US Customs and Border Protection Employee Reviews about "morale"

Pros

Good resume builder. A lot of other law enforcement agencies will look upon your time as a CBP Officer with some interest. It is federal law enforcement experience, you do attend a 19-week basic academy plus 6-week Spanish language academy. You can use this job as a building block or stepping stone. However, there are serious internal issues that may work against morale and job satisfaction.

Cons

Lack of intellectual challenge. A great many CBP Officers just want a government job to collect a paycheck from. Nothing more, nothing less. They don't care about stopping crime or enforcing the law, just give them a paycheck and don't ask them to work too hard. This attitude is reinforced from the top to the bottom. Per the current union contract, managers can force you to work up to 3 mandatory overtime shifts of 16 hours in a row. It's unsafe, especially because CBP Officers are armed law enforcement entrusted to make sound decisions. Who can make a sound decision after 15 hours of work? Sexual harassment of females is ever-present at CBP. Many supervisors, chiefs, and even higher have a mysoginistic attitude towards females. In fact, many supervisors feel that it's their right to flirt with and attempt to pick up female members of the public while on-duty and in full uniform. It was truly embarassing to be associated with these slobs. Most supervisors lack training and knowledge are insecure in their positions. Therefore, they project their insecurities on front-line personnel through mistreatment and vindictive disciplinary write-ups. I was once ordered to write a false report for a supervisor to corroborate his write-up of another officer he didn't like. I told him "no" and promptly gave my two weeks notice. I didn't even bother reporting the incident to CBP Internal Affairs because I knew they wouldn't do anything and that the supervisors would simply adopt me as their new "punching bag." You can forget about being recognized for your accomplishments. On-the-spot awards are given only to officers that management likes. In one case, I saw multiple on-the-spot awards given to an officer simply because she was a supervisor's niece. Instead of challenging the system, I chose to quietly give my 2 weeks notice and leave without starting a fuss. Trying to stand up to the ingrained ineptitude at CBP isn't worth anyone's time. The realization I came to was that If you want a REAL law enforcement career try a local police department. They will likely have similarly poor office politics, but you are much likelier to work alongside respectable, hard-working individuals who care about helping their community.

Pros

The pay is decent depending on where you live, it could definitely use a pay increase being that we have been frozen for some time. Training is pretty standard for entry level Federal Law Enfocement but will allow you to get a foot in the door for other career changes down the road. CBP has a ton of funding and there are a lot of opportunities including overseas.

Cons

Nepotism and cronyism kills morale. They say it does not exist but it definitely does. The work can get monotonous and boring.

Pros

A lot of work outdoors with minimal supervision. Benefits are pretty good, for now. Usually can get time off if needed.

Cons

Morale is low due to the constant battle over pay. Lack of prosecution of cases due to current administration. No real brotherhood with co-workers.

Pros

Federal Benefits and Great mission

Cons

managers not well trained morale low

Pros

You get to build software that helps protect the safety of the U.S. and helps the officers in the field carry out their mission. Incredibly interesting subject matter and business domain. The officers are smart, engaging individuals who were great to work with.

Cons

When the head of the entire agency releases a memo to all employees stating '...federal employee survey results indicate that we have the lowest morale among all federal agencies for the 5th year running. We will no longer be taking feedback regarding morale.' you know you have problems and that they will never be taken seriously or resolved. The organization is run like a mafia outfit with tyrannical power pockets, unjust firings, and an atmosphere of suppression and fear that make doing your job done on a day-to-day basis a living hell. Leadership is as politically dysfunctional as it's technology is advanced (for a government agency).

Pros

Receiving a stable paycheck and good benefits that you can get with any federal job.

Cons

- From first-line supervisors to SES personnel, CBP has some of the most incompetent managers I have ever seen. Not only do many of them lack the technical skills to do the job, but they have no idea how to LEAD people. - The morale is dead and is not going to improve unless most of management is replaced with people who actually know how to motivate, inspire, and engage their employees. This will never happen since there is so much nepotism and favoritism within the agency. - Management constantly provides negative feedback and they refuse to believe that happy employees are productive employees. - The turnover rate is very high; it's a revolving door and you are just a number. - CBP/DHS is consistently ranked as the worst place to work in the Federal Government (according to OPM's annual Federal Employee Viewpoint Survey). I can tell you through personal experience that this is accurate. Note: If CBP/DHS is your first federal job, I suggest you get your career status and/or max out your promotion potential in your position... then start looking for a new job in a better agency (you can only go up).

Pros

good pay good benefits work outdoors nice equipment the prestige of being a federal agent exciting and dangerous work the opportunity to travel

Cons

unprofessional management low hiring standards low morale lots of corruption undesirable locales to live in poor schools rude and hostile locals

Pros

Work with great people in support of a vital mission.

Cons

Political whims affect mission accomplishment and employee morale.