January’s Review of the Month goes to a Caterpillar employee in Peoria, IL who has one of the greatest sounding job titles to date – ‘Six Sigma Black Belt’. But don’t be alarmed this is not the reason this employee’s review was selected. This month’s winner was selected for its quality peek inside Caterpillar which offers readers valued insights as to what the company does well and where the company falls short. (Note: Caterpillar was recently selected as a Glassdoor Best Place to Work, an employee’s choice award.) 

For example, the employee rolls out a clear list of advantages to working at Caterpillar which addresses a number of important workplace factors such as salary, work/life balance and career opportunities:

“It is fulfilling to be part of a “team” that commands its market, exports globally from a US-centered manufacturing base (how many companies can still say that?), and embraces good corporate citizenship. There are excellent opportunities for overseas assignments and travel, a wide range of competencies, a relaxed atmosphere (not true at all locations, of course), and reasonably generous overall compensation (including a performance-based lump sum annual bonus that increases as a % of your salary as you progress up the career ladder). From my experience, it is also family friendly. Managers are allowed to work from home if need be (sick child), though off-site work isn’t common, and there are subsidized family activities.”

In addition, the writer of the winning Glassdoor review hones in on benefits specific to the employees within Caterpillar’s headquarter in Peoria, IL: 

“Peoria is a very cost-effective place to raise a family, and Caterpillar’s salary and benefit package are easily the most generous in the metropolitan area (and go quite far).”

But with the good comes the bad…

The Caterpillar employee notes that this 80-year old company can be “very bureaucratic. Similarly, it is hard to institute change with many people having a vested interest in the status quo, and simply hoping to ride out their careers to retirement with no shocks.” 

And again from a location-specific perspective, the employee points out “Peoria and some other Caterpillar locations may not be attractive to young, unmarried, more “cosmopolitan” workers, but hey, it’s a heavy equipment manufacturer, not a software development firm.” 

In the close of the review in which Glassdoor asks what advice an employee would give to senior management, the Caterpillar employee had an interesting perspective which encouraged further international growth while working to maintain the quality the Cat brand has come to represent in the construction, mining and heavy equipment manufacturing industry. 

“Expand even more in India and Africa. Expand benefits to Domestic Partners. Focus on quality and market share over dividends.”

Want to be the winner of February’s Review of the Month? Tell us about your job.

January’s Review of the Month is a post from: Glassdoor Blog

Related posts:

1. First “Review of the Month” winner
2. February’s Review of the Month
3. Will Deloitte Employees Jump Ship When the Economy Rebounds? July Review of the Month

Some of the most recent news on this front comes out of Caterpillar, who offered 2,000 of their employees the option of early retirement.  While in January the company announced the layoff of more than 22,000, this most recent effort seems to be gesture of goodwill toward their current employees.  The company has been seeing sales drop significantly as with construction tapering off, the need for bulldozers, excavators and the like are in much less demand.  CEO Owens did, however, note that if Obama’s American Recovery and Reinvestment Plan passes, that he’d be able to hire back some of those individuals that were previously let go.

In looking at the company reviews and ratings for Caterpillar on Glassdoor, it isn’t surprising that they are trying to do something somewhat positive for their employees given their current financial situation.  Here’s how Caterpillar and its CEO rate as a whole:

Have a look at some recent quotes from both current and past employees that demonstrate the mutual respect between company and staff:

Well this was a good place to work I enjoyed it. The pay was good and the environment was friendly. I was let go due to the current economic situation. I would like to go back if things turn around. Overall I would say that this is a great company

The environment of friendly people. People are genuinely concerned for each other, and overall there is not a sense of competition but of support and encouragement for each other. There is a good diversity in ethnicity, gender, and age, and everyone is very welcoming in the office environment.

There are a lot of opportunities to work in diifferent areas. They are also focusing more on work life balance and have experimented with flexible work hours, compressed work week and the ability to work from home. The people who work at Caterpillar are extraordinary to work with and teamwork is very evident.

Caterpillar Employees Satisfied Overall; Company Offers 2,000 Early Retirement is a post from: Glassdoor Blog

Related posts:

1. SAP Employees More Satisfied Than Oracle Employees; Will It Help Them To Retain Customers Following Copyright Suit?
2. Does a Green Company Mean a Satisfied Company?
3. Obama Extends Benefits for Domestic Partners of Federal Employees. How Does Your Company Rate?