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SYKES Reviews
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    SYKES Reviews

    Updated December 8, 2018
    2,589 reviews

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    2.8
    StarStarStarStarStar
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    Approve of CEO
    SYKES President & CEO Chuck Sykes
    Chuck Sykes
    1,084 Ratings

    Employee Reviews

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    Pros
    Cons

    • "The calls are back to back during holiday season and can be very stressful" (in 34 reviews)

    • "There are not enough Product Specialists to help customer service representatives when they need it" (in 65 reviews)

    More Pros and Cons

    1. "Technical support agent"

      StarStarStarStarStar
      • Work/Life Balance
      • Culture & Values
      • Career Opportunities
      • Comp & Benefits
      • Senior Management
      Former Employee - Technical Support Agent in Morristown, TN
      Former Employee - Technical Support Agent in Morristown, TN
      Recommends
      Positive Outlook
      Approves of CEO

      I worked at SYKES (More than a year)

      Pros

      Good company to work for.

      Cons

      Don't really have any cons about this company.

    2. "Operational Management"

      StarStarStarStarStar
      • Work/Life Balance
      • Culture & Values
      • Career Opportunities
      • Comp & Benefits
      • Senior Management
      Former Employee - Operations Manager in Provo, UT
      Former Employee - Operations Manager in Provo, UT
      Recommends
      Positive Outlook
      Approves of CEO

      I worked at SYKES full-time (More than 3 years)

      Pros

      Sykes is a uniquely challenging work space for people who love a fast-paced and information-intensive environment. The work teaches extensive character growth and discipline if you apply yourself. Sykes is great for resume building if you are fresh out of high school, and has a fair community with feelings of accomplishment and prestige among peers when you do your job well.

      Cons

      At Sykes, I did notice a poor motivational morale in the workplace with a high turn-over rate, several unprofessional behavior problems within the employee environment . There was a seemingly ghost-like company hierarchy connection that was lacking (between project partners and Sykes business operations) and there was an overly traditional "closed doors" approach to management: you didn't exactly feel like know who or what you are working for, and you needed to make this up each day (what is to be is up to me mentality) to continue justifying working there. Extensive tech issues blamed on agent's productivity. Operational management was actually paid less than entry level employees (but it's like the story in the Bible. Each person gets paid a different amount even though they work different hours, sometimes seeming unfairly, but the laborer in a capitalist society agrees to his reward. In principle there is nothing wrong with this, but sometimes it makes you think twice). Overall a fantastic learning experience. The word "opportunity" sometimes means a pay cut, but the pitch they give is that you're lucky to have a job at all. (This is the way employees are treated, but for some people a job is better than no job, so I see their point.) My recommendation is to stay away unless you are a self-motivator or are young and need to build a resume and you are just starting out.

      Advice to Management

      I appreciated the opportunity to build relationships with the Sykes community and am certainly honored to have been a part of the company, especially as a budding manager. From my time "on the front lines", I saw extensive problems with operations, much bureaucracy in the business, little attention to detail among employees, and low productivity and enforcement of company HR policies. Lack of leadership can often create a rift between vision and implementation, and I can appreciate the story of John Sykes and his vision for the company, but I feel operations needs to go beyond that instead of making a mythology out of the story behind Sykes. This is the struggle of most businesses, to continue vision between generations. I can hypothesize based on my empirical observation of my experiences and my knowledge of business in several Fortune 500 companies that in the next few years Sykes will either change its ways and grow as a company into a new era of business, or languish in the 20th Century working mindset it has created for itself. I did my part to make sure operations went smoothly as a manager, and it would be great if the effort I put into the operation would make the company able to reap what it sows. Hard business decisions were made, but I'm ultimately in a better place now because I applied myself at Sykes Enterprises. So, I thank you for the opportunity greatly.

