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    Southern States Reviews

    Updated March 22, 2017
    37 reviews

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    Full-time Part-time
    3.0
    Star Star Star Star Star
    Rating Trends Rating Trends
    Recommend to a friend
    Approve of CEO
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    Thomas R. Scribner
    16 Ratings

    37 Employee Reviews

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    1. "Mid sized agronomy company"

      Star Star Star Star Star
      • Work/Life Balance
      • Culture & Values
      • Career Opportunities
      • Comp & Benefits
      • Senior Management
      Current Employee - Business Analyst in Richmond, VA
      Current Employee - Business Analyst in Richmond, VA
      Recommends
      Positive Outlook
      No opinion of CEO

      I have been working at Southern States full-time (More than a year)

      Pros

      Easy going company culture and low stress environment. Currently providing me with financial assistance and flexibility to pursue a master's degree.

      Cons

      Recently went though restructuring and downsizing. This is a cooperative owned company, so pay is lower than at for profit businesses of similar size.

      Advice to Management

      Better explain shifts in business focus and progress the business is making towards that ends.

    2. "Poor company"

      Star Star Star Star Star
      • Work/Life Balance
      • Culture & Values
      • Career Opportunities
      • Comp & Benefits
      • Senior Management
      Former Employee - AREA SALES MANAGER in Fairfax Station, VA
      Former Employee - AREA SALES MANAGER in Fairfax Station, VA
      Doesn't Recommend
      Negative Outlook
      Disapproves of CEO

      I worked at Southern States (More than 10 years)

      Pros

      Used to be a good company to work for.

      Cons

      On their last leg as a company.

      Advice to Management

      Sell the petroleum business.

      3. Join the Southern States team
      See Our Latest Jobs

    3. "A Once Great Company Going Down the Tubes"

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

      I worked at Southern States full-time (More than 10 years)

      Pros

      The associates really do care about the customers and their needs.
      Very high quality animal and horse feeds, custom fertilizers
      Commercial chemicals are also top notch.
      Very good benefits & pay. Full time employee starts out with 20+ vacation days.

      Cons

      The company prided itself on promoting from within. The top brass all came up through the retail stores and knew what those employees dealt with. Not any more. Nearly all cooperate hires are now from the outside.

      Massive layoffs of higher paid, experienced employees.

      Each store could once mold their inventory to fit the needs of their local customers. Now it's cookie cutter one size fits all.

      Very poor or no exit strategies for slow moving merchandise.

      Horrible pos and inventory system rife with bugs years after being implemented.

      What was once a family atmosphere is now corporate in the extreme. Your just a resource not a person.

      Terrible work to lie balance. Required 6 day weeks for months at a time. Was told by someone in upper management that they "owned us".

      Advice to Management

      Listen to your front line employees. Go back to advancing from within. Free up your stores to order and merchandise based on the needs of their customers.

    4. "Tag Office Clerk"

      Star Star Star Star Star
      • Work/Life Balance
      • Culture & Values
      • Career Opportunities
      • Comp & Benefits
      • Senior Management
      Former Employee - Seasonal Worker in Statesboro, GA
      Former Employee - Seasonal Worker in Statesboro, GA
      Recommends
      Positive Outlook
      Approves of CEO

      I worked at Southern States (More than 3 years)

      Pros

      Great General Manager & Office Secretary

      Cons

      Cotton Ginning is seasonal work only

      Advice to Management

      n/a

    5. "Business Analyst"

      Star Star Star Star Star
      • Work/Life Balance
      • Culture & Values
      • Career Opportunities
      • Comp & Benefits
      • Senior Management
      Current Employee - Business Analyst in Richmond, VA
      Current Employee - Business Analyst in Richmond, VA
      Recommends
      Positive Outlook

      I have been working at Southern States full-time (More than 8 years)

      Pros

      Friendly atmosphere, supportive, and interesting industry. Seems to have different opportunities to move into throughout future career. It's nice to have store locations relatively close to the corporate office that we can visit to see how the business is run in the field.

