Pros
By far, this is an above average equipment rental company and I would still encourage you to apply/take the job (many of the competition is worse). They do indeed treat you well in the beginning. The teams you work with all mean well. The pay is as expected when putting in 50-60 hours a week -- stable weekly paychecks. They have the right vision in place, but in the end the culture brings it down. As a whole, this is a great leg up to gain experience and then move somewhere else. The company invests a lot early on but then struggles to follow through in the long term. This is a “safe job” for those who are willing to put the job first and family second (some have no choice and therefore this is a great job). As a whole, you’re dealing with very good people, many of which you can build lasting friendships with.
Cons
With Sunstate, there will always be more work than there are people. So 40 hours a week will not be possible with this company. You will be preached at in terms of having a voice, but on the same token, you will be micromanaged to the point where you have no voice. Be prepared for unreasonable pressures to get short term results accomplished. Long hours are expected, with weekends being on call. The company will share it’s core values but follow a different value at your expense -- make the rental happen. Many employees feel stuck at this company. The benefits and pay are above competitors but the micromanaging and pushing employees to the edge of their own safety (each and every day) makes many frustrated and feeling helpless. You will be publicly humiliated, blamed for problems you had no control over, repeatedly exposed to behaviors dramatically inconsistent with your own & the company's values. This leads many to “learned helplessness” where they just don’t care anymore, just let the humiliation, micromanagement and blaming contine. Ironically, this is still better than most of the equipment rental companies. You decide in the end if you want to work here, this is just a raw truth about the company. But I’m still thankful for what I learned about what “good vs. bad” management looks like and Sunstate had both in spades.
