Quad/Graphics Reviews

Pros

Quad has an excellent benefits package. They offer a good level of support from the corporate offices. They have a strong commitment to technology and to looking to the future.

Cons

Quad states that their decisions are based upon a set of values, however, most members of management do not adhere to those values. It is a very top-down driven organization, and anyone who offers views contrary to senior management are considered problems. Much downsizing has occurred within the company, and more will follow, as printing will eventually be a very small industry in the near future.

Advice to Senior Management

I believe there is an over reliance on managers who were promoted from the shop floor. Their commitment is strong, but their leadership skills are weak.

Pros

Primary reasons I enjoy working at Quad - Flexible time, many opportunities for growth and challenges, good Sr. leadership that really seems to care.

Cons

LOTS of change over the past couple of years. Not necessarily a con to the company - they are doing what they need to do to survive during this poor economy.

Advice to Senior Management

More frequent communications of how and what we're doing. Generally have a good idea, but many employees don't which raises concern.

Pros

Great people, personal work environment, encourages you to learn and better yourself. Also the benefits, paid vacation and holidays, 401k, health insurance, fitness center, paid and unpaid classes and training.

Cons

Quad is it's own little world. It's hard to break in if you're an outsider, luckily I already had family and friends when I started and that helped me to move up, but not much. There's a lack of opportunity for advancement, and frequently promotions don't go to the most qualified, but to those with the most seniority or connections. Also, management can be hypocritical and play favorites, and the system in place to report issues with management doesn't work. Communication is lacking between departments and it affects the quality of the work performed.

Advice to Senior Management

Management needs to spend less time worrying about what everyone else is doing and pay more attention to their own job. Communication needs to be opened up and encouraged between departments, instead of the constant finger pointing and competition. You need to compensate your better employees in ways other than just a "Good Job!" (Hint: $$$).

Pros

Good Benifits
Overall care about employees

Cons

Salary seems lower than average.
slow advancement and outlook to advance

Pros

It has a Linux developement environment, an on site gym, an on site clinic, and an on site dental office.

Cons

poor compenation, extra effort is discouraged, no chance in hell of career development. 4 year running pay freeze. New hires routinely hired at higher salaries than their leads. Face terrible prospects for their industry.

Advice to Senior Management

You are bleeding so many tech employees because you refuse to compensate them fairly.

Pros

-Flexible hours for part timers and competitive pay
-Excellent community between workers
-Interesting manufacturing process
-Fairly quick promotions if ambitious full-timer

Cons

-Got hurt once and Senior Manager's immediately refused to allow me to go home
-Unfair demands when others slack off
-Machine management will lash out if machine runs poorly

Advice to Senior Management

Show more respect for the grunt worker even if it is just a pat on the back and a good job.

Pros

The benefits - top notch healthcare. 401k matching up to 6% of pay. HR is very fast to respond to any questions/concerns. Essentially free ($10 one time payment for lifetime membership) access to company owned fitness centers (and athletic trainers) that are open almost 24/7/365.

Some say the company culture. I didn't particularly care for it, others loved it.

Cons

In my experience, most of the people I worked with were being pushed a too hard, not paid enough, and too concerned with covering their own ass to get cross-departmental projects done properly. There's a noticeable and detrimental divide between satellite offices and the plants. Somewhat of an "us vs them" mentality, internally.

Advice to Senior Management

Joel's Quad isn't Harry's Quad. The company needs to rebrand/reinvent itself, otherwise it'll continue clinging to the past. Quad is now a publicly held, international company, that is entering the merger and acquisition market. It's not the family owned ~10,000 employee company it used to be. I don't take issue with what Joel has done, but far too many of his communications to the company centered around "My father did/said..."

Pros

Great learning opportunities
Interesting manufacturing processes
Benefits
Horizontal flexibility
Management

Cons

Compensation
Location
Uniforms ("Quad Blues")
Low Advancement opportunities

Advice to Senior Management

Encourage employee growth and offer competitive compensation. Otherwise fantastic leadership. CEO always around, even talks to interns!

Pros

The people are fantastic. Everyone is very friendly and available to help. The line becomes blurred between professional and social and this can be unsettling.

Cons

The potential to earn a high income at Quad appeared limited. In addition the work roles were not very strategic.

Pros

You can move up in the company if you are responsible and strive for high performance. They have classes you can take to operate other machines and get raises but the pay is still just decent.

Cons

There's a lot of jerks that work there on the shop floor. So you must have thick skin and be able to put up with the B.S.

Advice to Senior Management

The leadership is pretty good. From what I experienced every manager was nice and someone you can talk to about improving