Rackspace Reviews

Pros

Rackers have autonomy around how they approach their work. There is very little limiting structure/process in most areas. Rackspace is a meritocracy. Smart, hard working people can do whatever they want.

Cons

Autonomy can lead to inconsistent execution. It also takes new hires a bit longer to learn how to do things the Rackspace way. Fast growth results in frequent changes, which can be frustrating to some.

Advice to Senior Management

Develop technical leaders. There are lots of great business leaders who don't understand the technology. This can lead to slow or incorrect decisions.

Pros

Good benefits, decent compensation, a spectacular work environment, the chance to do something great with smart people, free drinks ;)

Cons

A few too many middle managers, sometimes a communication shortage from management. Change is good, but sometimes change is a bit frequent.

Advice to Senior Management

Add more technical resources, not more managers, and keep up the hiring standards! Hold yourselves accountable, and listen to your techs.

Pros

Fun place to work ,casual dress, great people, unlimited training

Cons

Low pay, stock equity is issued to vp/director level, managers and below see 500 shares every three years if they are lucky.

Support rackers are paid peanuts, while increases are single digits.

Equity is limited to once every three years (if you are lucky).

Promotions happen frequently, but more about who you know, not about your potential. As a result rackers in key positions have no clue what they are doing, so when leadership pushes down an initiative (one rackspace, cloud, hybrid) duct tape is used to get the policy in place, smoke and mirrors are used with leadership/sales. Rackers hold a big launch party, shortly after the customers start complaining, support can't fix the problems, internet tweets crank up the heat and a new initiative is sent from top down and the whole cycle starts over again.

Advice to Senior Management

Increase the number of times you do engagement, issue options to Rackers every quarter, before a product launches have a cold eyes review from another group. Have interview feedback sessions/ surveys.

Pros

Lots of opportunity given high growth
Collaborative culture means you get a voice
Open book environment means lots of information shared

Cons

High growth means lots of org changes and shifts
High growth also means lots of urgent projects and not enough time for forward thinking efforts

Advice to Senior Management

add process where you need it; don't add it where you don't - finding the right balance is key and hard.

Pros

Substance over flash goes far.

Cons

Managers and jr. Leaders need further development to actually lead.

A casual environment is not always appropriate.

Advice to Senior Management

Imperative to understand difference between managing a business and leading people.

Pros

Many technical people
Free soft drinks

Cons

Lack of communication, company wide
Many layers of management

Advice to Senior Management

Good intentions to grow, but when you do it too quickly, you miss many important details.

Pros

Excellent work/life balance.
Talented Rackers are recognized and developed quickly.
Management is mostly receptive to ideas.
There's a lot of flexibility in career pathing.
It's a generally friendly and respectful environment.

Cons

The company has had growing pains which have stifled some of the culture and innovation.
Management is slow to get rid of low-performing Rackers, which causes a drain on morale for high-performers.

Advice to Senior Management

In order for the company to flourish long-term, it has to be more agile. Automation should be priority number one.

Middle Management needs to be more decisive and start cutting the dead weight employees. It causes disengagement for the people that actually care when there is no discipline for repeated underperformance.

Pros

-casual dress
-a paycheck

Overall it's very laid back, but it's kept that way to keep employees complacent. Fat, dumb and happy.

If you're a "Yes Man" and don't like to work hard you'll love it here.

Cons

-Stock Options are only for executives
-Who's ass you kiss is more important than how are you work.
-Wide salary gaps compared to market value

Advice to Senior Management

-Get rid of useless middle managers
-Get rid of Scoble
-Get rid of twitter team
-Invest in the employees that you keep saying are the most important asset of the company.
-Stock options are for those that work hard, not hardly work.
-More managers is never the answer.

Pros

Rackspace truly does care about it's people. This company hangs its success on delivering world class service to it's customers, and management understands that keeping the employees engaged is vital to that process. They do an assessment of every employee's strengths and they work hard in getting people matched with jobs that match those strengths.

There is a high level of autonomy with respect to getting the job done, and employees have a lot of freedom in dealing with customers both internally and externally. It is a fun place to work with very relaxed atmosphere. The culture is extremely important to everyone, and there are plenty of cool events, celebrations, Nerf dart wars, and team outings to keep things fresh.

Change happens a lot at Rackspace. It is an extremely nimble company in a red hot industry, so anyone seeking work at RAX should be ready to move fast and change seats often. But that fast pace also makes it a very exciting time to be a Racker - The growth is incredible, which means a wealth of opportunity and upward mobility not to mention the pride that comes from being a part of such an awesome company. Love it here.

Cons

Fast growth makes for difficult communications sometimes. Employees must be proactive participants in information exchange.

Advice to Senior Management

Keep up the good work.

Pros

Working here is like working with a big extended family. Everyone treats you with respect and concern. If you need any help or advice, your teammates are always there for you.

Cons

The pay could always be higher. Everyone thinks that wherever they work. I do feel that Rackspace is a little below the average though.

Advice to Senior Management

Yes, your Rackers are the source of your Fanatical Support. We are the secret sauce! The salary pool could use a pretty hefty increase. Not only to hire more people, but to allow for promotions and pay increases for your seasoned Rackers!