CAT is a typical big company, with pro's and cons. - Design Engineer Caterpillar Employee Review

2.0
4 Jan 2012
Recommend
CEO approval
Business outlook

Pros

Caterpillar Global Mining (former Bucyrus Int'l) Mining Industry and company are stable Pay / Benefits are average to above average. Work life balance is favorable. Interesting Products, huge machines, lots of company history in South Milwaukee. Milwaukee and surrounding area is a pretty nice place to live; Milwaukee suburbs and SE Wisconsin in general are diverse and have alot to offer.

Cons

Organization can be an Old boys club with your opportunities limited by favorable or unfavorable status with certain management - favoritism typical of old school companies is hard to lose. Communication (top down) within the company can be poor, with some management bordering on unprofessional, yet some are really pretty good. Most of the company are still of a very conservative mindset. Other parts are driven by innovation - which results in some dysfunction. Dysfunction also due to recent history of acquisitions - Bucyrus acquires DBT and Terex, CAT acquires Bucyrus...has been messy.

Explore other reviews about Caterpillar

5.0
7 Jun 2026
Recommend
CEO approval
Business outlook

Pros

Great benefits Great WLB Great pay

Cons

Low mobility to move up within company

2.0
10 Jun 2026
Recommend
CEO approval
Business outlook

Pros

Good health insurance and benefits, good yearly bonuses. The pay is good.

Cons

They are enforcing returning to office by any means necessary. They have lost many high-quality producers who have refused to relocate or refuse to come in. Here's the kicker - they are requiring in-person attendance at the Chicago office and there aren't even enough desks for everyone. It would be a literal fire hazard if we all came into the Chicago office at the same time, M-F, during business hours. No one knows how or if they are going to actually enforce this. Cost of gas is insane, Joe doesn't care about the workers. Or the work for that matter. It's obvious this is a soft layoff, they have made a bunch of people quit. Their internal design agency is falling apart, lots of people have quit, not only because of return to office but because of the toxic politics, favoritism, and lack of direction and accountability. Mediocre workers are allowed to keep their jobs ONLY because of their ability to put their bodies in a chair and work in-person. The other relocation option HR gave besides Chicago was Peoria. No one wants to live in Peoria for any reason whatsoever, be for real.

2
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