanding in their respective fields to replace the knowledge and talent that will be leaving the company within the next two years. Don't depend upon current work-force to rise to the challenges which bearing down on the company and the city government because current employees haven't been properly trained, groomed and motivated.

Pros

Laid back atmosphere.
Great benefits package with City Pension plan.
Many competent team members to rely on.
Very reasonable starting salary.

Cons

Heavily Union influenced environment.
Many employees will work harder to not work assuming that it's very hard to be fired from their position.
Not many opportunities for career advancement for engineers. There are only 3 levels which can be achieved after 7-8 years.
Promotions are at fixed 5% for engineers.
Yearly raises are given but are not guaranteed due to union contract negotiations.

Advice to Senior Management

Take more effort into sifting out the dead weed employees that hide behind the union shield. Promote the hard workers with raises that are adequate with their performance.

Pros

Job Security, Good Benefits, Vacation Time.

Cons

Must negotiate salary at the beginning. Few levels of promotion.

Advice to Senior Management

More opportunities for promotion and take care of hard workers.

Pros

Good pay and benefits for all employees.

Cons

Not family friendly or flexible if time off is needed with short notice.

Advice to Senior Management

Be more consistent and don't give preference to some employees only. Be more considerate of medical and other exceptional situations.

Pros

salary and benefits are great

Cons

poor communications and self-righteous managers

Advice to Senior Management

get rid of the high and mighty directors and VPs