Pros
Well, as every other review mentioned, there are the bagels on Wednesdays and the free snacks from Costco (chips & cookies mostly). Once in a while, we might even get treated with something healthy like fruits, but that’s a special treat. There was also a Happy Hour we got to go to at the restaurant chain next door to the office. 2 drink maximum, shared appetizers, and the best part was when it was “suggested” (i.e.- required) that we all sit together with the CEO (versus, for instance, socializing in our chosen groups) and forcing really awkward conversation… until a moment when he looked at his watch, got up and left without saying anything to anyone. His social awkwardness can be considered a Pro, however, as it makes you realize that through all of his disrespect to his employees, demeaning nature, egocentricity, cheapness, and a pompous and know-it-all attitude, he’s really just a lonely, awkward little man dealing with the world best he knows how. I will say, however, most of the other people that you get to work with are pretty awesome! From everything that I don’t miss, I do miss my team and the trials and tribulations of working at FranConnect that made us bond. Also, with the recent acquisition and investors that joined the company, maybe the newly-established Board would actually start making smarter business decisions for the company and make it a happier place to work.
Kontras
Embrace yourself- most of the negative reviews are true. Most of the positive reviews are planted there by either top management, the very few employees that “drank the Kool-Aid”, or by employees that were bribed or strongly advised by top management to write a positive review. Here’s my list: 1- The CEO is disrespectful. Don’t catch him in a bad mood, which is often- he will find ANYTHING to rip on you for. It does not matter if you have been there for a month or 5 years (there are very few of those in the US office), if you’re entry level or a senior executive. However, some of the youngest and the freshest might get a break if they keep a low profile, fake smile a lot, and agree with all he does. Advice: make friends with your colleagues and stick up for each other… you’re all in this together. 2- Did I mention office politics? A Lot of that going on! There are mostly 4 categories that people tend to fall in: The Dictator, The yes-man (will do ANYTHING to appease the dictator and save his own behind… ANYTHING), and the serfs. Advise: Be smart, learn office politics, and play your own game! 3- Below average pay- for most. Company likes to hire people that have been out of a job for a while (or just graduated) and have no option but to take much less than what they’re worth. Also, the promised quarterly bonuses are bogus. Advice: during your interview, establish from the beginning how much you’re worth. If you’re promised a bonus based on performance metrics and reviews, make sure it’s outlined and detailed in your contract. 4- Cheap equipment. Expect to receive a $400 PC… or worse, an old, used one from a former employee. In case you don’t know- cheap PCs have a very short shelf life before they start bugging out on you. Advice: if you have an extra one lying around, bring your own. 5- Stupid business decisions- while I cannot speak on ALL business decisions (for one, I think getting outside funding was one of the good ones), most will make no sense to you. There was the spending an insane amount of $ on a sales consultant who tried to turn a relationship business into a “who can make the most phone calls” business (that eventually lead to 70% of the sales team walking out… but the management claimed that they were fired). Then, there were the projects dreamed up by the CEO that, when proved to be money-suckers and had no ROI whatsoever, were claimed to be “that’s okay, that’s just for branding.” My favorite one: marketing and selling a new solution before it’s even developed or has any staff to support it. Advice: Do nothing. It’s not going to matter anyways. 6- Eat your own dog food. The same product that is sold to the clients is used by staff for internal business. In most cases, it should be that way- except when the product was designed for a very different purpose than how it’s expected to be used internally. Advice: Sorry, got nothing again. Not much you can do, but eat it. 7- 63% turnover rate in 2014. 2013 saw 62%. I believe McDonalds has more staff retention than this. If you don’t know what this means: 2014 saw about 46 US employees working, on average. That same year, about 28 left. If that doesn’t tell you something, I don’t know what will. Advice: avoid becoming a statistic- don’t work at FranConnect.
