Pros
Work can be interesting and diverse. Generally flexible hours of work. Good peer support amongst personnel. Employees maintain a healthy program of volunteer social programs in the areas of sports, recreation and the like.
Cons
Long hours of work and high productivity expected - but compensation has lagged (sometimes 0% annually and no more than 1-2% increase annually for the last several years - except for upper management - the only ones to get stock options & bonuses). CEO is super cheap - he tried to sell off the systems & space business 4-5 yrs ago but sale was blocked by the CDN Government. Then business in the other half of the company began to tank (coincident with the US and UK housing market crashes) and this business was then sold off for a reasonable price (bulk of $ from this sale was given to shareholders as dividends and to Sr. management as bonuses - very little given to regular employees as compensation - rest used to buy a Comms satellite interest in the U.S.). Richmond BC contingent of company is stuggling and this year laid-off 15% of staff with another 8-10% leaving on their own accord - represents a significant brain drain. Brampton business unit hit with even greater percentage of layoffs. Overall, employee moral has taken a beating and most staff have a very cynical view and general lack of faith in upper management (whose response has been to squeeze budgets even further while instituting several major and confusing reorganizations). Advancement is based on who you know, not what you know or have accomplished, and senior management is an old boy's club (no women allowed).