Tightly run ship -- at employees' expense
Pros
-- Oracle is profitable -- Database software teams are innovative -- Oracle is still THE industry leader in database software -- Oracle medical benefits are OK, though pricey (probably even with other co's)
Cons
-- At Oracle, it's all about upper management bonuses. There is little concern about employee compensation -- Oracle gives "just "enough" in salary and stock to be somewhat competitive, but bonuses are HIGHLY arbitrary. Upper mgmt completely withheld bonuses from one division for years because its revenues weren't growing, while telling the sales force (in another organization) NOT to sell that division's products. Even if you DO get a bonus, you don't know what it "means", because you don't know what others at your level received. -- Oracle has been unwilling to give engineers the tools to do their jobs well. They can only get year-old laptop (or desktop) models, can't get large hi-res screens, and (except in one "special" org) are forbidden to order Macs. Many employees have spent $2500 out of their own pockets for a Mac, and others have spent hundreds in order to get a good hi-res monitor. (though if you're ever in a meeting of VP's, almost *all* of them have Macs) -- Oracle 401(k) matching is poor ... I think it's 100% match up to 3% of salary, then only 50% up to 6% of salary. So total match maxes out at 4.5% of salary. -- Oracle overwhelmingly likes to hire new college grads, then let them gain experience at Oracle. It only seems to gain experienced staff through acquisitions.
