Northeast Utilities Reviews

Pros

NU is willing to embrace ideas to better it's stance as a leader in customer service. Working along side smart individuals and given the ability to make a contribution is a reward within its self

Cons

It is a regulated industry , some changes are forced.

Pros

Used to be a good company to work for but since the merger everything is going down hill. Employees are great to work with, management is okay, Senior Management - don't trust them one bit.

Cons

The company is Northeast Utilities in name only. Not sure why they just didn't call it NStar. Some employees refer to it as DeathStar. Once the merger happened the layoffs started, training programs were cut, intern program was cut, benefits changed. The only people who benefited from this merger are the two CEO's. They're laughing all the way to the bank. Now not only are they outsourcing the IT department but they've decided not to pay exempt employees for storm duty. So when the power goes out these employees will be putting in 12-14 hour days and only getting paid for 8 hours. That's if they even bother to report in, although I'm sure management has issued an appropriate threat for not reporting in. I got laid off and the above may sound like sour grapes, but I'm glad I don't work there anymore. The stories I hear just get worse and worse.

Pros

There are no good reasons to work here. It use to be a decent company, but no more since the NStar merger.

Cons

No pertinent communication with employees. The have a weekly e-newsletter which is laughable personal safety tidbits about your grill and how to walk in the snow; Layoffs continue and outsourcing to India for lower salaries and tax havens. No one trusts management because they say one thing and do another. No indication they value employees, in fact they seem to not like employees. No training; no OT storm pay (requiring 12 hour days 24/7); many benefits taken away since merger; HR protect management; MEANWHILE...executives are cashing in their millions in stock and Tom May is sitting pretty.

Pros

Nothing positive really. Initial pay for the area (central CT) may be OK, but lack of opportunity, advancement and raises hurts. Due to poor economy, not many people are leaving currently but there is much talk about jumping ship when things pick up. Fortunately, NU is a monopoly so they won't go bankrupt, however, there are many larger firms looking to take over NU and terminating all non-union (management) employees.

Cons

Poor "not invented here" management; any change or improvement is unwelcome. Company has history of layoffs every 5 year or so; people live in fear, as word is passed down to newer employees; always the threat of mergers, which has been going on for nearly 20 years (e.g. Con Edison takeover, etc). Much of the Company headquarters building is like something out of the 1930s or WWII. Old, dirty, obsolete and broken down. Favortism abounds. Promotions and raises are rare. VERY arrogant managment says "don't let the door hit you in the ass on the way out". Even mid-level management is old. May have been here for 30 years.

Pros

Coworkers are nice. There are still genuine kind people who work there.

Cons

Management does NOT communicate. Many bebefits were taken away (vacation buy, severance lowered, sick time lowered). They are now outsourcing IT so many long time, loyal employees will be rebadged and ultimately let go in 1-2 years.. Tom May (new CEO) is a penny-pinching fool. The company does not do anything for employees and this will ultimately be why they fail in the marketplace.

Pros

benefts are very good - comprehensive with reasonable employee contributions; stock price is climbing; Employees are good people generally helpful and supportive of eachother and focused on getting the job done well.

Cons

Post merger cultural changes are taking a toll - a lot more "head down, do what your told" and less critical, creative dialogue to solve and improve. Management, particularly Director and above, is much more dictatorial and far less approachable than in the old NU where the feeling was much more of a partnership toward shared objectives. Work life balance, while strained in the old NU, is now almost nonexistent with little flexibility in most business areas

Pros

Decent pay and reasonable benefits.

Cons

Benefits constantly being down graded. This company needs to get with the 20th century and offer more telecommuting opportunities. They constantly insist that employee safety is of the upmost importance, then force you to travel in unsafe conditions to storm assignments; with no compensation for management staff. Since the merger little or no career opportunities for seasoned employees. The trend in hiring is young folks willing to work for 1/2 the salary. There is no appreciation for past contributions; the only thing prevailing is the all mighty dollar. Employee moral at an all time low and senior management does not care. There are many very knowledgeable employees leaving for better opportunities.

Pros

Good pay + Benefits..Stability used to be a pro.

Cons

No care for employee input, Micromanagement at its best and most of all Favoritism is everywhere and not even hidden. Benefits have been cut big time since buyout last year. People are hired for positions that aren't even posted, though this was illegal but it happens all the time here. Second worst thing is no one follows through on anything here and if we try to fix something that is broken its always the same "Thats just the way it is, deal with it. Oh, third, a newly instituted vacation cancellation at the last minute for storm duty, even if its the day before you are heading out to the vacation of your life, they will cancel it for your stiorm duty assignment..This happened due to the idiots that we call management who suck at storm restoration.

Pros

- Pay was ok, good benefits. - Used to train employees

Cons

- Incompetent management (CTO, IT Directors and management) - Top down management style of "Do what we say and don't question us" from the CTO down - CTO is a puppet that does whatever the CEO wants or whatever the overpriced consultants tell her to do - Management is incapable of telling the truth and have fostered a culture of deceit and animosity between employees and management.. - Outsource, outsource, outsource is their motto now - focus on pennies and squeezing as much out of employees as possible. - Taking away employee benefits - flexible vacation time, remote work possibilities, training - New CTO is unapproachable and has a "if you don't like it - there's the door" mentality

Pros

Although limited to the fact there was little people turnover, there was some opportunity to learn and move around within the company. The overall compensation package offered were very competitive with the industry.

Cons

Basically, the merger with N-Star was nicknamed the "Death-Star"! The culture got thrown out the window and leadership used the merger as an opportunity to outsource and let people go... very sad for people that spent a good part of their lives there.