Pros
A pro is the 401K match, however, most field employees don't make enough to take full advantage of it. Plus it's through TransAmerica, hefty "maintenance" fees are paid yearly. Example, I was able to put $300 for the year and the company matched with $200, I paid a "maintenance fee" if $135..... yeah, so saving for the little guy is hard to do. So I guess ultimately even the 401K is a Con....?
Cons
I Will preface this with CubeSmart has a HUGE employee turnover rate - people quitting, not getting fired. It's extremely hard to get fired. A lot of people from the Corporate office have left in the past few years too. So keep that in mind as you read this. Also know that CubeSMart is GOOD for a college student, a person who just needs just any job for the time being, it's also good for people who are getting close to retirement age and need to earn less to collect full social security. 1.) Cuts - Constantly looking for ways to take from the field employees. Most recent example, getting rid of the Area Manager position. ****UPDATE 12/23/15 - since you will be change from salary to hourly pay that will cause the checks to be short a weeks pay. Instead of getting paid for 2 weeks you will get paid for one since you will not be paid in real time anymore. So to help the employees out that will be getting a short check CubeSmart is allowing you to...... ready for this...? To apply any unused vacation time to make up for the short check. So, you can lose your vacation time to make up for a change the company made that caused your check to be short. Talk about WOWing! the employees. Now, we will get a new title of "Senior Manager" or whatever they call it and we will still have same responsibilities and doing the same work, but no more mileage and no more visiting other stores. Why is this important? Because when getting promoted to Area Manger they negotiate LOW PAY and say how "since you will be getting mileage the pay will be lower". So, some genius up in Corporate found another way to cut from the people who can least afford it instead of cutting the fat up in the Corporate office. 2.) Bonuses - So, every year the field employees get a $100 bonus. However, that $100 becomes roughly $75 after taxes lol. Also be careful with the "WOW cards", they tax those too. Before the current CEO got in we actually had a nice incentive bonus structure. We'd get a bonus for beating revenue, selling of merchandise, total square footage and accrued rent. My store would get $600 - $700/month in bonuses for hitting all our goals. Enter new generation CEO, now we are lucky to see $40/month... Again, kudos to Corporate for looking out for their employees. 3.) Moral - Here's a good way to know moral is at an all time high at the company, when field employees are asked to write 5 star reviews on GlassDoor. Back story on this is, we were at a district meeting and they started talking about company reviews. Well that eventually lead to employees reviewing the company on GlassDoor. As you can see the reviews aren't too favorable and I see exactly why they went to the lowest on the totem pole to write 5 star reviews. 4.) Pay - Again, CubeSmart is ALWAYS looking for ways to cut your pay. You transfer to a different state, no matter what state - pay cut. You live on site - pay cut. Your promotion and year review hit around the same time - you get screwed. "Well we just gave you a raise for your promotion so your yearly raise is included in that". 5.) Advancement - So lately CubeSmart started releasing weekly video called "Teammate Spotlight". The theme seems to be "so and so is a PERFECT EXAMPLE of how you can advance in the company.". Sure people in corporate can advance at a faster pace than the field employees. In the field you RARELY get to advance unless you are in the right place at the right time OR a favorite. When you have a few GM's that have been in the position for 7, 10, 15 years... you know you can't advance too easy. Also, it's really easy to get stuck behind a GM that is clueless but CubeSmart will keep them in the position as long as the store is running without complaints from Customers. 6.) General Cons - Customer Service - While they have set hours the store is open, be expecting to work off the clock when you get that call from the call center about a Customer on property trying to move in after hours, or needs their lock cut because they lost their key. Think you can get a little overtime for your time spent WOWing the Customer? Think again, the company expects you to do it with a smile and if you punch in, they expect you to cut it later by taking a longer lunch or leaving early. If you DON'T punch in and gladly do it, they company thinks you are the greatest thing since sliced bread. Over Time - The company has a strict policy about no over time. Get that last minute Customer that comes in at 5:58PM to move in? Don' think staying late to give that outstanding Customer service will get you a little bonus over time. You are again, expected to cut it. The call center calls you at 9PM because a Customer was running late and just has to move in tonight? Go help them, WOW the Customer and then make sure you cut the over time. See the pattern here....? WOW the Customer but screw the employee. Favoritism - Seems like a lot of District Managers like yes men/women, If you are one of those or simply a brown noser, you WILL get special treatment. 7.) Health Care - Another joke. High premiums and complicated plans. I will leave it at that.