Working at Garratt-Callahan Co. in Burlingame, CA: 5 Employee Job Reviews by Real Employee working in Burlingame, CA Area

"This company is now in its fourth generation. According to Harvard Business School, only three percent of family owned companies get to fourth generation. This, in all likelihood, means this is the last generation before the company is sold off. The current owners are in their early 50's with no heir apparent. A nice way of saying they're one serious illness away from wanting out. Over the last several years the only growth has been from price increases, benefits have declined, healthcare has more than doubled and 401K contributions are barely existent. Yet, the owners certainly 'shave' their millions off the top while complaining of being in the poor house. For the sales force, the compensation plans are weak compared with others in the industry. Water treatment is a very profitable industry, but it's not reflected in the compensation plans of their people. Lastly, and this is because I've seen the spreadsheets. If they can hire someone cheaply, they will, especially if they know they're desperate for a job. I've seen disparity as much as 50k for the same position in similar cost of living markets with similar sales. We're not even actually employees, we're statutory employees, essentially private contractors. This is typically because you can earn a lot more, but that's not the case at Garratt-Callahan. It's more like you're a serf in a Feudal system."

"I'd like to address, point by point the super positive review someone left with my more mediocre experience. The sky is the limit: Actually this is not true, yet once nearly was. Salary declines used to be $50 every six months, now they are 200-400 dollars. This means you have to have $50,000 in sales growth to simply break even with your decline. Nobody's going to hold your hand: translates as you get very little training in sales, product line or company policy."

"I have worked for Garratt-Callahan for many years. The company is excellent to work for. The sky is the limit as long as you are self motivated. You have to be a driven responsible person to do this job. Nobody's going to hold your hand and you are left to create your own schedule. There is a lot of work, but the work is very rewarding. The company has been around since 1904. A company will not last without great service, great ethics, and a great infrastructure."

"There's is an entrenched mediocrity of long time employees that is like a royal court, in many ways. I say this as a long time employee who struggles with 'B' & 'C' players at the top of the organization. The pay is mediocre and benefits are poor. The few 'A' players have been leaving for better jobs. This is mostly because of retribution against them by upper managers. While the owners claim that it doesn't occur, it unfortunately does and at this point I cannot believe they aren't aware of it."

"Traditional and non traditional"

What do you like about working at Garratt-Callahan Co.?

"My bosses, and my co-workers, support for personal growth training"

Do you have any tips for others interviewing with this company?

"This is a good company to work for, who puts family first, however there are some challenges"

What don't you like about working at Garratt-Callahan Co.?

"Lack of communication between departments, departments don't understand each others' role in the organization, brand alignment issues, too much bureaucracy - makes it difficult to make executive decisions"

What suggestions do you have for management?

"There needs to be changes made within the organizational social structure and the organizational structure if the company plans on growing"