The same people doing the same things and getting the same results - Senor Software Engineer OCLC Employee Review

3.0
Dec 24, 2013
Recommend
CEO approval
Business Outlook

Pros

Decent salary. High level of technical expertise in my area. Telecommuting options. Enjoy working wiith my team members. Nice gym. Community-minded if you're into that sort of thing.

Cons

There are just a ridiculous number of managers for a company that isn't that big. There are 15 VPs, 65+ directors and literally hundreds of department managers, section managers, operations managers, assistant managers, technical managers. product managers, project managers and supervisors. And since they all apparently need something to do, even the simplest tasks require endless meetings and extends the development process to unacceptable lengths for our clients. -- Since 2007, there have been significant layoffs in 2007, 2009, 2010, 2011 and 2013. The layoffs happen almost exclusively at the staff level and rarely at the management level, which obviously makes the company more top-heavy every year. April-June is excruciating due to the stress of possibly losing your job and those who survive are rewarded with a 2% raise (no raise in some years). Perhaps layoffs wouldn't be as necessary if a million dollars worth of bonuses weren't being handed out to under-performing executives every year. No irony here.

Explore other reviews about OCLC

5.0
Jul 11, 2026
Recommend
CEO approval
Business Outlook

Pros

Great team and work environment Interesting work day to day Working here feels meaningful

Cons

Compensation can be lower than average

2.0
Jun 13, 2026
Recommend
CEO approval
Business Outlook

Pros

The benefits, particularly the thrift plan, are good for as long as they still exist. The employees are generally smart and caring people.

Cons

Upper management is neither good nor trustworthy. To go into details would most likely violate this website's TOS. Trust them not to tell you the truth, trust them to blame you if they can save themselves for another year. Any stories you've heard about a great place to work are based on old data. That company no longer exists. While layoffs have always been a threat, employees are constantly on edge now and having the CEO tell them if they want to stay on they shouldn't make trouble does not help, to say the least If you get hired here, understand that this cannot be a long term destination. Get your experience, have an exit plan, don't get comfortable and fade into mediocrity because that is your future, and that's if you are lucky. I just want to add that everything the other reviews say about the president is true. He absolutely did mock employee responses to an opinion survey at a town hall.

3
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