US Department of Veterans Affairs Employee Reviews about "private sector"

Pros

Telework is available to most non-clinical employees. Get to work from home 3 days a week.

Cons

Federal job so you get paid a lot less then your private sector counterparts.

Advice to Management

No one in the bay area stays long. Make the pay comparable to local hospitals.

Pros

More gratitude received from the patients than other facilities.

Cons

The VA is still a highly utilized medical facility that does not receive the funding it needs to rise to a status comparable to the private sector.

Pros

Remote/ Telecommute Ready with some systems in place for structure for on-boarding have begun.

Cons

I mostly concur with other 1 and 2 star reviews. • Culture not as good as the Private Sector • Upper Management Does Not Like Challenged • Hire Quick Fire Quicker • Ego of upper management • Derogatory Locker Room Condescending when not performing. • expected to wait to be told what to do • boredom • wasted time • under utilized • political • infinite on boarding

Advice to Management

I would retire if I were management. Not because of age, but because of ego.

Pros

Benefits are better than private sector.

Cons

High turnover, poor management, low wages. Training is all virtual or via email, no one on one training. New duties are added without notice or training. Heavy computer work using multiple government portals simultaneously, very stressful and negative work environment. A lot of unhappy employees.

Advice to Management

Take the time necessary to meet with your staff, talk to them, they are your biggest asset. Evaluate and distribute job duties with more care rather than just handing it off to get it off your plate. The volume of work is overwhelming and new hires are immediately set up for failure. Big disconnect with management and lack of care and concern for your employees is visible daily.

Pros

Good benefits and looks good on a resume.

Cons

Redundant processes to submit credentials. Obtaining fingerprints was a nightmare. They are never in the office and do not answer the phone. In the private sector it is so much less cumbersome and more streamlined. I changed my mind and decided to stay with my current private sector employer who is great. I only wanted this job for strategic reasons and I realize now it doesn’t have to be with the VA. I’ve seen... enough to know I’m glad I don’t work here.

Advice to Management

You will probably attract more talent if you streamlined your on boarding process better. Coordinating redundant information with 3 different HR specialists is nonproductive. There are competing area hospitals offering so much more money and making the process more worth my time.

Pros

Pay higher than private sector, cannot beat the benefits

Cons

Red tape and hard to hold people accountable

Pros

Great benefits compared to most private sector

Cons

So much bullying from management and not sure why VA does not fire bad management who bring negativity in the hospital unit. Don't walk away, RUN if you can and find a hospital/private sector that can treat you better.

Pros

Opportunity to help America’s veterans

Cons

Pay is much lower than the private sector

Advice to Management

Increase salaries