Many of Optima's problems start at the top. Management is often clueless or overbearing given the day. Rules and expectations are unevenly enforced. Work is dumped on productive employees because management is fearful of addressing under performers.
Compensation and rewards are little more than token. Expect to see your raise for scoring highly on a year end review to reach 30 cents an hour. This is added to your starting wage, while more than minimum wage for Missouri is painfully far below industry standard. You receive one dress down day a week. There is one picnic during the summer time. On average, Optima only gives you approximately 6-7 holidays and 1-2 floating holidays.
Expect to see a lot of new faces, as turn over is high. The production area downstairs sees the highest turnover as the wages are lowest, the hours longest and the workers seen as most expendable. Customer service and technical support follow this department up. In the past calendar year alone, service and support have lost a combined 10 employees due to the poor decisions of the department lead. The Digital Imaging department constantly runs on a skeleton crew due to it's poor leadership and unmanageable work load. More recently, in the past few months both the VP of Accounting and the President of the company have both left for greener pastures.
A typical day at work sees you having to rush to complete jobs that under performers have pushed off or simply did not complete.
I learned Optima does not appreciate hard-work. Become good friends with your supervisor, and you will be well protected if a large problem falls on you.
Management is the lynch pin of Optima's issues. They will not replace management, so their staffing problems will continue.
Workplace culture is toxic. If you work here, join a clique with a good reputation with management. Under performers exist at every level, expect to have to do their work as well as yours.
