Pros
Work environment will vary based on business unit - but some common themes at Emerson are: 1) Directors and above have it made - they are basically given golden handcuffs and often non-transferable skills. Emerson promotes heavily from within (both good and bad?) 2) Some business units are really like a family. That is until financials start to go south, then things can get cold real quick. 3) Decent benefits. Not earth shattering. 4) If you are an average performer or just work to live, you can hide out here pretty well without putting in too much effort. This refers to manager and below level... it changes a bit at director and above. 5) Gradual promotions based on seniority. If you work here long enough you will move up slowly without too much effort. 6) Annual cash bonus tied to business performance at director level and above. 7) Active and generally well supported employee resource groups - minority based mostly
Cons
Again, will vary on business unit, but common themes are: 1) "Old school" mentality - Emerson will always be the last to adapt to more progressive work concepts like casual dress code and work from home. Generally lacks in flexibility versus other places to work. 2) Slightly underpays - yes, that big focus on always cost reducing also applies to employee salaries. Emerson will generally be in the 2nd quartile-ish of compensation. Although if you can make yourself indispensable and fight for an increase, you can get it here. You must ask though. 3) The CEO David Farr is basically Donald Trump. Some of you will love this, some of you will hate it. It's just as polarizing here, there is no inbetween. Generally the older 'old school' crowd love it, but younger employees can't stand it. Over time it will become more and more of a liability. 4) Emerson is unabashedly pro-investor (or more accurately, pro wall street investment analyst). This means they will decisively cut jobs when they need to in order to preserve Wall Street expectations of earnings. When the choice is between employees and EPS, they will always choose earnings. 5) Corporate is very directive to the business units. Business unit presidents don't control their own resources or budget, it's directed by corporate only at the suggestion of business unit leaders. Hence it takes a very strong business unit leader to tell the right story and have the courage to stand up for the best decisions at the business unit level. Often this doesn't happen.
