Scotiabank Employee Reviews about "work life balance"

Pros

The bank is great for newcomers as it has a large footprint outside of Canada and thus favors language skills (Spanish in particular). Also being one of the worst paying banks, it's easier to hire qualified immigrants (but with no Canadian experience) since it's tough (money wise) to steal from the competitors. Benefits are good - 4 weeks of vacation for level 8, 3 personal days, 5 sick days, an okay insurance coverage....

Cons

Scotia is massive with lots of different areas. Expect to encounter different cultures within different areas of the bank. Lots of gossip, and unfortunately some senior management incentivise that, by asking around people's opinions on their peers! Pace is slow, very slow. Overall the bank is very risk avoider, so decision making is hard and lengthy. Progressing in the career is also though. Ambition is not really...

Advice to Management

Be bolder and empower people to make decisions without having to confer with dozens of others. Things will move a lot faster. Also stop the corridor gossip from senior leadership. Opinions should be formed based on proper performance reviews, not hearsay.

Pros

In my particular role, work/life balance is good, pay is good, I just find the job less stimulating than it could be. It really depends on your department and team. It varies quite a bit. Benefits are pretty good.

Cons

Bank is so big that it can take a lot of approvals or drawn out processes to get anything done.

Pros

Big bank. Good work life balance, good benefits. Modern workspace.

Cons

Respect comes only with a bigger title. People are fearful of making mistakes. Very low morale at lower level. VPs and Directors make all decisions, everyone else is essentially powerless. Big company but people are resistant to change and still trying to operate like a small office and afraid of relying too much on technology. Some higher ups have bully like personalities.

Advice to Management

Change your organizational structure. Have a coaching culture. Give everyone respect regardless of rank.

Pros

Nice place, nice ppl, work life balance

Cons

unclear goal, old office working environment

Pros

Work life balance and being treated fairly.

Cons

Would not promote you as needed.

Pros

they have good work life balance

Cons

they are some politics but overall it's okay

Pros

Good benefits, work life balance, and culture

Cons

Low Base, difficult to move

Pros

Employee enablement Fair Pay and compensation Work-life balance

Cons

Lack of lateral movement Disorganized - lack of commitment to charted paths

Advice to Management

Executive level buy-in to the concept of re-training for new roles. The bank terminates people in one arm while hiring vigorously in another - cross training employees to do available jobs would result in less turnover, less costs associated with dismissals and hiring. It would also boost morale and add to shareholder value for the bank.