FirstEnergy Reviews

Former Employee – worked at FirstEnergy as a contractor for less than a year

Pros – Offered good pay compared to other call centers in the area.
Extensive training program offered for preparation.
Opportunity for overtime, if that's what you're interested in.
Decent sized cubicle and working area in a nice building.

Cons – Management seems to act like they care about you, but they really care about your numbers and how much overtime you could work. My training class was basically told some OT was expected and by the end of training it was made crystal clear that you would be reprimanded for not doing voluntary OT. Supervisors even told us that upon taking sick days, they would come to our home to see if we're really sick- and not just jokingly.

While the training is long and extensive, there is a lot to learn. While still in training, our class was forced to get on the phones only knowing the basics. Of course, this was with no warning, unless you count 10 minutes in advance a "warning". This made everyone in the class severely stressed out. I feel as though our customers paid for it because we were all so unprepared. We basically got yelled at until we could transfer customers to someone who could help them, which made them even more angry.

Everyone starts out with a temp agency, and it does not go unnoticed. It's natural that you'd get no benefits from being a contractor, but there were absolutely NO sick days or any exceptions, and wouldn't be until you got hired as a permanent employee, which could take up to a year.

Additionally, I felt hazed as I had to trudge across the parking lot that was sectioned away from the main building. Although there was plenty of parking in the main lot, we were forced to park a fair distance away, dealing with all sorts of weather... especially the extreme cold. I see no reason for this when there is adequate parking, which was their excuse for why it had to be that way.

Our class was constantly told of how "smart" we were, but if there was a behavior problem with one or two people, the class was reprimanded as a whole. It was not just a stern talking to, but kind of degrading. There was a constant tone of "you are so smart, but because you parked in the wrong lot, you're worthless." It was really upsetting to feel so small and so worthless for something I didn't even have a part in.

Advice to Senior Management – Make employees more than just a number. Understand that we may need to take a day, even if we're contracted employees. We needed more time to prepare before taking calls. Book learning is fine, but some more side by side training should be done. We already know that we're contracted employees, we don't need reminded with heartless reprimanding and hazing. Also, I think there is something to be said for the fact that over 60% of the class resigned over the course of the training. You called our class "smart," maybe that's why we all left.

No, I would not recommend this company to a friend

Current Employee – been working at FirstEnergy as a contractor for less than a year

Pros – The pay is good
The hours of operation is okay if you live in Akron

Cons – Everyone starts out as a contractor and it is known what you are. You start out as "red" and they make it will known that you are nothing. You have to fight for days off or even a few hours off if you have an appointment. When you ask for a few hours off they say well can't you reschedule it for earlier? That would be okay if you live in Akron but if you don't it's hard to s schedule appointments. The training was rushed and you are talked down to if you ask a question. If you miss a day you are getting a rude call from your agency saying if you miss again your contract could be terminated. That scares you into coming in sick and ruining your stats because you're too sick to function. The way they treat contractors is disgusting

Advice to Senior Management – Stop treating contractors so bad and maybe we would stay and you would not have to keep doing New hire classes

No, I would not recommend this company to a friend – I'm not optimistic about the outlook for this company

Current Employee – been working at FirstEnergy full-time for more than 7 years

Pros – *Stable Job *Overtime Pay *Some good employees still employed

Cons – *Corporate mentality *Employee unfriedly *Money above ethics *Ohio based favortism

No, I would not recommend this company to a friend – I'm not optimistic about the outlook for this company

Former Employee – worked at FirstEnergy full-time for more than 7 years

Pros – Great Benefits, Great pay. Atmosphere is relatively good. I worked in the new west akron campus building. Nice people to work with. Had a fitness area on-site. They hire a lot of interns so it is a good place to get in the door. They will definitively give you a lot of work to do.

Cons – Not everyone gets equal opportunity towards training. Expected to learn on the job and master it on your own when you have never done a certain skill set before. Not everyone who is a team lead or manager has the time to do proper training because they are spread so thin with their time. Ability to be promoted requires you to sell your sole. If you aren't a kiss ass who likes to constantly work past a standard 40 hour shift, you get bypassed. promotions come from senior level management who don't know you. If you are a programmer or have a position that is tough to hire someone, then you get better treatment, but if you are in a position that has lots of options, then you are seen as expendable.

