Definite strengths contrasted by factionalism - Anonymous employee Caterpillar Employee Review

3.0
15 Oct 2015
Anonymous employee
Recommend
CEO approval
Business outlook

Pros

Strong company culture and adherence to values in action. Most managers supportive and willing to help you to succeed. Good annual goal setting and performance management process, though rather elaborate. Career planning is well structured, though evidence of it really working for an individual was lacking.

Cons

Career advancement very slow or non-existent outside of US. If you fit well in the Mid-Western working culture, are favored by those above you, work in the States, and are patient (for years), you'll get promotions. Otherwise it'll become a pass-through for many. Factional in terms of you needing to belong to an inner circle to get much anywhere. International assignments (ISE) are dominantly from US to overseas, very rarely an opportunity is given from overseas to US (or between overseas operations). "Not invented here" rules in the HQ. If an idea comes from Peoria, it's the best thing ever but if a genuinely better idea or practice exists elsewhere, it's easily played down or ignored. Improvements based on experience globally (outside of US) are an uphill battle.

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5.0
7 June 2026
Recommend
CEO approval
Business outlook

Pros

Great benefits Great WLB Great pay

Cons

Low mobility to move up within company

2.0
10 June 2026
Recommend
CEO approval
Business outlook

Pros

Good health insurance and benefits, good yearly bonuses. The pay is good.

Cons

They are enforcing returning to office by any means necessary. They have lost many high-quality producers who have refused to relocate or refuse to come in. Here's the kicker - they are requiring in-person attendance at the Chicago office and there aren't even enough desks for everyone. It would be a literal fire hazard if we all came into the Chicago office at the same time, M-F, during business hours. No one knows how or if they are going to actually enforce this. Cost of gas is insane, Joe doesn't care about the workers. Or the work for that matter. It's obvious this is a soft layoff, they have made a bunch of people quit. Their internal design agency is falling apart, lots of people have quit, not only because of return to office but because of the toxic politics, favoritism, and lack of direction and accountability. Mediocre workers are allowed to keep their jobs ONLY because of their ability to put their bodies in a chair and work in-person. The other relocation option HR gave besides Chicago was Peoria. No one wants to live in Peoria for any reason whatsoever, be for real.

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