Pros
thoughtbot is made up of some of the most intelligent, respectful, supportive, funny, thoughtful, helpful people I've ever met. Employees here are encouraged to be their best selves, to use their best judgements and to work together to make their dream company. We value transparency, whether it's through our own business or while working on client engagements. Our company handbook is in GitHub, and if you want to change a policy, you are encouraged to create an issue or a PR to get the conversation started. We also value continuous improvement, and help each other reach our fullest potential–whether through PR reviews, pairing, talks, workshops, blog posts, etc. We also love sharing what we've learned with the community, and especially take pride in working alongside clients to help them realize new, sustainable ways of working. In terms of sustainability, we've floated the notion of thoughtbot being a lifestyle company. Employees here maintain a great work/life balance, and are offered excellent benefits and a generous vacation policy. This is first time I've been treated like a full person at work–someone who is recognized as having a life outside of work, and who is encouraged to find harmony between the two.
Cons
Employees have a lot of autonomy at thoughtbot. When I started, it was certainly more than I was used to. It's a learning experience–to manage your time and growth. We are also encouraged to bring our own tools and processes into client engagements; as long as it means we are setting the client and ourselves up for success. It's a very liberating approach, that's rooted in trust. We do a good job of outlining processes and giving guidance and advice where needed, but it's coupled with the occasional pinch and reminder that you can call the shots, and it's totally okay and encouraged.