Pros
After a few months at Athens working remotely on the commercial auto team, I can confidently say the experience has exceeded my expectations. From the beginning, it was clear that Athens places a strong emphasis on setting employees up for success. The onboarding process is structured, informative, and transparent, providing new hires with a clear understanding of how the company operates, how departments collaborate, and where to go when support is needed. Having previously worked at other TPAs in the industry for a long time, I can say this level of clarity and investment in new employees is rare. Too often, organizations expect people to figure things out on their own. Athens takes a much more intentional approach by sharing information early and creating systems that help employees succeed. The culture has also been a standout. Communication and collaboration are clearly valued, and there are thoughtful initiatives in place that encourage connection among colleagues and support overall employee wellbeing. Leadership and HR are highly engaged in the onboarding and employee experience, which creates an environment where people feel informed, supported, and valued. Compensation is competitive within the industry and the salary offered for the position was much higher on top of offering more remote job opportunities. Athens provides strong tools and systems that allow employees—especially claims professionals—to focus on doing their jobs effectively and efficiently rather than navigating unnecessary internal barriers. It’s also clear that Athens is continuing to grow. The leadership, infrastructure, and systems already in place position the company well for future expansion, making it an exciting time to be part of the organization.
Cons
I just wish I started at Athens years ago! One difference compared to some larger companies in the industry is the base PTO allotment. Many companies offer around 20 days of PTO to start, whereas Athens offers around 17 days. Coming from another company where you may have more acrued PTO as a tenured employee, it may seem like you get less PTO, however, Athens offsets this in a meaningful way through a significantly larger holiday schedule. Athens provides roughly 13-15 paid holidays, compared to the more typical 7–9 holidays offered by many organizations. When those additional holidays are considered—along with early departure Fridays throughout the year—the total time away from work often ends up being equal to or greater than what many competitors offer-even if you are a tenured employee at another company. It’s simply structured differently, and once you factor everything in, the work-life balance remains very competitive where work life balance at other companies is nonexistent
