Pros
John Mack is a straight shooter so you know where you stand as a corporation. He is tolerant of errors but expects people to own up to their misjudgements. Whining is not allowed. This attitude has been particularly important during the last year when our profession has been under fire. Our strategists and analysts have worked hard to help us to help our clients. We are frequently out of step with what the rest of Wall Street sees and this has worked to our advantage. The benefits package is generous and addresses the needs of my family. The employer match for the retirement plan is generous. We also have a defined benefit pension plan which is unusual in this day and age.
Cons
Senior management and branch management understand the business and the everyday pressures. Senior management has provided better tools and IT systems than we have ever had before. Local management does their best to protect us from the idiocies of regional and complex managers. Middle management seems to be clueless. They are too busy protecting their jobs so they do little to stand behind those of us who actually put dollars on the bottom line. It is difficult to find a line of communication to a higher level if you are having difficulty with middle management. Middle management is so far removed from the day to day pressures of working with clients that they do more to get in the way than they do to smooth the way in a very difficult global environment.