Pros
The founder of the company is a great man - passionate, hard-working, genuine, warm, etc. Despite being around 80 years old, he still comes in to the office every day. He truly remains a bright spot here. The best thing about working here is the people. For the most part, they are a wonderful group of co-workers/friends. The feeling you get is more of a "family" atmosphere. This began with the founder of the company and has continued but to a lesser degree now that the second generation has been handed the reigns.
Cons
As stated previously, the second generation is now at the helm. I hate to say it, but management at this company is terrible. Those at the top clearly have no idea what they are doing. They have hired, promoted and retained people who have no business working in management while firing several people who should not have been dismissed. Many hiring decisions here are based on who is related to whom and who knows who rather than who is actually the best fit for a particular role. The manufacturing leadership is horrible. They routinely can't deliver on time. Machines are constantly down. They have let several people go over the past few years but the one really responsible is still there. Top level management likes to say they are in the office daily and involved in day-to-day operations but that's only when they aren't taking vacations or out on the golf course. That may be why they pay big bucks to a stable full of "consultants." The customer service team is understaffed and overworked. The sales team is micromanaged and regularly spied on to the point of having to account for every phone call and bathroom break. When employees voice their concerns they are most often brushed aside. The benefits package leaves much to be desired - especially the lousy high deductible medical insurance plan and the fact that they contribute nothing to retirement. With the exception of the engineers (who are generally well compensatesd and coddled), employee morale is very low overall and the majority of people dislike their jobs immensely. Many are just counting the days until retirement or discreetly looking for work elsewhere on the side. The place feels like a sinking ship. In fact, were it not for their exclusive distributorship agreement with Sun Hydraulics in the southern region, they would probably be forced out of business. Sadly, I can't recommend working here with the way things are these days.
