Challenging With Above Average Pay, Lacks Stability and Benefits
Pros
- Smart, talented people - Stipend to purchase a phone - Above-average salaries - Frequent lunch or dinner social events - Company is growing - Supposedly "unlimited vacation" as long as it's not abused. However, using vacation may be viewed negatively by management - Possibility of stock options. However, there are "cliffs" -- dates at which one becomes eligible. Keep in mind that until a cliff is reached, you'll have no other retirement benefits and if you are dismissed or leave before the cliff, you'll leave with no retirement benefits or stock. - "Hackdays" every few weeks to work on work-related hobby projects - Small team - Company-paid parking pass
Cons
- Expensive health insurance. A family plan will cost between 7K - 12K / year with ~$4K deductible. The company covers basic healthcare for the employee but the overall cost is still much, much higher than at other companies - No 401K or retirement plans - No room for growth or advancement until the team gets much much larger. Whatever you're hired to do, you'll continue doing as long as you're at this job. - Low number of company holidays compared to other companies - No sick leave - Constant pressure to perform. Daily reporting to management required on your performance / accomplishments the day before. - Expect to get micromanaged and be judged and critiqued by peers and management - Company hasn't established product/market fit - Human resources is outsourced. - Everyone at the company is an employee of the human resources company, not of Root. - No job security. The whole company has a very near-term mentality. Anyone can be dismissed at any time for any (or no) reason. This is NOT a company that you will retire from. - The office space is well-intended but lacks privacy (only one bathroom, open office). - Parking is difficult. Everyone parks in the parking deck, but it fills up by mid-morning. - Poor work/life balance. Expect to work long hours, nights & weekends.
