65% positive business outlook
Pros
Just started with the company so can’t say too much either way. So far, so good. Everyone is friendly. The work is easy enough. I’m looking forward to 2021.
Cons
The only thing I’ve noticed so far is that some people in the office take the casual dress code a bit too far.
Pros
The team atmosphere was great, and I built great relationships with everyone.
Cons
Can be a little overwhelming.
Pros
Great benefits. Staff is full of smart, hardworking, friendly people who care about doing a good job. Snack machines are subsidized so sodas are .25 and most candy is .50. Option for free employee parking or mass transit subsidy.
Cons
Workloads are insane and the more you manage to accomplish the more they give you to do, usually without either a raise or promotion. Organization is ruled by a culture of fear. Everyone is afraid to say anything that would be construed as complaining or rocking the boat. HR is supposed to be, to some degree at least, an advocate for employees but nothing could be further from the truth at ASTD. HR absolutely cannot be trusted to back you up if you go to them with anything. People frequently "disappear" from the staff. I've never worked anywhere where so many people get fired.
Pros
Compensation close to for profits
Cons
sterile, lifeless environment where no one talk to anyone and everyone is out to get everyone else. Trust no one - come in, do your job, and leave. Overall horrible place to work. I had an uneasy feeling every time I come into work and couldn't quite put my finger on it until I realized that behnid the scenes everyone is out to get everyone else and there is zero loyalty or freindship. You know that old maxim, "water cooler chat?" well there isn;t any and make sure you avoid it because there are eyes and ears everywhere. If this an environment for you, work here. You must drink the cool aid. Chug it, or else they'll know and you'll be out the door. Seen it happy to good people who were good at their jobs. Job proficiency doesn't matter - there's a cancer over this place. Evil.
Pros
You have the leeway to make impactful decisions with the full support of management. Decisions are made quickly, without much delay if it’s deemed beneficial. Just about everyone is committed to the company mission. Everyone who works here is focused on bettering both themselves and the company.
Cons
I’m not sexist, but I’ve always wondered why this company is 75% women.
Pros
First things first, for a nonprofit ATD pays its employees extremely well (I’ve worked at several other nonprofits and this is the most competitive my salary has ever been). Second, the benefits are comprehensive and affordable (dental AND vision). Third, everyone in the office is friendly and welcoming (There’s no competitive undercurrent or unnecessary drama…. Water cooler gossip isn’t a thing you have to worry about here). Fourth, I like my managers and I can tell they put a lot of effort into doing right by their employees (they don’t always get it right, but they are always trying). Fifth, the work itself is enjoyable. Projects are mostly collaborative in nature and we’re encouraged to think outside the box and really get creative.
Cons
As I stated above, managers don’t always make the right decision or do what’s best for everyone. I’ve seen several of them go back and correct their mistakes once they notice it, but that’s not always guaranteed. It’s easy to judge others though and since I’ve never been in a managerial position, who’s to say I wouldn’t make the same mistakes? I’ll leave it at that and you can judge for yourself.
Pros
The culture is great and everyone is very supportive. This association has a great reputation in the training and development global community and really puts out high quality resources for our members. They are also very flexible with remote or inperson work, great work-life balance and I have been very happy with the benefits.
Cons
Work load can be a little higher when we are getting ready for our annual conference.
Pros
Only company I went to where meetings didn't start before 9:30am and they ended by 5pm. Everyone was friendly.
Cons
Little room for advancement and promotions
Pros
There are some good people working there. You can meet some really terrific and interesting L and D professionals and they are always willing to help even after your time at ATD. Eventually you can get out and find a better place to work than ATD.
Cons
The five-star reviews are all fake and likely forced by ATD leadership. The real rating is grossly inflated by these fake reviews. The reality is ATD is a toxic dumpster fire that does nothing for developing talent, if anything it does the exact opposite to most of the staff and creates misery all around. In other words, the association that promotes developing people and talent is allergic to developing their own staff and loathe to pay competitive wages. The CEO is a wannabe cult leader and dictator who expects everyone to follow his word because he thinks he’s a “tech CEO” (reality: ATD is an association nobody outside the industry cares about). The culture is beyond toxic with reorganizations every other year for no real reason. The turnover is extremely high and it’s hard to know who has what role after a year or two. One or two senior leaders are good and helpful (usually the good ones are pushed out within a short period of time). The rest act like the CEO’s puppets trying to win a high school popularity contest. ATD is an awful mix mediocrity, micromanagement, favoritism, and backstabbing all rolled together. Pay is ridiculously uncompetitive and usually the turnover allows for positions and pay to be downgraded (likely the ATD “talent strategy”).
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