Pros
People are very knowledgeable and proud of what they do. Most people there are in it for the long haul, so long term friendships are common. There's a good team feeling throughout each location I have visited: Chelsea (HQ), Quabbin, John J. Carroll Water Treatment Plant, Deer Island, etc. It is a very stable place, just a bunch of hard working average joes in the same place working till retirement. As a young woman I felt that there was a respectful atmosphere. The majority of women work at the big labs, Chelsea, Southborough, and Deer Island. There are many opportunities for moving about horizontally, and it seems a quick process. Those who got the higher level jobs seemed to be 50/50 internal and external. Its the people and not that work that will make you want to go to work.
Cons
Is slow to change and at risk of not attracting enough younger blood. Since the pay can be too meager many have second jobs to support families. The work is not very challenging so many seem in a stupor intellectually. Many jobs are repetitive and don't require critical thinking. Retirement is the topic of many lunch days. Its not a sad or angry place, but it is stagnant. I'd recommend it for later in people's career, or if you came in higher up the ladder. Those trying to work their way up get discouraged.
