NuStar Energy Reviews

Pros

Very Professional Atmosphere mixed with relaxed low pressure environment. Employees are trusted, and empowerment is visible through the company. A great sense of pride is visible in every department, great sense of respect from peers and managers. Great pay and benefits, bonus, stock options, it makes a difference when acompany is trying to be the best.

Cons

NuStar is still small company in comparison, but still growing after spin off from Valero, The roots are strong and some employees need to get over the spin off from Valero. Although its nice to volunteer to help others, its seem like it’s a job requirement, If you don’t pledge to volunteer or donate to the United Way, you feel like you job would be at stake.

Advice to Senior Management

Share information on salary grade, publish salary ranges. Be more open, Salary ranges/earning potential shouldn’t be a secret.

Don't be so head strong in the volunteer arena, employees feel like it’s a condition of employment, your using your employees to support you own ideals.

Pros

They tend to hire good people, most of the worker bees are very good.

The 401K and pension is decent, fairly common if you work for an large company, 6% match dollar for dollar.

If you are willing to move you will get advancement

The health benefits are good if you dont get sick a lot , they pay for a high deductable PPO plan no cost to you, but they have other plans which you can contribute to.

Education Benefits are ok.

They are a profitable company

Cons

United Way-They care about your contributions to the United Way more than they do your actual work, at a minimum you will give 1% and if you want promotion opportunities you better give 2% If you don't give you will be talked to by your boss and his boss.

PAC-You are expected to give .5% to the NuStar PAC

Salary and raises are below average for the energy industry-If you like your merit raise to never be above 2-2.5%, this is your company.

Bonuses-They brag about an all employee bonus but if you are not management it is peanuts. The stock options are so low it is almost not even worth mentioning.

Managment-Way too many manager titles, way too many Valero downsized mangers jumping ship and coming to NuStar.

Office Space type culture-You get to wear a tie 4 days a week at the SA HQ.

Good Ole Boy System-If your in the club its a Pro, but if your not which most aren't its a con.

Advice to Senior Management

Lower your United Way and PAC thresholds

Revise your bonus scheme to your workers

Reward hard working people with a real raise that is not tied to your UW giving rate.

Once the economy rebounds some, you will see many people leave for greener pastures if no action is taken.

Pros

Great Healthcare benefits! Company pays 100% of monthly premium. 401K match is pretty standard for the energy industry at 6% of pay. Pension is good. This is probably a really good company for back office personnel

Cons

Company insists that all employees contributue to United Way. They do not care if you contribute to other charities. Each employee contribution is tracked and compared with a target contribution level that managment sets forth. If you do not meet the targeted contribution level, you will be having a rather weird conversation with your manager for "not giving enough". While the healthcare and 401K benefits are great, do your homework. The 401K match is pretty standard in the energy industry and the healthcare benefits are probably worth around $5K/year. These benefits do not make up for the extremely low pay. The pension is good, but again, alot of energy companies have them and vest in 3 yrs, not 5. Yearly issue of units (Stock) has dropped 40% in the last 4 years.

Advice to Senior Management

Company is extremely top heavy with high level managers(VP's) that do not have anyone working for them. Feel that the company is at an inflection point in its history. We keep selling our pipeline assets (from almost 10,000 miles of pipeline in 2008 to about 5,000 miles today) and increasing our refining assets. Are we a refiner or pipeline and terminal company?

Pros

Nustar Energy's benefits are some of the best in the industry and their retirement plan is very good as well.

Cons

1. I did not receive a performance evaluation in the entire time I have worked at Nustar Energy. When other people in my department received stock options I did not as I have not had a performance evaluation. I asked my manager about this and he said that he 'forgot', but that he would do one next year.
2. Work performed is not complimented or acknowledged.
3. My manager steals credit for projects that I have excelled in performing.
4. You are told to contribute at least 1% of your salary to United Way. The unspoken word is that if you don't you will not be promotod.

Advice to Senior Management

Make sure that every employee has a timely performance evaluation at the company as that seems to be lacking. Try to cut down on the 'good old boy' culture.