Rabobank America Reviews

Pros

Great people work in that particular office

Cons

Worked entirely too much overtime!

Advice to Senior Management

Provide rotational education in loans department and others.

Pros

Good benefits - Low cost if you comply with yearly physical exam
3 weeks vacation during first 5 years, beginning with hire
Kin care for use taking care of children or other family members

Cons

Very low pay for area, no wage increases for years at a time, even with glowing review you get "due to the economy we are on a raise freeze" and the same day will read an update from the very-removed CEO stating how much $$$$$ we're making and how amazing we are. Does not match up.

No rewards/bonuses/appreciation programs despite long hours and a lot of sacrifice by employees during conversions of other banks and changes in products.

Lack of proper training. Employees who work in back office areas have mostly trained themselves and each other as best they can on products, as training is not provided. On the rare occasion there is a webinar or internal training, it is not made certain each employee can participate.

Sick time is provided, as well as Kin care, however, you are not allowed to use it. Being considered in violation when you have many hours of sick time left doesn't make sense. This is also an area of extreme inequality, as several areas have managers who abuse attendance nearly every week, leaving early, not coming in, coming in late, no notification so employees know how to refer calls.

Advice to Senior Management

More rewards for hard work. MERIT based rewards.

Overhaul the sick time policies. Do not reward managers who are not available to their employees. Exempt should not mean setting a very bad example and not being responsible.

Bring back merit-based raises, or just raises at all. Make people feel there is a reason for their hard work, especially considering constant system changes and conversions, other than just keeping their jobs. People should not just work out of fear of a bad economy, they should at least feel there is something to work for other than the same low pay for years and years.

Pros

Less structured than other organizations which allows you to make your role what you want. Great international exposure. People are very nice and helpful. Not a stressful, cut-throat environment. Excellent benefits and vacation time. You don't feel like a number.

Cons

Pay tends to be below market-less pay for performance than other organizations. European culture and strong desire to keep AAA rating can lead to slower decision-making. Not a youthful, exciting culture.

Advice to Senior Management

Focus on improving middle-management. Insight a sense of excitement and urgency. Get some young blood into the bank.

Pros

Decent benefits
You might keep your job if politically attached to senior managers
Bicycle Team

Cons

10-11 hour shifts for salaried employees
No training offered whatsoever
Very low pay
IT systems horrible
Only care about the bottom line -have been laying off for past 2 years even though making good profits
Severance is next to nothing when they let you go -just tell you "your position has been eliminated"

Advice to Senior Management

Get some real leadership at the mid management and senior management levels
Quit working your employees to death with 10-11 hour days
Have some RESPECT for those you lay off only to increase your porfits
Ronald block does not give a shi.. about middle & lower lever employees _ I met him personally & it came through quite clearly - GREED IS GOOD-& we will do it our (Dutch) way!
No respect for US workers - have totally differnt salaries & benefits for those who work at Rabo International

Pros

All of the benefits and the people

Cons

Having you give them vacation request in January when you just finished Christmas not knowing what your plans are for the year. Having sick time is great if they didnt make you feel guilty for staying home to get better and not going to work to share your illness. So people just come to work sick and spread what ever is going around .

Advice to Senior Management

Just don't forget the employee's who are working in the front lines of this company.

Pros

Great benefits for full and part-time employees and 3 weeks vacation for new employees.

Cons

Poor compensation in comparison to other banks. Raises are minimal, about 1-3% of your annual salary.

Advice to Senior Management

Middle-management needs to be reviewed for professionalism and competency.

Pros

Rabobank has a generous profit sharing plan, and while the current climate is not a good one for The Banking Industry, for the last three years Rabobank has contributed tothe discretionary portion of their employees' profit sharing plan. This is at a time when many companies are suspending contributions in general. Sometimes a lot of working hours are required as Rabobank has gone through a few acquisitions in a short period of time, but promotions and salary increases are generally given in proportion to hours worked. Rabobank seems to be growing at a time when most bank's are having difficulty keeping business flat.

Cons

Long hours make it difficult to balance home and work life. A person needs to be able to jump into the job and sink or swim, as little or no training is given. It's a challenge to work with The Bank's data management programs as there are a few and they don't "talk" easily with each other. This contributes to the number of work hours required as any financial research is time-consuming. A lot of unrealistic deadlines are set.

Advice to Senior Management

Invest in updated financial data programs soon as the next acquisition will be difficult to manage with the current systems. The IT department should begin operating like a large company instead of a small one, ie. enlist an after hours crew to make sure that reports run properly overnight, therefore data is ready to go each and every morning. This is especially crucial during critical deadlines such as end of month, quarter and year. Be truly concerned with employees getting earned time off, don't just pay it lip service. Employees need to be able to plan time with family and friends and generally stick to their plans. Don't set unrealistic deadlines, this only decreases the morale of the employees.

Pros

Rabo is a growing company expanding at an incredible pace. A great place to stay busy and gain a great deal of experience with crisis management.

Cons

There are many. Many hours dealing with transitions, missteps and false starts related to acquisitions. Also the constant threat losing you job due to the terrible banking climate at present.

Advice to Senior Management

Companies that grow from constant M&A are in a constant state of change. Change is the norm. So it can lead to low morale amongst the employees due to the required layoffs. I would advise them to do more to help morale be it team building or better communication.

Pros

In general, Rabobank is a great work environment, Good perks and benefit packages and often office parties and lunches are hosted for employees.Great place to stay for a long time (as long as you dont expect to grow or make career advancements).

Cons

Oftentimes you are expected to work long hours, though that is expected in the unit I work for, there is little or no appriciation or recognition for the efforts. middle management is week and non functional atleast as far as the unit I work for is concerned. Not real guidence or opperunities from manager or senior employees. The review targets set for you dont make any sense as you never get to complete those tasks or to the matter of fact even start them....looks like its just a procedure the middle level management wants to get done with and you get rated "Satisfactory" irrespective of your efforts.

Advice to Senior Management

The middle management should be improved.