USI Reviews

Pros

The methodology for growth seems to work and make a lot of sense. The individual operating companies have, in some cases, maintained the cultures they had before acquisition and have some fantastic leaders. It's definitely dependent on which operating company you are in.

Cons

Goldman puchased USI to flip it. Right now, employees are at their breaking point because growth has been demanded, but no raises or hiring have accompanied it. The CEO is very condescending and not a leader anyone likes or follows. Leadership at the operating company level can be very much about spending time saving rears over truly leading.

Advice to Senior Management

Value the opinion of your worker bees. They are high achievers. They should be compensated and valued accordingly. WAY too much comp and percentage of employees is held by executives.

Pros

Young and energetic work force. Friendly environment

Cons

No career development opportunities for most employees

Advice to Senior Management

Evolve with growth

Pros

As long as you are comfortable being a number on a spreadsheet that could be fired at any time irrespective of your personal performance, this is a place to collect a pay check until something else comes along. If you are a Producer that doesn't produce very much, you can get a six figure job for a year or so until they fire you.

Cons

This is purely a company that Goldman Sachs private equity bought to make Goldman Sachs obscene amounts of money. You will lose and cannot benefit from a good career with stability and you and your colleagues could be eliminated at any time based upon how much profit Goldman wants. There are much better places to be in this business.

Advice to Senior Management

Mike Sicard is destroying the culture of this once great company. Sad!

Pros

The benefit package was competitive for the marketplace

Cons

NYC and Briarcliff management work against each other. Very territorial and makes it difficult to get things done. Leadership in NYC have no clue about the P&C markets and very little knowledge of employee benefits.

Really tough place to work.

Advice to Senior Management

Focus on the account management. Hire only the best. These folks are the first point of contact with the clients.

Pros

No micromanaging.
Good work life balance as there were not too many employees who worked past quitting time if they were on staff.

Cons

Poor reputation in the industry, There was Non-existent Management Skills, No management back-up. It was a revolving door, high turnover.

Advice to Senior Management

Show some empathy towards your employees, have some scruples, Do what you say you are going to do. No more new initiatives.

Pros

Benefits Package is excellent. Some managers work hard to communicate with and help employees. Reasonably good backup from staff on accounts.

Cons

Senior management at local office level are horrible - cursing, threatening and generally make life miserable for those working there. They lay off employees to make their quarterly numbers and expect those who remain to take up the slack.

Advice to Senior Management

Allow local offices more leeway in choosing insurance markets based upon their unique needs. Don't allow local CEOs to curse and threaten employees. Recognize that laying off employees in the long run is only going to make others not want to work there.

Pros

large company so possible to have ability to move throughout U.S. Not high pressure because not much is expected.

Cons

Extremely unprofessional. Absolutely no leadership, mentoring, incentive to work hard. Not interested in fixing existing problems. Status quo is acceptable.

Advice to Senior Management

Invest in employees with professional development, morale building and compensation based on ability, not longevity. Ask for employee feedback.

Pros

Was provided opportunities for advancement.

Cons

Not everyone pulls their full share of work and this is overlooked quite a bit.

Advice to Senior Management

Re-evaluate and improve internal processes to ensure that productivity improves.

Pros

You have the ability to develop and expand your knowledge and technical skills regarding qualified retirement plans and employee benefits.

Cons

You can work very long hours and commit to excellence and management does not acknowledge the dedication.
It is a very political place to work and it's who you know not how hard you work that get's rewarded.

Advice to Senior Management

Employee Morale is low because employees are not valued or treated with respect and fairness.

Pros

USI offers a Flex program where employees can work 4 day weeks every other week. Allowing this really is helpful towards personal appointment one needs to make.

Cons

For Gen Y ers, people here are still getting used to our ways

Advice to Senior Management

Understand the needs of Gen Y'ers and let go of the rope a bit. We are only trying to make the company more succesful!