General Motors

Retirement and medical benefits are good. Annual bonuses are more than generous.

Lack of guidance.

You show up day one and hope someone shows you the ropes. There are no 30-day, 90-day, 3-year, or 5-year development plans.

Shut up and do whatever tasks your remote boss tells you to. Don't expect any recognition, as your boss will ultimately take credit for your work and punish you if you make a mistake.

Want a promotion? You better be in Austin, or else don't even think about it. Promotions are only given to friends of friends. Among the 100+ programmers I work with, I have only seen 2 get promoted over the past 5 years.

I don't think any of my fellow IT staff feel appreciated.

Start having bag lunches with the employees in the trenches. My guess is whatever the directors and managers are telling you is not the truth.