      3. Join the SYKES team
      See Our Latest Jobs

    3. "Senior Team Leader"

      StarStarStarStarStar
      • Work/Life Balance
      • Culture & Values
      • Career Opportunities
      • Comp & Benefits
      • Senior Management
      Current Employee - Senior Team LEader
      Current Employee - Senior Team LEader
      Recommends
      Neutral Outlook
      No opinion of CEO

      I have been working at SYKES full-time (More than 5 years)

      Pros

      Virtual work at home environment allowed good life/work balance. Had good experiences with most management and co-workers.

      Cons

      Lack of professional development opportunities and paths for internal movement. Compensation below average for similar non-virtual positions.

      Advice to Management

      When managing the various customer service operational contracts allow for strong performance to have additional paths for corporate opportunities and compensation.

    4. "My Thoughts"

      StarStarStarStarStar
      • Work/Life Balance
      • Culture & Values
      • Career Opportunities
      • Comp & Benefits
      • Senior Management
      Current Employee - Anonymous Employee
      Current Employee - Anonymous Employee
      Doesn't Recommend
      Positive Outlook
      Approves of CEO

      I have been working at SYKES full-time

      Pros

      The pay is okay and I can get all the hours I want

      Cons

      They are not understanding when someone needs time off

      Advice to Management

      I would be more understanding with your employees when something dramatic in their life happens.

    5. "former employee"

      StarStarStarStarStar
      Former Employee - Anonymous Employee
      Former Employee - Anonymous Employee

      Pros

      work from home is great

      Cons

      management issues too many to list

    6. "sales associate"

      StarStarStarStarStar
      • Work/Life Balance
      • Culture & Values
      • Career Opportunities
      • Comp & Benefits
      • Senior Management
      Current Employee - Anonymous Employee in Tampa, FL
      Current Employee - Anonymous Employee in Tampa, FL
      Recommends
      Neutral Outlook
      Approves of CEO

      I have been working at SYKES part-time (Less than a year)

      Pros

      very easy job to do

      Cons

      the pay for the job will be the con

    7. Helpful (4)

      "Customer service"

      StarStarStarStarStar
      Former Employee - Anonymous Employee
      Former Employee - Anonymous Employee
      Recommends

      I worked at SYKES part-time

      Pros

      The staff is great overall

      Cons

      When needing to take a vacation you are placed on waiting list and it takes to long to get approval. Even if no one else is on the list. Makes it hard to plan anything.

    8. "Customer Service Representative"

      StarStarStarStarStar
      • Work/Life Balance
      • Culture & Values
      • Career Opportunities
      • Comp & Benefits
      • Senior Management
      Former Employee - Anonymous Employee
      Former Employee - Anonymous Employee
      Doesn't Recommend
      Negative Outlook
      No opinion of CEO

      I worked at SYKES full-time

      Pros

      Work from home opportunity is the only pro because the pay sucks and customers are extremely rude and they will take out their problems with the company on you and treat you less than a person.

      Cons

      Very overwhelming for little pay and poor training. Management and the company doesn’t care about employees.

      Advice to Management

      Care more about employees and since pay is minimum wage do not expect maximum work from employees. Often times companies and their management teams forget what it’s like before you get to the top. Treat employees how you would want to be treated. Provide more extensive training also. 2 weeks of training doesn’t suffice for the overwhelming tasks.

    9. "Customer Service"

      StarStarStarStarStar
      Current Employee - Anonymous Employee
      Current Employee - Anonymous Employee

      I have been working at SYKES full-time

      Pros

      Quick interview process and friendly

      Cons

      First pay is low but with skill and consistent work higher pay

    10. "Good Company So Far"

      StarStarStarStarStar
      • Work/Life Balance
      • Culture & Values
      • Career Opportunities
      • Comp & Benefits
      • Senior Management
      Current Employee - Customer Service Representative At Home in Lawton, OK
      Current Employee - Customer Service Representative At Home in Lawton, OK
      Recommends
      Neutral Outlook
      No opinion of CEO

      I have been working at SYKES full-time (Less than a year)

      Pros

      Friendly Trainers
      Good Pay
      Great Bonus for Cash or Paid Time Off

      Cons

      Trainers are unable to answer most of your questions

      Advice to Management

      Train your trainers better