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Explosive Countermeasures International

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Explosive Countermeasures International Reviews

3.3

67% would recommend to a friend

(22 total reviews)

Megan Kelley

66% approve of CEO

45% positive business outlook

Explosive Countermeasures International has an employee rating of 3.3 out of 5 stars, based on 22 company reviews on Glassdoor which indicates that most employees have a good working experience there. The Explosive Countermeasures International employee rating is in line with the average (within 1 standard deviation) for employers within the Management and consulting industry (3.7 stars).

Reviews by job title

22 reviews
1.0
18 July 2016
Recommend
CEO approval
Business outlook

Pros

-Take home company canine -Take home company vehicle -Employee insurance covered by the company -Canine care is covered by the company

Cons

-The company owner promises 80 hours bi-weekly which doesn't always happen -There is only 10-12 handlers in the company so it is impossible to schedule appointments -Five people have quit in five months which doesn't say a whole lot about the company -The company will always have handlers as long as it lowers its experience standards which is unfortunate because otherwise it would fail -You sit in your vehicle for 9 straight hours a day and then face D.C. traffic -Employees lie on time sheets if late and are never held accountable for their actions -Owner seems very unorganized and has papers everywhere in her office -Shady employees who talk behind your back -Owner complains employees live too far away but yet you don't make enough to live remotely close to D.C.

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Explosive Countermeasures International Response
9y
We did have a gentleman that endured all of this. I am sorry other handlers talked about you behind your back. We grew and although where we want to be is a long week followed by a short week, we grew and needed to cover the sites. I had just as many complaints when we stabilized because people had gotten use to the ot pay. I did have people leave to make the big bucks overseas! Nightmare. I do not complain that employees live to far from the site, they are required to live within 50 miles of the site, I do not accept I was late because of where I live. What I do tell everyone is, "I do not tell you were to live, but I do expect you to be on time".
1.0
31 Jan 2017

Job Seeker Beware!

Recommend
CEO approval
Business outlook

Pros

This is a stepping stone until a better K-9 opportunity comes a long. The only positive thing to say period.

Cons

A lot of broken promises. Zero structure in the company. Owner thinks she knows K-9 but doesn't. Has a lot of wrong knowledge. Won't listen to the experts she has. Every new employee is the best thing to come without them even proving them selves. Every employee has less that 1.5 years with the company except maybe 2. Unable to keep office staff because she is unable to work with anyone. All the employees have no feeling of job security...just afraid to say it. The owner will read this and feel the need to say it's lies and go as far as to make of positive reviews and put on here. Which she has done in the past.

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Explosive Countermeasures International Response
9y
We grew, fast and overnight. I need people that not only want to be in charge but can be in charge. I do listen to and take advice from my SME. (which a you know in canine is everyone) but in the end, the decision is mine. O course, you have connections and I have no problem with you hooking up friends, but it needs to be in the best interest of ECI. Getting good office staff has been a problem and one I hope has been solved. And I can be difficult, very difficult if you are not preforming your duties to standards. That is both in the field and in the office. And yes, every one of my team members is the best thing to happen to me, from day one to every day, until they prove me wrong. Then I am difficult to get along with.
1.0
4 Feb 2017

Read Before Start Date

Anonymous employee
Recommend
CEO approval
Business outlook

Pros

-Being able to network with different agencies in the Washington D.C. area. -Company vehicle with gas card. -Perfect job for when you wait for the onboard process of a more stable and prestigious job. No salary for new comers (only for 5+ years employees). Be sure to ask for hourly rate prior to working any site. Management will try to get you to move and work as soon as possible without clarification on hourly rate.

Cons

-Quality of dogs purchased is simply unsatisfactory. Canines are purchased on a last minute time frame in which the company does NOT have the ample amount of time to properly review the capabilities and work ethic of the dogs. It was very common that the canines purchased had environmental issues to go along with odor recognition. These problems would progress due to lack of quality and proper training needed to correct these issues. Company just needs to appear as if dog team is properly certified to work at the site due to In-House certification process. -Management expects new hires to relocate with out covering any expenses and with no assistance. During the interview process, management will try to entice you to stay longer than the original days required for the onboard process, to get you to start working as soon as possible. Once you complete the onboard process, finding a new place to live and getting your personal things relocated, will have to be completed on your very rare and uncommon off days. New hires are not given any time for the relocation process, which creates unnecessary work related stresses. -Billets and positions are given with out any process of proper promotion board or review. One week an employee can be considered a full time trainer and the next week, back to minimum hours as a basic handler. The same goes for Project Manager Position, they are given out to whoever is in the good graces of the management set in place. -Paperwork is a constant battle with the management office due to the fact that office employees are constantly quitting for unfair treatment. Employees paperwork will be submitted through an office attendant that would eventually quit with out notice and you will have to take time during your off hours to resubmit the already recorded paper work. This creates confusion and frustration within the company. -Lack of Chain of Command provides for an unprofessional work environment. Relationship between employees and ownership is very unprofessional and at times creates a hostile work environment. -There is a grooming standard set in place that employees adhere to but ownership and management do not enforce the very policy in which they have put in place. Beards are permitted per the grooming standard policy but employees were constantly demanded to shave if an individual was other than Caucasian. Beards for religious purposes, that adhered to the grooming standards were also told to shave or reduced hours and even termination would be administered.

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Explosive Countermeasures International Response
9y
We have changed our vendor for dogs. No with a few exceptions, we do not pay you to relocate. I pay for you to stay at an extended stay while you look for a place to live. I take input from my management on who can assist with management. and if you do not work out, you do not work out? At lest I let you go back to being a dog handler if you prove incapable of completing managements tasks. I hope I have the paperwork side straight now! Yes we are in the boonies and good admin help has been a challenge. I have never had anyone ask for a Religious beard? We have one site that does not allow for facial hair. We tried the let someone else run it, from 2006 to 2015, it did not work well. No skin inn the game leads to poor decisions
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