Koch reviews

3.7

66% would recommend to a friend

(1,838 total reviews)
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Charles G. Koch and Dave Robertson

80% approve of CEO

64% positive business outlook

Koch has an employee rating of 3.7 out of 5 stars, based on 1,838 company reviews on Glassdoor which indicates that most employees have a good working experience there. The Koch employee rating is in line with the average (within 1 standard deviation) for employers within the Energía, minería e infraestructura pública industry (3.7 stars).

Reviews by job title

2K reviews
2.0
Jun 19, 2017
Recommend
CEO approval
Business Outlook

Pros

Overall, Koch Industries and many of its subsidiary companies represent most of the positive reviews reflected on this page. Stable, forward thinking, rewarding place to work in many portions of the company. MBM is a business philosophy I will take with me throughout my career. However, there are pockets and subsidiaries that do not reflect Koch's culture and give the company a bad name.

Cons

Leadership of Koch Energy Services: - President is always worried about the next management update, concerned if people disagree with him and is always trying to seek approval and total consensus before making a decision. This leads to painfully slow and poor decision-making. -Constantly trying to put out today's fire rather than thinking about the big picture. -Very little forward thinking, vision and authenticity displayed by KES management. Instead, they just recite corporate buzz-words and repeat themselves ad nauseam. -Extremely hesitant to make any bets or take risks that could make them look bad. Instead, multiple layers of analysis are expected to be performed that will add little to no value to the company. Always try to play it safe. -Koch's "challenge process" is not fostered at KES. Instead, any challenge that is put forward that is against KES leadership's agenda is quickly stomped out. This is successful because the president has put in place directors/managers under him who are "yes men" who always toe the line when push comes to shove. -Young analysts brought into the group are not given the same opportunities as analysts at other Koch companies. Very hesitant to let analysts travel, attend industry conferences, or network with other Koch companies. They talk about mentoring and coaching analysts but this is all hot air if you are someone who doesn't agree with management 100% of the time. -Insecurity displayed as micro-management. I was asked multiple times per day what I was working on despite having discussed my projects with my supervisor weekly. -If you disagree with them or bring up any of the problems listed above, you will be ostracized within the group and within Koch as a whole. Since your manager has complete control over your destiny at Koch, they will actively work against you trying to get a job within another Koch company. Mid-Level Management: -Often given supervisory responsibility because they are good analysts, not because they have good management skills

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Koch Response
9y
Thank you for your feedback. We value your comments and have shared them with KES leadership. We define the challenge process as using the best available knowledge to continually question and find a better way. When applied well, this leads to more effective outcomes than could be realized by any individual acting alone and helps us to learn and improve over time. We believe that employees are our strongest assets, so we invest in each individual according to their unique experiences, aptitudes, and interests.
2.0
May 14, 2017

Not Quite There

Anonymous employee
Recommend
CEO approval
Business Outlook

Pros

Livable wage that is in line with the local market. Mostly good people to work with. Insurance and coverage is fully comprehensive and extremely inexpensive for how much you get. Most of the company is very open to moving/promoting/growing employees. It's not uncommon to see role changes within 2 years of work. The CEO is exceptionally kind and generous. There's a reason why people who work here adore him.

Cons

Macro Scale: Pension is no longer available to new employees (at least on the entry level). Very slow to respond to new market factors in terms of benefits. Division: Management seemed to be somewhat detached from employees and issues. Turnover is very high for younger employees. Did not have a lot of opportunity for promotion, lateral movement, or growth. Corporate level implementation of policies and technology seemed to reach our group last and take the longest to implement, if it ever was.

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Koch Response
9y
Thanks for your review. We strive to support all of our employees by providing competitive benefits and opportunities, but with an organization of our size, it is difficult to completely satisfy everyone. Your feedback offers a helpful perspective.
2.0
Feb 25, 2017
Recommend
CEO approval
Business Outlook

Pros

Good pay and benefits. Opportunity to apply for other positions within Koch if your supervisor allows you to.

Cons

Koch's MBM culture is deeply rooted. Yes, they are profitable. However, I think Koch has difficulty realizing that MBM and profitability don't equate to being good at something. My perspective was the almighty dollar drove everything. Programs such as training and emergency response, which did not create profit, were kept on life support and never given adequate support to truly thrive. Leadership often gave lip service which resembled support, but few really seemed to care. The company has a lot going way to go. If you choose to work here I have two pieces of advice. (1) stay away from EHS. The leadership is weak and misguided on a good day. (2) Have an exit plan. I have seen employees let go even after recieving positive annual reviews. I hope this perspective adds value to those who read it.

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Koch Response
9y
Thanks for your feedback. We believe that MBM® and our Guiding Principles form the basis for employees to create long-term value for our customers and society. By applying values that unleash prosperity in free societies – such as integrity, compliance, value creation, humility, and respect – we encourage each other to create value and achieve personal improvement, while fully complying with all laws and regulations. The MBM business philosophy is built on finding better ways to meet people's needs long term.
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Glassdoor has 2,117 Koch reviews submitted anonymously by Koch employees. Read employee reviews and ratings on Glassdoor to decide if Koch is right for you.