Pros
Most technicians would support each other as best as they could. This is a good place to start one's career, but do not stay here for too long. Generally, there was a work-life balance. Overtime was normally not expected.
Cons
Questionable Management The newer managers at my location would be expected to have their PhDs. Some took initiative to learn the skills of the technicians, but others did not. The latter would be more interested with desk work and being promoted than actually supporting their team in running the lab. On top of that, they tried to pressure their technicians to do management-level work. Their constant interruptions to the technicians' work impeded productivity. Bad Promotions To be promoted, I was expected to do all of the work of the next level; however, my pay grade was for my current level. It was never my job to work as the level above. There is no guarantee of receiving the pay of the next level from the first day of trying that work. There is also no guarantee of how long it would take for management to remember to honor its word of giving a promotion.