Great company...okay office environment - Underwriter Swiss Re Employee Review

3.0
17 Mar 2014
Recommend
CEO approval
Business outlook

Pros

The company itself was great. Great health insurance and overall benefits. Salary okay. In all, I could never complain about the actual company.

Cons

Not crazy about some of my co-workers in my department. At times, I felt as if I was back in high school with the clicks. My co-workers were nice as individuals, but put them all together...ugh! It wasn't uncommon for some to take 2 1/2 hour lunches to go shopping on Michigan Avenue, have personal shoppers meet them down in the lobby and then model their clothes in the office hallway, or just go out drinking knocking back two pitches of booze and then returning to work. My favorite, showing up late to work in the morning because they wanted to go out to breakfast and never calling to say they will be in...they would just show up to work after they got done eating...at 10:00 a.m. I suppose if I was into all that I would have enjoyed my experience a little more, but I was too honest and probably way too uptight. However, got along real well with people in other departments. They didn't pull that nonsense. Remember, when your co-workers do stuff like that...somebody always pays for it.

Explore other reviews about Swiss Re

5.0
10 Mar 2026
Recommend
CEO approval
Business outlook

Pros

Great culture, people are helpful

Cons

Over-engineering in making decisions. Lots of hoops to jump through to get things done.

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Swiss Re Response
4w
We’re glad the culture and supportive colleagues have been meaningful in your experience. We know large organisations can sometimes feel complex, and we're constantly working to simplify decision making where possible. Thank you for your review.
2.0
30 May 2026
Recommend
CEO approval
Business outlook

Pros

1. 12% 401k match 2. Amazing co workers in the trenches but this is rapidly changing as people look for the exits.

Cons

1. Management - the new management team has a maximum personal bonus / profit only mindset. Cost cutting reigns. 2. Constant layoffs. No job is safe. 3. Company has offshored many jobs to India and is in a race to move key underwritering, engineering, claims functions to India as well. Overall, it feels more like a private equity gut job than a publicly traded company.

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