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TransAlta Reviews
120 reviews
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Dawn Farrell
63 Ratings
Pros
"Lots of great people that work within the company" (in 12 reviews)
"Promotion and support of good work/life balance" (in 6 reviews)
Cons
"Upper management not well-liked as you can see from other reviews" (in 10 reviews)
"Just realize there is no job security in ANY role or position" (in 5 reviews)
Helpful (10)
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"Viewing it from the other side of the glass"
StarStarStarStarStar- Work/Life Balance
- Culture & Values
- Career Opportunities
- Comp & Benefits
- Senior Management
Positive OutlookApproves of CEOI have been working at TransAlta full-time (More than 3 years)
Pros
Most people who write reviews on sites like Glassdoor are those disgruntled because of layoffs or personal issues with their supervisors. The truth is those of us who are happy about our place of work never take the time to share the other side of the story.
I have been with TransAlta for 4 years now. In the past 25 years, my career has taken me to all four corners of the globe working on sustainable development projects. I have had the privilege to be mentored by some of the greatest professionals around. Yet, I don't remember ever working for a more innovative, progressive company than TransAlta Corporation.
Not one or two, but three of the supervisors I've worked with in this company have taken the time to make sure I'm involved in projects I find meaningful. The level of trust is one of the highest I have ever encountered and ideas and suggestions are listened to and followed on.
Most of the people I work with work hard because they feel respected and appreciated.
Lately, the Management Team in the Company has involved us all in a culture-changing exercise; and the results have been outstanding. A positive attitude is contagious and ours is spreading rapidly.
I truly look forward to the rest of my career here, and I know of many others who feel the same way about TransAlta.Cons
No company is perfect but this one comes really close
Advice to Management
Keep involving the key innovators in the process of bringing this company to new heights. Some of the best ideas come from front-line employees.
TransAlta 2017-11-03 12:58 PDTHelpful (11)
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"A disaster of a company"
StarStarStarStarStar- Work/Life Balance
- Culture & Values
- Career Opportunities
- Comp & Benefits
- Senior Management
Doesn't RecommendNegative OutlookDisapproves of CEOI have been working at TransAlta full-time (More than 5 years)
Pros
I can't think of any other positive point about being here than the chance to work with a handful of experienced employees who know the sector really well. For some inexplicable reason, TransAlta has managed to hire some of the amazing talent pool the company has. They never last long enough though.
Cons
With a couple of exceptions, the entire management team at TransAlta should be fired. They confuse leadership with micromanaging and bossing people around while never being there for them. Every manager "manages up" instead of being there for their teams. The mentality of the upper ranks is behind by decades. No matter how good you are, somebody else ends up taking credit for it and you get NO recognition. It is a real miracle this company is still around. I can't think of a single coworker I have spoken with lately who isn't looking for a new job.
Advice to Management
Why is the Board of Directors allowing the management team at TransAlta to destroy such a long-lasting Alberta company year after year? Maybe the Board needs to be fired as well.
TransAlta 2018-11-08 07:01 PSTHelpful (5)
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"Stay away"
StarStarStarStarStar- Work/Life Balance
- Culture & Values
- Career Opportunities
- Comp & Benefits
- Senior Management
Doesn't RecommendNegative OutlookDisapproves of CEOI worked at TransAlta full-time (Less than a year)
Pros
You collect a paycheck and hours of work are ok
Cons
Constant layoffs
No job satisfaction
Wages are extremely low
Poor staff and company culture
Inexperienced management making poor decisionsAdvice to Management
Need to value your employees and not treat them poor. Mentor young managers because they lack empathy and experience,
TransAlta 2018-10-11 08:18 PDTHelpful (3)
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"Analystis"
StarStarStarStarStar- Work/Life Balance
- Culture & Values
- Career Opportunities
- Comp & Benefits
- Senior Management
Doesn't RecommendNo opinion of CEOI have been working at TransAlta full-time
Pros
Nice place to work, good salary
Cons
changes, changes, changes, changes everyday
TransAlta 2018-08-17 11:35 PDTHelpful (1)
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"treat people as expendable"
StarStarStarStarStar- Work/Life Balance
- Culture & Values
- Career Opportunities
- Comp & Benefits
- Senior Management
Doesn't RecommendNegative OutlookDisapproves of CEOI worked at TransAlta full-time (More than a year)
Pros
great place to learn about Alberta electricity industry
Cons
people are constantly being fired, its a tough place to work, you never feel secure there
Advice to Management
more transparency, respect for employees, make people feel safe
TransAlta 2018-09-18 18:53 PDTHelpful (5)
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"Management totally inept"
StarStarStarStarStar- Work/Life Balance
- Culture & Values
- Career Opportunities
- Comp & Benefits
- Senior Management
Doesn't RecommendNeutral OutlookDisapproves of CEOI have been working at TransAlta full-time (More than 8 years)
Pros
Pay check every 2 weeks
Cons
Old school and “Old Boys Club” mentality.
