Pros
The salary for our area is quite good and would be difficult to find anything comparable without a college education. The benefits are overall relatively decent, company contributions to 401k and a bonus every year is very appreciated, but not by everyone. I don't feel entitled to it or complain if it's less than I thought, I'm greatful to receive it. Unfortunately, the money is not important when working in such an unfriendly and inhospitable environment.
Cons
Regrettably, the difficult working environment far outweighs any benefit that may be gained from working for Firstenergy. By working environment, I don't mean the cold, the rain or the heat. I mean the consistent lack of consideration and respect that is afforded to the "inferior proletariat" regardless of their work ethic, experience or intelligence. There are a handful of people in managerial positions that are entirely unqualified and lack the obligatory professionalism that should be illustrative of the Firstenergy Code of Conduct. We as skilled and unskilled laborers are irrevocably held to those standards when management can behave disgracefully and without regard to the well being of their subordinates let alone exhibit some moral rectitude and kindness when speaking with their employees. Unfortunately, that is not the case: my personal experience has been with a supervisor who DEMANDS respect rather than earn it. As an employee, I show respect as a professional courtesy but when that is not reciprocated and I'm treated like a pawn in their own personal struggle for power and I'm expected to stroke their ego while being berated, yelled at, swore at and denigrated purposefully to others, it's a little much to handle. This is a culture where people are so very used to getting away with whatever they wanted regardless of the callousness or immorality of their words and actions. I don't think that will ever change until someone decides to pay attention to the psychological-brow-beatings that are common practice from management.