Advice to Senior Management – enact an appropriate advancement program so that people are not constantly passed over for new opportunities or advancement. Just because they aren't the best looking or most well versed in speaking, they are still a valid asset to the company and deserve to be rewarded for their hard work. And just because someone isn't selling their sole to the company doesn't mean they don't care or put in just as much valid work during their 40 hours. Invest in family time and maybe you will get more people who don't mind coming to work. It creates a better atmosphere when you feel appreciated.

Yes, I would recommend this company to a friend

Current Employee – been working at FirstEnergy as a contractor for less than a year

Pros – Work schedule 8am to 6pm, overtime is easily accessible, good on-site trainers, most co-workers were friendly/helpful

Cons – Employed as a contractor, 11.00/hr without benefits, time off, personal time, etc. First Energy only requires a 'warm body' to fill chairs. It makes little difference if you are college educated (I have a Bachelor's in Management) or how much professional work experience you possess. The hiring agency, as well as First Energy, will go on and on about how great it is to work here... $12.50/hr if you become a FE employee. From my experience, the turnover rate is astronomical, a complete disregard for quality employees, who provide quality customer service. Overall, management was terrible! If you needed assistance, it was difficult to find your assigned supervisor.
There is an ample amount of overtime offered. When overtime was required, they will call you at all hours, and if they are unable to reach you, hateful/irritated voicemails will be left. But, for all your hard work, they will reward you with an ice cream truck!
Here's an idea... Instead of childhood treats, pay a 'real world' wage, that would commiserate with education and experience. Thought this would be a great career path... such a disappointment!

Advice to Senior Management – Appreciate your employees and pay that is EQUAL to an individual's work experiences and educational background!

No, I would not recommend this company to a friend

Former Employee – worked at FirstEnergy full-time

Pros – Yearly bonus (usually), tuition reimbursement, pension plan, and possibility of internal training. There are some really good people here.

Cons – Pay raise/promotion is poor so take that into consideration when starting - apparently based on friendships in some cases. Tuition reimbursement plan has been limited and is restrictive - used to be better.

You get sick days, but it will be held against you if you use them. Benefits cost more to get less every year. For the past couple years, if you are not healthy, don't meet their expectations and don't agree to provide information on your health each year, then you don't get the "reward" which means your benefits cost more. They state that they do not get individual results and that might be true but they can see if what you pay for your benefits, so... they have a clue about who is costing them $ on insurance.

Advice to Senior Management – If you keep cutting employees and making them do the work of 2-3 people, they will get burnt out and resentful. Truly acknowledge employees as human beings - not cogs in your wheels. Stop underestimating employee's intelligence. We see you give with one hand and take with the other. Ask people how they feel about seeing a bunch of people let go "because of the economy" while executives get huge bonus $, you spend millions supporting sport teams, giving money away to customers, and promoting things like the light-bulb "give-away", etc. and then consider what you are doing to employee loyalty.

Former Employee – worked at FirstEnergy full-time for more than a year

Pros – Good Pay and good Location.

Cons – Culture leaves you questioning your decision to be employed there.

Advice to Senior Management – Value your Employees.

No, I would not recommend this company to a friend – I'm not optimistic about the outlook for this company

Current Employee – been working at FirstEnergy for more than 10 years

Pros – good salary and benefits. Nice office space

Cons – they are trying to do too much with too little. Keep cutting staff to make earnings

Yes, I would recommend this company to a friend

Current Employee – been working at FirstEnergy full-time for more than 10 years

Pros – Good combination of generating assets including nuke, fossil, gas, and hydro.

Cons – They are CHEAP. they chase pennies while allowing dollars to sift through their fingers.

Advice to Senior Management – You're better off to talk to the employees to know what the issues are in your plants.

Yes, I would recommend this company to a friend

Former Employee – worked at FirstEnergy

Pros – Competitive pay and good benefits, employees tend to me moved around the company when the want to be, and there are always opportunities to move up in a large company like FirstEnergy.

Cons – As with all companies, selection for some positions in the company is not necessarily based on the quality of work one does.

Yes, I would recommend this company to a friend – I'm optimistic about the outlook for this company