Westat

"You have a chance to be in a high position just have to fight for it"

"It depends on the specific group you work with. I think work life balance is lacking but it doesn’t seem too gendered although top leadership is male"

"The company is a generally a welcoming and laid back environment, but there are always exceptions. General consensus is that this is a comfortable but maybe not cushy place to work. The lack of concrete policies/role expectations means there is a lot of variation in peoples' experiences. The company skews older (i.e., it is not a magnet for people in their 20s-30s, and you can work here 15 years and still be considered "new"). True development opportunities within the company and on its business side are rare and/or dependent on supervisors. The company offers a package for individuals pursuing their MA/PhD, but this requires a long-term commitment to the company/simultaneous part-time work, and thereby limits program opportunities (since most PhD program positions are self-funded, and Westat's promotion/role levels have been tied to degree attainment, this is [understandably for their part] a Westat-serving benefit). Though the staffing is (maybe?) predominantly female in low/mid-level positions, most senior positions/those with the most 'weight' are occupied by men who have been with the company 30+ years (and there is an accumulation of senior level employees who are hitting a ceiling as the company struggles to grow itself to a more 'corporate' culture). Historically Westat has had issues in equitable hiring/promotion practices (there was a lawsuit in the 90s), and though the company claims to have made changes to combat this, lack of true transparency, protocols, and role descriptions suggest these changes haven't been particularly profound. Positions are however generally stable and employees are collaborative and friendly, reflective of the employee-owned nature of the company. Benefits and family leave policies (FMLA unpaid 12 weeks) definitely leave something to be desired and are not particularly competitive within the field or region (though everyone has their own office, which works well for breastfeeding colleagues). Additionally, coverage can be an issue and likewise depends on team/supervisor placement. Changes are anticipated with a new President and HR director, but it's unclear exactly what they are the effect they will have. Overall, a company with a good reputation and solid place to work, but it is only just starting to think about itself in a more corporate way (and is certainly not pushing the envelope on that front to be a more "modern" workplace, either). "

"Not a bad place to work. Have always seen women treated fairly, although seems like fewer are in leadership roles."