Bluetarp Financial Reviews

Pros

Having read the reviews on this site, I’m wondering if I work at the same place as some of these other people?! I have been working at BlueTarp for more than 2 years and I continue to have a positive experience daily. BT has a great work space with amazing views; they pay for parking in downtown Portland; they have fun activities that help balance the hard work that’s required to work here; they offer regular community outreach/local volunteer opportunities; you can wear shorts to work; they have stand up desks; they communicate openly with employees and hold quarterly town hall meetings where the CEO is transparent about how the business is doing…Contrary to other reviewers, I think they do a fine job with their culture. Can you please everyone? Never. But if people are as miserable as some of their reviews seem to show, I wonder why they don’t get another job and give the opportunity to work at BT to someone else who might actually appreciate it. Perhaps they might modify their reviews if they experienced a few other work environments, as I’m not certain my co-workers know a good company when they’re working at one. Has BT experienced a lot of recent change/growing pains? Absolutely. Are they putting effort towards addressing issues which stem from that? I don’t know what happens behind closed doors, but I believe they are. These things can’t always be addressed simply to satisfy people’s need for instant gratification. I can’t speak for others, but I know that I’d much rather be employed at a place that’s growing and adapting along the way (bumps and all) where my job is secure, rather than work at a place that’s stagnant and “same old” where I have to worry if I’ll have a job next month. Change can be difficult, but nothing that’s worthwhile is ever easy. Personally, I truly enjoy working here. It's mostly full of great people who I enjoy on a personal level, which makes it easy to work with them even when the going can get a little tough. I'm happy here and feel confident recommending it to anyone who is motivated, professional, adaptable and willing to contribute.

Cons

Low 401k match; limited holiday schedule; no parental leave (only for Moms)

Pros

Once was a good company. Management greed for a healthy payday not only destroyed this company, but proved that Corporate America only cares about the bottom line.

Cons

The corporate transparency was to "Make Bluetarp Grow". That obviously was not the goal. They "grew" in an effort to make the company attractive to potential buyers. I feel so betrayed that they sold us out so senior management can have a profitable payday. Shame on you for misleading your employees into thinking we were building something great! All the sacrifices, hard work, and dedication each employee made, only to have you pull the rug right out from under us. Don't want to hear your smoke screen lies about our jobs being secure with Capital One. There are no guarantees, and there is talk about department elimination. I understand Corporate America, but shame on you for portraying Bluetarp Financial as a "family". And HR requesting we complete the "Best Places To Work Survey? UNBELIEVABLE! Senior Management, hope you sleep well tonight, while I lay awake wondering about my job security.

Pros

People listen when you speak up. If you're not heard by your supervisor, there is another one. Or your manager. Or your veep. Or HR. Or a coworker even if in a different department. We’re big enough to have a chain of command and small enough to have open doors. I have been able to grow my career with great support from my managers. It has taken time, energy and patience but I definitely reap what I sow. I love working downtown in our Big-Little City, I appreciate the benefits even more so knowing what other companies are offering and I especially love the people. I love knowing that if one of us is facing something scary like illness, we band together and do whatever we can - because it's personal. I think sometimes that gets lost in the daily hubub, especially when we're all focusing on supporting our customers, but when it really comes down to it, people listen and we have each other's backs. I take fostering a positive work environment VERY personally because I want to keep my mind happy and healthy. It’s no secret to anyone I work with that is a calculated, personal ambition that I continue to work towards. I add this as a disclaimer in case anything I say comes across as Pollyanna-ish.

Cons

We are growing and adapting so quickly that communication of new procedures, particularly between departments, gets lost. Right now we're bursting with new growth, new hires, new teams, just everything. It’s too easy to get lost in the blur between calls, projects, deadlines, metrics... I have certainly butted heads with supervisors in the 5+ years I’ve been here, but these negative interactions have reminded me to treat myself the same way I would treat one of our customers – don’t stop until that issue is resolved even when that means pulling in multiple resources across teams.

Pros

Good location, and nice view of central downtown Portland

Cons

Their mission statement is "Our mission is to help suppliers grow and protect their business through passion, integrity and innovation." This is slightly hypocritical, because some of our manager(s) can't say that about their actions on the inside. There are several managers whose integrity I would question because of direct orders that were told to me that are morally wrong. Much of it has to do with the acquisition of a very large account, but BT doesn't have enough staff to take care of it. A good analogy would be if a Boa Constrictor caught a much larger creature for a meal--possibly and alligator or large land mammal--it would have attained its goal, but has no idea how to utilize this catch to their best advantage. It's prey is too big to swallow, but still tries to anyway. The snake went to this much trouble to catch it, and it wants to hold onto this meal, without the slightest clue on how to do it. Management is the same--they scramble around to keep this "meal ticket" but they don't seem to realize that those people who work under them are have been given instruction that goes against their own mission statement. These particular employees (some managers--not everyone) lack integrity (by telling staff about work arounds to avoid letting this large account know) and are not forward thinking (they are not innovative when it comes to instructions given to different departments from different management--left hand doesn't know what the right hand is doing) I see interoffice emails where one memo contradicts another from management, but neither is said to be correct or incorrect. This part is not new (with the recent account). This has been happening since I first started 3+ years ago. Another issue is that management seems to play favorites. What is acceptable with one employee is not for another. That also needs a thorough rewrite, so nothing is misunderstood.

Pros

Great leadership, setting is accommodating, vast opportunity

Cons

Growing pains, shuffling talent to get right people in the right seats

Pros

Spectacular top down management support. All management levels truly LISTEN to the feedback of those on the front line (i.e. closest to the external customer), and continually improve on supplying the best tools of empowerment for all. Communication channels are always open. Health benefit programs take effect quickly, and are very adequate.

Cons

First level supervisors (in all depts) need to spend more quality time to coach/spend with the team members they support.

Pros

Everyone is helpful. Every person remembers what is like to be the 'newbie' and everyone wants to see you and the company succeed. I have never had a manager/supervisor before who was thereto help advance my career and encouraged me to do so. The office is downtown Portland and the company pays for your parking. You can negotiate for either a /2 or whole hour for lunch You start earning PTO right away and can use it after 90 days. You earn at a rate of 3.33 hours per week or 4 weeks a year.

Cons

There are 24 pay periods in a calendar year, roughly every 2 weeks. If you are not used to budgeting, that can be taxing the first few pay checks

Pros

Good people, great service concept.

Cons

Difficult service to sell, notoriious for letting people go after 12-14 months