Reynolds American Reviews

Pros

An exciting time to be in the ever changing tobacco industry-constantly changing environment
Working is never boring or repetitive - something new and different every day
Make your own schedule/independent work
Very good training programs
Coaching environment where weaknesses can be turned into strengths
High level of transparency
Company car
Employees treated well and cared about

Advice to Management

Continue with a transparent and employee focus culture.

Pros

The best thing about working at Reynolds is the people and the culture. Reynolds American supports in employees and provides significant development opportunities that help people achieve their goals.

Pros

Great salary with opportunity for potential higher bonus based on performance rating.
Schedule flexibility during the day to run errands or flex hours.
Opportunity to “be your own boss” and make your own decisions.
You’re never stuck in an office at retail- occasional meetings.
The company treats you well - company car with free gas, ($150/Month deducted out of check which used to be nothing), cell phone and WiFi allowance, laptop, AMEX for travel expenses.
Matched 401k, 80% tuition reimbursement- used to be 100%)
Merit increase every year
Bonus every year based on AIAP score

Advice to Management

Division managers have not had any type of change in their job role in the past 10 years. Meanwhile, territory managers and even account managers have had 4-5 shifts in job roles. The biggest issue currently with territory managers is that more responsibility is being placed on them while there is no increase in pay. Competitors are paying more and stealing TMs with a bad DM, territory, no mobility, etc. My suggestion would be to update the division manager role so they have more Territory managers. Most of the time their month is filled with 10-12 days of admin. Territory managers have plenty of admin but are expected to be in stores all day. Also we understand and embrace change. However, with more brands purchased, sales forces merged, constant vapor, cigarette and smokeless resets, consumer engagement quota with name gen percentages, coverage, less third party involvement, etc ... territory managers would like some kind of acknowledgment via money. We would love a base salary raise for TENURED TMIII of at least $10,000 to make up for the extra work that has piled on the past few years.

Pros

-Great Culture
   •"At the end of the day it's just cigarettes" I've never felt like there was a true work emergency. As long as you're a self starter with time management skills, completing task on time are not an issue.
 • Mistakes are taken as coaching opportunities. So even if something is done wrong, its just a learning opportunity.

-Great Bennefits
   • Company SUV that can be used for personal use
   • 6% 401K Match +3% enhancement
   •85% tuition reimbursement
   • 17 vacation days starting + unlimited personal /sick days starting

Advice to Management

- Restructure the management team past TM level. We see the announcements of new management roles at home office, but nothing is being created for the field. People are stuck at the TM3 level and becoming burnt out on being on succession but never having opportunity.

- As we continue to add more SKUs, and launch new initiatives on top of what we already have, show the people on the frontline that our extra effort is valuable. Between product recalls and discontinuation, many people are discouraged that all of our extra efforts won't be shown in bonuses.

Pros

Good Work Life Balance
Solid Pay Structure - Yearly Bonus ( Although it is low for the industry)
Amazing Benefits
Not worried about the future of this strong company even with the industry
Home Office Training is Top Notch compared to most sales companies

Advice to Management

Remember Trade Marketing is what makes the Reynold's world go 'round. We can only do so many tasks at one time.
Also, if becoming an AM is the only way to move up. Start cleaning house on the AMs that are sitting ducks tying up those positions. You will continue to lose top talent with false hope.

Pros

Flexible schedule. Work life Balance

Pros

Independence... You have a lot of freedom. It is up to you, to make yourself and your Territory successful.

Benefits... The benefits are great and have continued to be, threw out my tenor with the company. Our company cars are also very nice, and a bonus is paid out every February.

Work Life Balance... This is mostly dependent on your boss, but I have been lucky to have Division Managers that are not Micro Managers, and trust that I will implement company strategies and use my time wisely.

Pros

Reward & Recognize, sales development, and work life balance

Pros

Company Car
Gas Card
Some Flexibility
Company Trips

If you have a understanding and organized Manager the job will still be tiring but tolerable at times.

Advice to Management

We are tired! Imagine building displays all day, as well as taking care of our regular accounts, and driving all day. We are answering emails, running reports, and putting out all the fires from all the failed product launches. If your people are doing their job leave them alone. Coach them and help them be more successful. Some of us don’t trust management and morale is down. Let the people have some flexibility and time to rest our wearing bodies. We are tired! Pay us more! Other companies in this industry do less work and get paid thousands of dollars more. This is unacceptable! Do better

Pros

Great place to launch your career and learn the ins and outs of consumer packaged goods marketing. Job provides flexibility and work/life balance for people that know how to manage it. Vacation benefits grow with tenure. Very secure industry to be in. There are growth opportunities for people who are qualified and mobile. Benefits are on par with industry.

Advice to Management

Being dynamic and adapting to market conditions are in the core values of the organization. The company is very quick to change things externally but very slow when it comes to internal evaluations. Expectations have done nothing but increase year over year for the territory manager. And compensation increases have not even kept up with the inflation rate.

Another area of observation:
This is a marketing organization that calls itself field trade marketing. Yet all it wants to do is be a sales force. However, it can't get out of its own way doing marketing all the time.