Pros
Career growth and development Opportunities for advancement: Textron, and its subsidiaries like Textron Systems and Textron Aviation, offer solid upward mobility and opportunities for promotion from within. Structured programs: Early career professionals can accelerate their development through structured learning, on-the-job training, and mentorship offered in the Leadership, Sales, Pilot, and Aftermarket Development Programs. Learning opportunities: The company provides access to a wide range of web-based and in-person training through its Textron University initiative. Tuition assistance: Textron offers up to $10,000 in education assistance per year for relevant degrees and certifications, helping employees invest in their professional growth. Compensation and benefits Competitive benefits package: The company offers a comprehensive benefits package that can be tailored to an individual's lifestyle, including multiple medical plans, prescription drug coverage, dental, and vision. Strong retirement plan: Textron provides a company-matched 401(k) retirement plan, with a generous employer contribution. Paid time off: Some employees can receive more than six weeks of paid time off, including vacation, illness/personal time, and holidays. Financial support: Employees can benefit from a fitness reimbursement program, family-building and adoption assistance, and an employee discount program. Culture and environment Team environment: Many employees report a friendly, collaborative, and supportive atmosphere with great coworkers and leadership. Values: Textron emphasizes a strict standard of ethics and compliance, built on values of integrity, respect, trust, and the pursuit of excellence. Focus on employees: According to its career site, Textron is dedicated to developing a workplace where employees feel valued, respected, and recognized. Diversity and inclusion: The company promotes an inclusive environment and supports various Employee Network Groups (ENGs) to foster diversity. Work flexibility and stability Alternative work schedules: Some positions offer flexible or compressed workweek schedules, such as 9/80 or 4/10, allowing for extra days off. Interesting work: Many employees appreciate the interesting and impactful work on projects spanning aerospace, defense, and specialized vehicles. Overtime opportunities: For certain roles, there is ample opportunity for overtime
Cons
Job security and layoffs Constant restructuring: Multiple reviews describe frequent layoffs and corporate reorganizations that cause job insecurity and damage employee morale. Loss of experienced employees: Long-standing, experienced employees are sometimes laid off, while less qualified individuals are promoted based on favoritism rather than merit. Government contract volatility: For the defense sectors of the company, layoffs are a common and difficult reality due to the nature of government contracts. Leadership and management issues Disconnected leadership: Many employees feel that senior leadership is out of touch with the day-to-day work and often makes decisions focused on short-term profits, even if it hurts long-term strategy. Inexperienced management: Multiple reviews point to disorganized and inexperienced middle management, leading to low morale and inefficiency. Poor communication: Employees frequently cite a lack of transparent and honest communication from top-down leadership, causing frustration. Culture of favoritism: A number of reviews mention office politics and a "good old boys" culture, where advancement is based on who you know rather than performance. Compensation and benefits Average to below-average pay: While some praise the benefits, many employees feel that the compensation is low for their industry and the cost of living in their area. Inadequate raises: Raises and cost-of-living adjustments are often described as minimal and not enough to keep up with inflation. Declining benefits: Some long-term employees have noted a gradual decline in the quality of benefits over the years. Workplace culture Demanding workload: Some roles are described as having a heavy, demanding workload that can lead to burnout. Lack of work-life balance: Many employees have expressed a desire for more flexibility, especially as the company has tightened restrictions on remote and hybrid work. Office and facility issues: Some reviews mention issues with crowded, noisy offices and aging facilities. Career development Limited growth opportunities: For some employees, particularly those with significant experience, upward mobility can be challenging. Promotions may not be awarded even when additional responsibilities are taken on. Weak onboarding and training: Some reviewers, particularly those in entry-level positions, report poor initial training and a lack of mentoring from more experienced staff.