A changing culture - Software Developer Esri Employee Review

2.0
2 Jun 2011
Recommend
CEO approval
Business outlook

Pros

Once upon a time, Esri was a fun place to work where people enjoyed what they did, people were given the freedom to create cool software, and the managers did their best to keep the BS away from the employees. Over the last several years, that wonderful culture has been destroyed and replaced with one of micromanagement, miserly cost cutting, and a vacuum of leadership. There are still a few positives to working at Esri. The benefits package is decent with no monthly out-of-pocket for health insurance even for family coverage. The dental, vision, and disability plans all are minimal out-of-pocket for single and family. Developers, product engineers, and project managers are all given a lot of autonomy and freedom in how they do their work. There's very little process or established practices so you can make it up as you go. There's very little pressure to perform and it doesn't take much effort to stand out as a good employee. Employees can pretty much work as little or as much as they want and managers will do nothing to you. There are pockets of areas working on cutting-edge technologies who don't have to deal with the decades-old software. The company also offers a fairly decent profit sharing program of about 5-10% and has a very "stable workforce"--their claim to fame is they've never laid off any staff.

Cons

In the last several years, the culture has changed for the worst. The place has stopped being a fun place to work where everyone feels like they're building an amazing product and turned into a place where people just show up, avoid getting any unwanted attention, and pad their timecard as much as possible. The benefits package is decent for the Inland Empire, but not very good when compared to other software development companies outside of the area. High co-payments and coinsurance (only 80% coverage), glasses every 2 years, and a measly $1000/yr dental. There are huge gaps in the formulary so expect to pay a lot if you have a lot of prescriptions. Pay is marginal, but it's hard to compare since there are few high-tech employers in the area. Your job offer assumes you'll work 45-hours, but you aren't always allowed to work more than 40. Many employees, when possible, log way more than 45 hours, but do nothing productive. I guess that's how some people get around the marginal pay. There's little feedback on performance and the raises don't seem to have a lot to do with that feedback. The company chooses to crack down on silly things like internet usage, phone calls, or how you decorate your office... but refuses to fire unproductive employees who actually create more work for everyone else. In new buildings, there are rules on what you can have on your desk and the color of your stapler and picture frames and employees are harassed if they refuse to comply... But Developers and Managers who repeatedly fail to meet deadlines get raises every year instead of being fired. this is the downside of "stable workforce". They've also cut back even on the basics. Supply cabinets aren't resupplied and the free coffee/tea is dwindling. Computers are replaced every 4 years with low-end junk. Memory upgrades or hard drives requires approval from multiple managers and can take months to get, if ever. If it gets denied, you won't even be told. Don't even try to ask for a second computer or you'll be waiting 5 years for a replacement. If you go on a trip, expect to pay for a lot of legit expenses out of pocket... Hotel gives you free coffee and donuts? Lose your $7.50 breakfast per diem. Conference offers you free appetizers at the end of the day? Lose your $15 dinner per diem. Hotel's self park lot full? Well, don't count of valet parking being fully reimbursed. And if you screw up and expense something you shouldn't, they don't tell you. They just deduct it from the check.

Explore other reviews about Esri

5.0
12 Jun 2026
Recommend
CEO approval
Business outlook

Pros

great work culture and teammates

Cons

Not all interns were given housing stipend

2.0
12 May 2026
Recommend
CEO approval
Business outlook

Pros

Esri pays your health insurance. A few extra holidays that other companies may not offer.

Cons

-Below average pay for California. Already a struggle living out here due to cost of living. -Support services is a mess. We have to bend over backwards for customers always teetering on scope of support. Might as not even have those guidelines anymore if it's a constant battle for internal resources to back you. -Constant releases of software that breaks customer workflows. Too many bugs. Lack of QA. -Whats the point of middle management if all decisions have to come from higher ups that have no understanding of supports day by day. -Unwillingness to let senior employees work from home. And if you do work from home they hold it against you if you want to apply to an internal position. Almost like a thinly veiled threat. -Other teams feel the need to steam roll support sometimes, often leading to fragmented relationships. -Lastly there is way too much work and never enough people.

1
See reviews by: Helpful|Rating|Date|All