I worked at Caterpillar for 36 years and had my job eliminated. - Software Engineer Caterpillar Employee Review

1.0
18 Dec 2009
Recommend
CEO approval
Business outlook

Pros

I received a wonderful on the job education as it relates to software and process. I also had the latitude to travel the globe and work with users within the Caterpillar network.

Cons

Upper management does not care 30,000 employees have been "thrown under the bus". For the most part it is due to the fact 90 percent are over 50. I was one of the casualties. Caterpillar has a Code of Conduct that stresses employees are treated equally and rewarded for performance. This is hypocracy at it's finest hour. There are two sets of rules...1 for the employees "in the club" and another set of rules for everyone else. I was proud to work for Caterpillar until I was a casually. I could work rings around several younger employees who attempted to do a portion of what I did. Upper management is totally ruthless and could not care less about the feelings or well being of employees. I don't expect the younger employees who survived the "cut" to stick around for 30 or more years. They will not put up with the political games I endurred. Caterpillar's expertise will dramatically suffer without the senior employees who had knowledge and experience.

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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
30 Apr 2026
Anonymous employee
Recommend
CEO approval
Business outlook

Pros

You are treated with autonomy, dignity, and respect. It is assumed you know how to do your job and are given the trust and means to do so. Compensation is above market value. Uncapped professional growth if you know how to play your cards right.

Cons

Working at Burger King and living from my car in Northern Michigan during the middle of winter was preferable to working on-site in Peoria. Project work was inherently meaningless and dictated almost entirely by the caste system this company has in Central, IL. My relocation had absolutely nothing to do with the role at hand and was a power play by management to get me to become a bleed-yellow Peorian in the CAT-corporate social club. The company loyalty here is absolutely disgusting and has nothing to do with the viability of the brand or product. Everyone is enamored with the status and wealth they've attained on account of not performing hard, manual, life-threatening labor. You would be hard-pressed to find anyone who actually cares about what goes on in the defense division or addressing the geopolitical anomalies between the former headquarters and the new business direction of the company.

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