Pros

The conpensation programs and benefits programs are in line with the industry and they are growing by securing new opportunities

Cons

They are very transactional in approach and not very relationship oriented with respect to customers, partners and clients for the most part

Advice to Senior Management

No advice to offer, they have a mode of business that has proven succesful for them, not for me though.

Pros

Good pay and it was somewhere to work!

Cons

Yes, Shaw is big on training but it is only training for those in upper and middle management. I feel that it is very bias and racial when it comes to its cultural diversity mix within the management of whites compared to that of minorities. I know of this one emplyee that it took him up to a year and several months before he even got considered for his yearly raise and then he had to fight to have that included. They over look hard work and gave promotions based upon color rather than who knew the job that they were doing really. Shaw is not a level playing field for someone who really has discipline, on time attendance, and a very good hard work ethic.

Advice to Senior Management

Learn to consider the abilities and skill experience of your labor workforce to be considered for management positions. Because not all leadership is created some of it is made through experiences, hard work and skill.

Pros

Work life blend is very beneficial Very flexible schedules. Currently on the 980 schedule in which I have every other Friday off. Vacations are typically always granted when desired. The Shaw Group uses some of the most advance technology available to improve operations.

Cons

Management tends to pull all leadership roles in one centralized location. Baton Rouge, LA. Benefits are a bit expensive. I would recommend to search for a different health provider. Training is very well presented in the company, but the development of staff could be better.

Advice to Senior Management

Revise the review process to be more effective. Offer more bonuses to employees other than management. Take time hearing out how to improve processes from sources other than middle management.

Pros

The people are great and really nice to work with.
The oppourtunity for field experience.
The way co workers give you a hand in explaining things to you if you need it.

Cons

Really bad benifits package.
Be careful to not get pigeon holed into doing one thing, because they won't let you do anything else after you get too good at it.
My point being, don't get too good at doing something, or management will think that you're too good at that one thing to do anything else, and it'd be a pain to find someone else/train them to do the same thing you are doing.

Advice to Senior Management

Give more responsibility to the younger engineers.

Pros

Large company with lots of connects and name recognition. Opportunities to move around and move up if you get into the right track, Many benefits available aside from the standard insurances/retirement, etc.

Cons

It IS such a large company. Employees lose individuality. Difficult to get hired in positions or on projects without knowing someone. Pay scale seems to be lower

Advice to Senior Management

Listen to your people you manage - the ones that do the day to day grindstone work for you. Communicate with them whether good or bad - keeping them in the loop. Treat them with respect and equally. Reward for jobs well done.

Pros

Management is typically laid back and allows you to work independently without any micro managing. Projects are interesting and the corporate safety culture is excellent. Excellent resources; due to the large number of employees with various background and experiences, there is always someone who can answer your question or point you in the direction. Good sense of job security and friendly coworkers. Generally an enjoyable work environment.

Cons

Some managers are inexperienced in the projects they manage, having never done the actual work before themselves. This places field/work personnel in precarious situations that they are untrained and ill equipped to deal with. Some managers fail to manage whatsoever, and instead rely on field workers to work extra long hours and perform most management tasks, many times which are well out of the scope of their job title or pay grade. Relaxed management is usually a good thing but sometimes it can be "too" relaxed.

Long hours - 50 to 70 hours per week are not uncommon. Due to tight project budgets, management may restrict you on hours you actually get paid for.

No bonus so far and very difficult to get a significant pay raise.

Advice to Senior Management

First: Learn more about the projects you manage. Don't assign tasks to people that they have never been trained to handle, as this this is unsafe and irresponsible. Instead, plan ahead better so that you have time to locate a trained and competent person who can complete the assigned task properly and safely.
Second: People work very hard and very long hours in the heat, rain, and cold to make you look good; it wouldn't hurt at the end of the year to consider them for a small bonus or pay raise.

Pros

There are so many oppurtunites for people with good work ethic. Showing alot of effort will make you rise quickly. The nuke sector is really ramping up, finding a job on one of the new plants will ensure a steady job for years to come.

Cons

There is too much overhead causing Shaw to be uncompetitive for smaller projects. This means you will be traveling alot. The estimaters for projects are not held accountable for busted bids.

Advice to Senior Management

Let your employees do their job. Micro-management is a killer for morale.

Pros

Big company with lots of opportunities, including many locations available for transfer. The HR is very friendly and willing to assist. Work as intern is an educational experience with challenges without imposing too much unwanted stress.

Cons

Hard to assess downsides of the company. Worked there for a brief period of time as a temp. intern. Definitely would consider a full-time position with the Shaw Group.

Advice to Senior Management

Senior Management appears to be excellent, down-to-earth individuals. Again, hard to assess much in the brief work period however, management appears to be highly motatived and example-setting. Seemingly a pleasant group to work with.

Pros

Salaries are very good and younger employees are given significant raises when they prove themselves (I was given a 30% raise after 1 year of time with the company). Exempt employees are paid for time worked over 40 hrs per week. Management is very competent and is very accessible. The company is open about its strategic direction.

Cons

Work stations are small, open floor layout makes working environment loud. There is little formal training but other employees are very willing to help. Management can be slow to respond to requests, but at least they respond eventually. IT is a huge pain, new employees have gone a week or so without IT giving them a computer...and it takes weeks to get the necessary software installed if it isn't part of their "standard" software package.

Advice to Senior Management

Provide more opportunities for younger employees to demonstrate their abilities.

Pros

The job security is excellent.

Cons

The job location is remote.

Advice to Senior Management

Learn more about what engineers go through.