Nicor Reviews

Pros

Ability to climb the corporate ladder

Cons

People are promoted based on how long they have worked at the company verses their knowledge

Advice to Senior Management

none

Pros

good management team that is supportive

Cons

budget issues impact ability to improve infrastructure

Pros

Great work/life balance at Nicor.

Cons

Get ready to play games when looking for promotions.

Pros

Nicor National is part of a larger company, Nicor. The company is centrally located in Naperville near I-88 and have a large call center.

Cons

Some supervisors are dishonest in the way that they supervise. These particular supervisors have asked peers to send email to them when they notice someone is doing a job incorrectly and have made up stories to address the situation.

Advice to Senior Management

Supervise by observing what your employees are doing not by spying on them. A good supervisor is out among her employees during the day not sitting at her desk and out the door 4:30.

Pros

job security is never an issue

Cons

not challenging enought to keep interested

Pros

Depending on what area, it Nicor is very flexible with hours
The idea of volunteering and giving back with Nicor is pushed but not overdone
My boss talks to me about what is needed to be done..

Cons

Low Pay
Because the mid range of people employed here are around 15-20 years with the company moving up can be a challenge

Advice to Senior Management

Take a minute to say hello.. if you see someone on the elevator
Stop hiring college grads in the call center and letting them fester and sit there till the end of all eternity

Pros

Given the state of the economy and the unempolyment rate at least this employer is hiring and the starting rate for entry level is good.

Cons

Not family orientated when illiness within family requires time off. It is very evident that direct Supervisor is not familiar with job responsibilities of his/her staff. A Supervisor should be familiar with systems used by staff. Furthermore, a Supervisor should be hired on ability not who you know.

Advice to Senior Management

Provide those employees who may not necessarily have a degree but posess numerous years expierence a chance to apply and be selected for growth within the company. A piece of paper does not always make you the best canidate for a position.

Pros

My peers are some of the greatest people I've ever had a chance to work with - very open, smart, and taking ownership. The hours were flexible and things were never too stressy.

Cons

My direct manager was awful (first gig managing people and not projects). Communication was terrible, a lot of 'do as I say, not as I do' attitude, and never believed in coaching or praising performance. Instead, she would dump on you in the performance review for things she never let you know were a problem UNTIL the performance review.

Advice to Senior Management

Offer 360 feedback reviews and make sure new managers receive ongoing training for working with teams - and are evaluated some how on how well they actually do it. Bad management is a sure way to lose your team!

Pros

Benefits package was very good.

Cons

Company is being sold and there is uncertainty

Advice to Senior Management

More leadership with the new owners

Pros

Good benefits package after 4 month probation is up. The hourly rate is competitive with other utilities in the area. Co-workers are very friendly. In the 50+ years the company has existed, there has never been a layoff. The company's finances are handled competently, and are very stable.

Cons

I am not personally a fan of a unionized workforce. Promotions are based primarily on seniority, not merit. Everyone receives the same pay increase annually. Overtime is forced, often with less than 24 hours notice. That makes planning your life outside of work very difficult.

Advice to Senior Management

Meet with employees to go over monthly reviews every month. Hearing some positive feedback and suggestions for improvement on a regular basis would increase morale significantly. Also, please get rid of the rolling 12 month sick time policy. It would make more sense to grant 5 days each year in January, just like vacation time. It would make it much easier to keep track of. Not to mention if someone gets sick in the Fall of one year and then gets sick in the middle of the Summer of the next, at least they would have time for both occurences instead of having to worry about disciplinary action over something they may have no control over.