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Washington State Employment Security Department

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Inadequate Leadership by Renee Linder (ITBI Division (IT) Review) - ITAS V Washington State Employment Security Department Employee Review

1.0
27 Feb 2015
Recommend
CEO approval
Business outlook

Pros

The company used to be one of best places to work. It has great people that are willing to help and plenty of opportunities for on the job training for software developers.

Cons

Within the last year Renee Linder has taken over as CIO and moved in all of her friends in managment positions. This has caused a heavy top layer of managers that are in positions that they are not qualified to be in. If you've ever had a manager that doesn't have very good social skills, doesn't like to talk at meetings, and generally has a bad attitude when working with people, then you know that this can create a very poor work environment for everyone. And to top it off, most of the managers don't have a clue about the field that they are managing. So, if you're a software developer or a network guru, your feedback falls on deaf ears when talking with the manager and they usually rely on the advice of friends over the people that have the expert knowledge. As you've probably seen from over reviews that are IT related, this has caused many of the people that have worked at ESD in the ITBI division for decades to finally give up and find employment elsewhere. This is truly disappointing to see when a good agency falls to the wayside just because of management.

Explore other reviews about Washington State Employment Security Department

5.0
14 Nov 2025
Recommend
CEO approval
Business outlook

Pros

There can sometimes be hybrid options for work, which is great for work/life balance and helps avoid burn-out. Local management is very supportive and steps in wherever needed, offering guidance, but not micro-managing. The office is collaborative and open to trying new things to improve customer relations, services, and office moral. There is a relaxed office atmosphere while maintaining professional and courteous relationships with fellow staff and customers. As a whole, the staff is made up of kind people who are smart, and genuinely want to help others.

Cons

Some difficult customer interactions since you will work with people in high-stress situations. Communication from upper (state-wide) management is often lacking. Funding streams for specific programs can change or be cancelled. It's definitely a job where you'll wear many hats and take on different roles, which will be especially important if funding for a program you work in gets cut.

2.0
20 June 2026
Recommend
CEO approval
Business outlook

Pros

Pleasant co-workers and supervisors, rewarding interactions with applicants.

Cons

Poorly organized database and constantly-changing policies and procedures, client frustrations with non-user-friendly website, unrealistic quotas while emphasizing customer satisfaction.

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