      Cons

      Takes significant time to learn the industry and data. Each division seems to have their own methods of data analysis and buy-in differs across different divisions.

    6. Helpful (1)

      "Excellent Corporate Office"

      Star Star Star Star Star
      • Work/Life Balance
      • Culture & Values
      • Career Opportunities
      • Comp & Benefits
      • Senior Management
      Current Employee - Anonymous Employee in Richmond, VA
      Current Employee - Anonymous Employee in Richmond, VA
      Recommends
      Neutral Outlook
      No opinion of CEO

      I have been working at Southern States full-time (More than a year)

      Pros

      Compassionate management, work/life balance, opportunities to advance, stability, working with people who are very good at their jobs, low stress atmosphere.

      Cons

      None that should stop you from applying. Currently updating computer systems.

      Advice to Management

      Good communication from upper management in our group but would like to hear more from the new CEO.

    7. "Slow to Change"

      Star Star Star Star Star
      • Work/Life Balance
      • Culture & Values
      • Career Opportunities
      • Comp & Benefits
      • Senior Management
      Former Employee - Virginia in Richmond, VA
      Former Employee - Virginia in Richmond, VA
      Doesn't Recommend
      Negative Outlook

      I worked at Southern States full-time (More than 5 years)

      Pros

      Improved employee benefits over the last few years, decent compensation, opportunities for advancement within organization, high rate of employee retention

      Cons

      An older company with very slow acceptance of new technology, difficult to incite change or implement new ideas due to multiple levels of approval and reluctance to change "how things have always been done." Layoffs happen every couple of years.

      Advice to Management

      A higher standard of consistency and decisiveness would be appreciated by staff.

    8. "Project Manager"

      Star Star Star Star Star
      • Work/Life Balance
      • Culture & Values
      • Career Opportunities
      • Comp & Benefits
      • Senior Management
      Former Employee - Project and Process Manager in Richmond, VA
      Former Employee - Project and Process Manager in Richmond, VA
      Doesn't Recommend
      Negative Outlook
      Disapproves of CEO

      I worked at Southern States (More than a year)

      Pros

      Decent benefits. Certain managers were on board to making changes to make a difference with how the company was run.

      Cons

      Senior management had a difficult time of letting go of the good ole' boy system.

    9. "Cooperate Office needs new leadership"

      Star Star Star Star Star
      • Work/Life Balance
      • Culture & Values
      • Career Opportunities
      • Comp & Benefits
      • Senior Management
      Former Employee - Anonymous Employee in Richmond, VA
      Former Employee - Anonymous Employee in Richmond, VA
      Doesn't Recommend
      Positive Outlook

      I worked at Southern States full-time (More than a year)

      Pros

      In general, most of the people I worked with were very pleasant and friendly. With a few exceptions, everyone cared about the quality of the work they were doing. Those who were known for slacking were laid off in 2012. Work life balance is great (8-4:30 with an hour lunch). Cooperate office has a cafeteria on site.

      Cons

      Middle level management has been there forever. There were no fresh and new ideas coming in. Felt like patching holes. Outdated processes and procedures. Same raise every year for each employee done by percentage.

      Advice to Management

      Best way to motivate people is money. A 2% raise is not going to keep talented people around. Make room for the younger generation to shine and take leadership. Look into updating your technology.

    10. Helpful (1)

      "Hard work for very little money"

      Star Star Star Star Star
      • Work/Life Balance
      • Culture & Values
      • Career Opportunities
      • Comp & Benefits
      • Senior Management
      Current Employee - Laborer in Petersburg, VA
      Current Employee - Laborer in Petersburg, VA
      Doesn't Recommend
      Negative Outlook
      Approves of CEO

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

      Pros

      Friendly customers that tip from time to time
      Some friendly staff
      Independent work

      Cons

      over worked and underpaid
      bad management
      not enough help as far as scheduling goes
      hard work is not appreciated and goes unnoticed

      Advice to Management

      Show better appreciation for dedicated and hard working employees

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