Failure is not an option: It’s inevitable - Director Lumen Employee Review

2.0
Apr 1, 2015
Recommend
CEO approval
Business outlook

Pros

There is an intention to move the company out its 19th century businesses into the future with hosting and cloud. The company treats employees with reasonable fairness. Benefits are decent. Not great and not bad, but decent.

Cons

CenturyLink is a phone company and it always will be. Fiefdoms, process and authority trump results, innovation and success. In you like opaque bureaucracies, you will like CenturyLink. Management follows the 80/20 rule. 20% of management is proficient. 80% is hopelessly inept. Within that 80% are two groups. #1. Process Parrots: These are people born and bred in telco. They have no business sense, no technical acumen and no charisma. They do nothing but carry on the traditional of useless process. That keeps them employed, but prevents any sort of progress. #2. Big Hat, No Cattle Loudmouths. These people talk a lot about what “must be done” and what “should be done” but when it comes time to get something done, they cower in the shadows. Smart people won’t work here very long, if at all. Unless you are oriented towards political intrigue and paper-shuffling, you will find frustration at CenturyLink. IT systems are a horrific mess. Companies were acquired but integration of systems is a non-priority. Be prepared to deal with typhoons of changing applications, sign-ons and passwords. Stock grants and equity awards do not exist. Management believes the vast majority of employees have no stake in the company’s success and shouldn’t be rewarded if the company succeeds. Think about that attitude for a few minutes.

Explore other reviews about Lumen

5.0
Jun 19, 2026
Recommend
CEO approval
Business outlook

Pros

Remote work is great and awesome

Cons

None to be honest with yoy

3.0
Jun 17, 2026
Recommend
CEO approval
Business outlook

Pros

Ability to work remotely, wanting too share knowledge or learned skills with AI.

Cons

Treat people more like independent contractors and don't have centralized places to find information that it needed. There SharePoint sites are not easy to navigate.

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