Production and KPI’s take precedence over safety. CEO lost all credibility with me long ago by putting out a useless weekly blog and asks how to wear sunglasses....yes it’s true! HR Dept. is useless. Poor communication at management level, they just don’t listen. Good people at the trades-person level.Advice to Management
WAKE UP! CEO NEEDS TO GO.
TransAlta 2018-08-13 08:05 PDTHelpful (4)
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"Manager"
StarStarStarStarStar- Work/Life Balance
- Culture & Values
- Career Opportunities
- Comp & Benefits
- Senior Management
Doesn't RecommendNeutral OutlookDisapproves of CEOI have been working at TransAlta full-time (More than 8 years)
Pros
Excellent Salary
More than enoughTime off
Flex ScheduleCons
Hypocritical Leadership
Lack Direction
Cumbersome and slow process / proceduresTransAlta 2018-06-22 08:04 PDTHelpful (5)
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"Don’t Do It"
StarStarStarStarStar- Work/Life Balance
- Culture & Values
- Career Opportunities
- Comp & Benefits
- Senior Management
Doesn't RecommendNeutral OutlookDisapproves of CEOI have been working at TransAlta full-time (More than 8 years)
Pros
Some really smart, kind people work here
Cons
Cut throat management, it’s all about them and who cares about the people actually doing the work. People are managed by fear.
Advice to Management
Change the Executive as culture won’t change until they are gone.
TransAlta 2018-07-23 04:50 PDTHelpful (8)
![TransAlta Logo]()
"Good place to learn, but stay away if you can"
StarStarStarStarStar- Work/Life Balance
- Culture & Values
- Career Opportunities
- Comp & Benefits
- Senior Management
Doesn't RecommendNegative OutlookDisapproves of CEOI worked at TransAlta full-time (More than 5 years)
Pros
Excellent place to learn if you are interested in the power business, especially in areas of power engineering and operations. TransAlta owns coal, gas, hydro and wind generation and has some of the leading experts in Alberta for each of these technologies. Many influential people in the power business today are ex-TransAlta employees and the company has a tremendous history in Alberta.
Cons
The company has been in lay-off mode since at least 2012, so people have been in constant fear of losing their jobs. This has killed morale and created a toxic environment where bad behaviors are rewarded.
Be prepared to work long hours. Staff reduction has meant the people left have been doing the work of 2 and sometimes 3 people. Pay freezes and benefits reduction means people have been working more for less.
A review of company financial statements will show the huge debt the company has. It really isn't manageable given current market conditions unless assets are sold or the government provides a bail out.
The company has been fined by regulators in recent years for market manipulation. Processes have changed, but attitudes haven't. If you end up working here, make sure you take all the training related to market manipulation and protect yourself by documenting everything.Advice to Management
None really. The company is where it is because of years of bad decisions by the CEO and Executives and they aren't the people who can fix the problem. The message really is for the Board to completely overhaul the C-Suite, or sell the company so someone else can overhaul the C-Suite. The entire management team needs to change down to line managers.
TransAlta 2018-06-19 09:42 PDTHelpful (4)
![TransAlta Logo]()
"Corporate"
StarStarStarStarStar- Work/Life Balance
- Culture & Values
- Career Opportunities
- Comp & Benefits
- Senior Management
Doesn't RecommendNeutral OutlookI worked at TransAlta full-time
Pros
Good benefits, lots of job opportunities
Cons
Bad culture, demoralized workfoce and old fashioned
TransAlta 2018-03-24 05:18 PDT
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