PGE is Not Some Hot Energy Startup, but Boy, Does It Want to Be.... - Analyst Portland General Electric Employee Review

+PGE talks a good game about having a culture that values a meaningful work/life balance, but certain departments don't walk that talk. As an hourly employee, you're less likely to be pressured by management to work a lot of extra hours because of a company-wide aversion to paying overtime. But if you're salaried, management will expect you to put in as many hours as they deem necessary for you to achieve their goals within their timeframe. If this means you neglect other aspects of your life (children, relationships, health, etc), so be it. Certain departments mistake themselves for Silicon Valley start-ups (without the opportunity for outsized compensation that comes with any future IPO), and if you push back, be prepared for consequences. This isn't your grandpa's utility. +Make sure your job duties are spelled out clearly in the job description, and stay away from any job with <2 pages' worth of knowledge, skills and duties. If it seems like PGE wants everything and the kitchen sink from a new hire, you can be sure that once they hire you, that kitchen sink will end up being thrown at your head. Repeatedly. +Silos exist. Old antagonisms between departments die hard and can make your work life challenging. +Don't believe quiet promises from your manager that if you "show them something special", you'll be rewarded with a promotion. That's how they use your ambition to burnish their accomplishments, manage up, and work you into an early grave while denying you that promised promotion in favor of someone who "fits the culture better". Worker bees don't get promoted at PGE.