Costco

Good Starting and Ending IT Company

Management is friendly and understands work-life balance. (45/hr per week)

No layoffs, and the only way to get fired is to steal.

The longer you're there, the better everything is for you, regardless of performance.

Hard to leave to another company, as most know the IT culture at Costco.

Very low pay. 1-3 percent raises per year. More like 1-2% as there is always a reason that you are not eligible for 3%.

Vacation is okay, not good. No vacation from mid-November through the week before Christmas.

No bonuses for non-management, except for managers who are grandfathered into bonuses.

Lunch is cheap, but if you work in Building 6, you have to bus to another campus for hot food.

IT is treated as warehouse employees, with the exception that some are salaried.

No working remotely.

The only way to live close to work is a small condo, as housing is too high, and wages do not cover the cost of housing. 2+ hour commute each day.

Trust your employees enough to allow some remote work.

Start rewarding high performers with bonuses or a chance to get a raise that would at least cover cost-of-living increases.

Work to retain high performers rather than pushing them to find something better.

Most of IT should not be blocked from holiday vacations. (Some are required to maintain systems.)