Labatt is the Complete Package
Pros
1. Career Opportunities: The opportunities for advancement are unlimited. In many departments there is no strict progressional ladder of advancement. Some may view this as a disadvantage, but it works very well for those who prefer to be rewarded fairly according to their talent and effort. While I tend to dislike the use of clichés, it is very true that birds of a feather flock together. That observation can be made about successful employees at Labatt. Those who are successful at Labatt tend to stick together, learn from each other, and continue to build upon their successes at the company. 2. Leadership: Senior Management are deeply invested in every aspect of the business, and they genuinely care about their employees (I have heard many stories and have had personal experiences where they have jumped in to help employees in non-work-related situations). They invest a great deal in resources to develop their employees and provide the type of environment they feel is necessary to help their people grow professionally. They are intimately involved in all projects in software development, which provides new employees with a great opportunity to learn from these leaders who have great experience and success under their belts. A common misconception is that those who are in advanced/leadership positions have never worked at other companies, but this is untrue. In fact, most (if not all) of those in advanced positions came from other companies. Every manager is different, which is true no matter where you go. My personal experience with management has been phenomenal and has directly contributed to my own professional growth. Most managers are in their positions because they were successful at the jobs/positions they now manage. When one becomes a manager, they don't simply become a manager and relinquish all other duties. Their responsibilities increase. So, yes, managers are busy. And if you need something from one of them, you cannot sit around waiting for them to find you. You need to take initiative, but that is what I love about the environment because you learn to conquer your fears and become assertive. 3. Culture: As most would probably agree, the culture at Labatt could be described in a single word as "conservative." However, this description is short-sighted and inaccurate as it does not consider the constant push by leaders of the company to improve every aspect of the business, whether it be order selection methods, the structure of a department, or the personal and professional growth of their people. Improvement requires change, not conservation, and Labatt is all about improvement. Some of the core business strategies, which have directly contributed to Labatt's differentiation among competitors and its success, are "conservative" in the sense that there is no point in changing those core strategies when they have continued to deliver time and time again. However, those who describe Labatt as "conservative" are rarely considering its business strategies. The "conservative" description is usually applied to convey the company rules, like the dress code and dating policies, which are not solely reflective of the culture. Yes, the recommended dress code is professional. That seems understandable especially if you want to BE professional. Yes, there are policies against fraternizing (i.e., inter-office dating). Again, I completely agree with that as I would personally be incapable of focusing on the job knowing that the person I am dating is just down the hall. Or if something were to go sour with the relationship, how would that work at the office? 4. Pay/benefits: I don't volunteer salary information in social settings, but many of my friends do. Without offering too much, let me just say that Labatt takes very good care of their employees. To give a specific example, in my first year at Labatt (I had just graduated college and I came from a low-income family), I found out that I needed to have multiple, expensive surgeries. I was completely independent at this time (i.e., living alone and solely responsible for all bills) and was able to single-handedly pay in full for these surgeries thanks to my pay and health benefits. 5. Coworkers: There is a good mix of veteran, well-experienced employees and new employees, often who have recently graduated college. The newcomers have a great opportunity to learn crucial lessons about best business practices and strategies from the veterans, and the veterans can learn innovative, fresh ideas from the newer employees. Your coworkers are the people you spend the most time with each day, so it is important that you enjoy each other's company, respect each other's work, and share common goals/interests (especially professional goals). Some of my coworkers are now my best friends. SUMMARY: Labatt is not for everyone. This much is obvious, but no company is for everyone. I, luckily, have found it to have everything I want and plan to have a long career with the company. I urge any applicants to come and see for yourself whether Labatt is for you rather than depend solely on reviews from people you have never met, who may be very different from you.
Cons
1. If I had to choose something I dislike about my job, it would be the location of the office. The warehouse/office is located in an industrial part of town, as should be expected so there is not much that can or should be done about it. 2. Labatt recruits candidates who have recently graduated college. While I agree with this strategy, it can be difficult to overcome some of the cultural misconceptions and ideals that these recent graduates believe should be present in order to build/sustain a successful company.
