Timken Reviews

Pros

A stable company that will be around for years to come. Although there was a lot of talk that the recession hit Timken business units hard and hence the reason for the massive layoffs in 2008 and 2009, Timken was never in any trouble at all. The layoffs were unnecessary and so were the forced furloughs that remaining employees had to endure (forced working days without pay). For years they had talked about reducing headcount to pre-year 2000 levels and used the recession as a reason to do so. The company now runs lean and mean. It's a recognized name. The company has properly positioned itself in key business lines which will require Timken specific products for decades to come. It's stock is proof that it is solid.

Cons

There's little room for advancement other than a few small pay jumps. Most people stay at the same or near same level all the way through their career. Job titles are meaningless - they make them and eliminate them, just about any movement is "lateral" ... same pay, same responsibilities, different title. Management is hired from outside the company, so forget about the old days when you would rise through the ranks. To be a manager you have to be hired in as a manager. Same with education. If you are hired in with a, Associates Degree, BA or BS, if you get a Masters later on while working at Timken ... it won't help you either in advancement nor pay increase. You have to come in already with a Masters or PhD to get those salary levels. The medical benefits have steadily declined and gotten worse over the last 4 years. The good ol' boy network is still alive at Timken. Make sure you find and pony up with the "right people" when you're first hired or you will go nowhere. Keep good ideas to yourself, the business ethics internally at Timken are basically non-existent ... colleagues will and do poach each others' ideas and present them to management as their own in hopes of getting brownie points. And if you have a family with young children ... this is not the company for you. As I was told my first day, Timken comes first ... always. Your family life is a distant second. You will take work home. You will work weekends and holidays uncompensated. You will schedule your family's life around the needs of Timken. In this economy, Timken has no problem getting rid of those who do not adhere to this policy in the morning and having them replaced with someone else by lunchtime. In Canton, Ohio - Timken's will is law and Ohio is an AT WILL state. TImken can be a very hostile work environment.

Advice to Senior Management

Timken Management, for the 20+ years I have worked for TKR, has never been even remotely the best. The latest crop of managers are ones who don't even know the core products we make any more. They came out of business schools or financial firms and most have never seen the plant floor, let alone how a Bearing is assembled, Tube pierced, or how a Steel ingot is formed. Their office policy is a closed door Stanford School of Management policy - basically they tell you to jump and you ask how high on the way up. Question them, they won't come outright and reprimand you for doing so. Instead, they'll get you when you least expect it months later. Too much favoritism, nepotism, and an astounding lack of business ethics. CEO Jim Griffith simply looks the other way as long as investor dividends keep up with expectations.

Pros

Challenging work
Competitive pay and benefits
Strong culture of ethics and integrity
Core values are stated and followed (ethics & integrity, independence, innovation, quality)

Cons

At Timken, the current leadership is very focused on company and shareholder performance, giving the impression associate concerns are not as important. In reality, a strong company and stock price improves Timken's ability to provide good pay, benefits and job security to associates.

Advice to Senior Management

Be careful not to focus exclusively on "execution" of tactics supporting the strategy. Associates need to feel part of something bigger than themselves, and need more positive encouragement for Sr. Mgmt.

Pros

Good benefits and they try to treat customers very ethically. Some of the greatest Engineering minds in America work here. They make some of America's best steel through long term experience.

Cons

Timken is 20 years behind the times - but they are catching up slowly. Any job that can be moved to India either has moved or is going to be moved. They complain about foreign companies dumping bearings into their USA market but then they move jobs to China and India.

Advice to Senior Management

Jim Griffith - if you keep moving al the jobs to India, eventually you will have to move there yourself or perhaps they could just hire someone from there at a greatly reduced salary to replace you.

Pros

flexible hours, responsibilities, car, bonus, epense account

Cons

Hours, travel at poor times, responsibility, pressure.

Advice to Senior Management

When reducing the work force, remember to pay those who are still there fairly for taking on the role of 2 or more people.

Pros

I haven't been there long, but so far it's been a great environment. Learning and development are encouraged and managers try to make sure employees they find roles for employees that ensure they are challenged. I've sought out new opportunities within my role and haven't had any trouble getting them. I've been given a lot of responsibility, which I really like and which has given me exposure to upper level management as well.

Since the company is so large, there are plenty of opportunities to move around among different functional areas. In fact, that's encouraged because it makes a more well-rounded employee. Managers are supportive of these types of moves, or stretch assignments. I have found there is always an open dialogue about what I want in my career and what type of support I will need in order to get it. I feel very supported.

Cons

Communication could be better. The company is very conservative, so some areas of the business feel that they haven't been told about certain issues. The management team likes to keep things quiet, but as an employee, I would rather have a full understanding of what is going on so I feel more connected with the company.

In addition, since the company is so conservative, I've found that the culture isn't very diverse. At least that's what I've found in my building. I would prefer to find myself in an environment that is more culturally and ethnically diverse since that could lead to more well-rounded perspectives in decision-making processes.

Advice to Senior Management

Try to have more open communication with the employees. The more information employees have, the better they understand how their jobs fit within the business and, usually, the better they perform.

Try to place more focus on recruiting for a more diverse work-place.

Face time seems to be valued a lot. I value working smarter, not harder, so it can be frustrating that many employees work from home after the work day ends or over the weekend. It's also frustrating that that behavior is expected. Try to place more emphasis on efficient work rather than time spent on the work - you will attract better employees that way.

Pros

Challenging work, striving for growth, ethics and integrity

Cons

In the quest for growth, has lost touch with the "human side" of the business. Feel more like a purchased asset vs a valued member of a team.

Advice to Senior Management

People are at the root of your success. Get back in touch with your people.

Pros

The company is loyal to the community and is generally profitable, is conveniently located and compensation is among the best companies in the area.

Cons

Promotions are slow in coming, and generally are politically motivated. The company has a tendency to continually downsize its workforce.

Advice to Senior Management

The internal lines of communication should be more vertical. Top management should be more accessible, and promotions should be more performance-based.

Pros

Timken will give you the training and resources needed. It is a well managed company. They were very flexible with family life.

Cons

Timken is innovative for the bearing side but not in some of the other businesses.

Advice to Senior Management

Be carefull to improve competitive advantages in all areas of the business

Pros

Steady Paycheck and the Best Benefits Available Anywhere. Recognized name in the Bearings Industry.

Cons

There's a good reason why Timken's no longer a Fortune 500 company. A very hostile work environment. After the 2009 layoffs, about all that was left was the Good Ol' Boy network. In typical Timken fashion, their massive layoffs were the result of a knee-jerk reaction and how Jim Griffith found a way to use the economic excuse to cut head count and force those remaining to work longer hours for less pay. They kept non-producers and let go experienced professionals. Forced people to work unpaid days. And kept crying they were being forced out of the business due to the economic downturn. Now - CEO Jim Griffith is up on Wall Street saying that they "over-reacted" and that Timken was never impacted by the poor economy, recording record sales in 2009, and even though many families were impacted by the unnecessary layoffs ... that's all in the past and everyone needs to just move on. Really, do you want to work for a company with a CEO like this? Seriously - I've read all the "Feel Good" reviews here ... and I personally know they're all fictitious posts from Timken Communications department to improve Timken's self-tarnished image.

Advice to Senior Management

Timken needs new leadership. The current leadership has no concept of our products and have little regard for the people who allow them to live their luxurious lifestyles. If they could sell the company off and get a golden parachute - they would.

Pros

Steady pay check with some job security

Cons

Unless you work in Canton you are overlooked

Advice to Senior Management

Look Around