Pros
Work with a few of the hardest working, dedicated, but unappreciated people in any industry. Build a strong bond with each other by enduring the worst work environment imaginable.
Cons
No vacation in year one. The owners shut down the week of Christmas, it is up to the employee to have enough vacation time to cover the days that they close. You can borrow days of vacation and then owe the company. Hurricanes are a part of life in coastal region. If you are evacuated you will have your vacation taken for days out. You are required to back in to your parking space. Blue Force Gear does not give you a car, insurance, or own the parking lot. The owner requires you to back in to your parking space - if you do not you will be written up by HR. Micro-management to a crippling level. The owner must sign off on everything, could take weeks or never happen. There is a process and procedure for everything...everything. It must be followed. Any product that does not sell is the fault of the team. The designs are perfect and revered by some tier one operator. When they do not sell it is because someone didn't follow the endless processes and procedures properly. Hotel rooms are shared on all business trips. Company policy. Required to contribute money for the owners "Bosses' Day" present as well as "Christmas Gift" to demonstrate appreciation for being allowed to work there. There is no employee appreciation day celebration. That comes in the form of a paycheck every two weeks. Benefits - prohibitively expensive Bonus - there is a bonus structure. It can change at any time of year. Levels are set to a level that nobody will ever collect. Prior to the structure, year end bonuses were given on a subjective level by the owners based on their impression of an employee's contribution. 401K - Eligible after one year of service - the company does not contribute at all. Profit Sharing - there is some kind of profit sharing but it will be threatened to be taken away every day that the owner uncovers an inefficiency, or a procedure that he has developed is not followed. Be prepared to be dressed down by the owner, including cursing, personally insulting you, burning a $100 bill on the ground, telling you that your efforts are not good enough. Have never seen anything like it. "Selection is an ongoing process" is said a lot - you will not feel secure in your job ever. The mood of the owners or the last sales report will determine how bad the day will be. The environment in that office is negative to the point of suffocation. Career opportunities, none. The company would never be allowed to reach the 50 employee threshold as it would require compliance the HR standards of benefits.