Company Culture
I recieved a lot of appreciation at this job. I was well recognized for my contributions and feel like others were also recognized.
Support from management
Leadership tries to be realistic about what can be accomplished and is very concerned with conflict resolution. Decisions are clearly defined, sometimes I felt like I was left out of the decision process, but my boss was able to make exceptions or clarifications if I felt a decision impacted my ability to do my job.
Teamwork
Members of the department work well together, and for the most part everyone is trying to get to the same outcome. People have pet projects and preferred ways of doing things, but if you can demonstrate a benefit to a different approach, people are willing to adjust.
Freedom to work independently
I always felt like my ideas and feedback were considered carefully. Management tries to distribute work fairly and has tools to evaluate how work is being distributed.
Internal Communication
We had weekly meetings within groups and a large monthly meeting for all. I felt well informed about things that impacted my job. Communications from the top level often seemed to be cryptic or evasive sometimes. For instance, there were a couple of instances where the classroom building was placed on "lockdown" with a deputy stationed in the main study area and the doors kept locked and we were instructed not to let others enter the building when we were entering or leaving (every individual had to unlock the door themselves), but we were never told what the threat was.
Gender Equality
I think WVSOM is better than a lot of employers, but the old boys network runs strong in West Virginia.
Attitude towards older colleagues
Skill and ability are valued above years, but as employees get older and less able they continue to be appreciated for the experience they bring to bear.
Career Development
There is a generous tuition reimbursement program and employees are encouraged to take workshops, seminars and trainings related to their work.
Overall compensation for your work
Benefits are fine, but less generous than one might expect. The state continues to cut benefits due to budget shortfalls caused by shortsighted political calculations. Staff jobs are divided classified and non-classified positions. Classified positions enjoy greater job security but the salaries are set by the state and are not flexible. Non-classified positions can pay anything, but are difficult to get because the school has a quota. More of the jobs in the IT department have been moving to non-classified lately due to a lack of interest in low paying jobs, which leads to strange situations where a new hire may make twice as much as his or her supervisor.
Office / Work Environment
The atmosphere is very comfortable.
Environmental Friendliness
I'm giving them a star off for not incorporating passive or active green technologies into new construction and for leaving the whole campus grass with a few flower beds. There are some very good locations for rain gardens on campus, and there are many sinkholes. There are many educational opportunities currently not being exploited. The school does focus on wholistic medicine and doctor patient communication, and is overall pretty socially aware and responsible.
Work-Life Balance
I was very rarely asked to work outside normal working hours. If you work here, you can pretty much count on going home on time (you are also expected to show up on time in the morning). You are expected to work 40 hours a week, but only scheduled for 37.5 hours a week. How you schedule the other 2.5 hours is up to you. Work hours are not generally flexible, so you won't be able to come in an hour early so you can leave an hour early to pick your kids up after school.
Company Image
Most people seem to appreciate working at WVSOM. I liked working for an organization with a goal I see as important.
Job Security
Jobs are very stable. If you are restructured out of a job, they will find a new position for you, usually for equal pay.
Handicapped Accessibility
WVSOM is mandated to provide accessibility tools and resources for the disabled, a responsibility that they take seriously in regards to physical mobility, blindness, deafness and mental disabilities. From what I observed, if someone exhibits a desire to perform and can list specific hinderances to those goals, then the school is willing to make correcting issues a priority.
Workplace Safety
There is a lot of concern for safety, however, due to the fact that it is a medical school, you may occassionally come into contact with things that you aren't prepared for. Rule of thumb - if you don't know what it is, then don't touch or inhale it. Be smart.
Challenging Work
I found the work quite challenging in a good way. I was given a lot of latitude in prioritizing work, creating solutions, etc. which made the work fun and rarely boring.
Inclusive / Diverse
The student population is very diverse. The staff less so, but basically because the school is located in West Virginia, which has little diversity in the general population.
