General Electric

Never sedentary, always busy. Ample opportunities for top performers. Endless variety of work. Many competent co-workers. Fairly stable, regimented. Well-defined processes. Interesting possibilities.

Old-school management rife with mean-spirited and loud-mouthed alpha-male managers, poor benefits, marginal pay, meager pay increases, poor work/life balance, a cut-throat competitive atmosphere, ruthless downsizing and relocation when business units change focus, an inability to listen to suggestions/improvements, upper management viewed poorly by all below them, secretive management cliques, promotions decided in back-room deals, “worker bees” get poor explanation of confusing directives, promotion of “spin doctors” with poor results over those with stronger skills/performances, brown nosing encouraged and key to getting ahead, shameless self-promotion required for recognition, and hard-working veteran employees forced into retirement after many years of 60+ hours weeks and company dedication.

Modernize your management approach: When managers get promoted by being mean, loud, and ruthless, the underlings perpetuate that same message because it seems to get results.

Acknowledge/appreciate your employees: Just because you get treated poorly by your manager doesn't mean you have to pass that along to everyone beneath you. Most people just want a "thanks" or "nice job" for all their hard work, but that seems to be a rarity these days.

Improve work/life balance: I've seen too many solid 30+ year employees forced into retirement because it was financially beneficial to the company. Every manager I know works around 60-80 hours per week, and their home life suffers. Treat your loyal employees like humans, not cattle.

Maintain reasonable benefits: Significantly cutting healthcare benefits, meager pay raises, salary freezes, and marginal salary compensation are not helping retain or attract employees. GE's benefits used to be what differentiated the company from others and made those excessively long work weeks tolerable. Now turnover is fairly high, and the Edison graduates sprint for the door once their training is complete, knowing that they will have far greater opportunities, pay, and benefits once they leave.