Employee Review of Progressive Insurance - Check out more reviews of working at Progressive Insurance

If you fit in, you're set. Same applies to most work places but the degree to which you are expected to be molded (or moldy) is as high as I've seen in 32 years of post graduate work experience. The oppressive culture and inability to actually be yourself in this atmosphere are challenging aspects of being successful in this organization. Diversity is heralded as the cornerstone of Prog's treatment and acceptance of all employees yet it is a veiled attempt at advertising innovation and development of their workforce. The truth is simple.....assimilate or be be black listed and live in fear of incompetence from 'senior' management as far as your 'development' and career aspirations are concerned. This goes as far as who you have lunch with, who you play golf with, who you drink beer with ( and in many cases who you sleep with). It's naive not to believe that any work culture demands (and rightfully so) all employees follow both behavioral and career growth/contribution expectations but the reality of the situation dictates that you emulate and contrive behavior that matches that of your 'superiors'.

The sad fact is that many of the folks in management here (some of whom are actually quite good, they have not yet been given an action plan for amendment of their ill begotten ways, they will, regardless of how good they are) have no other place that would accept the degree of bipolar and inconsistent actions, statements, directions and pure egocentric/self promoting traits. What a shame. Front line managers are forced to parrot their manager's blather. Individualism, the ability to make mistakes and grow from them are negated due to fear ('cause the money isn't bad in this terrible economy in a town with few options). I have seen many people ruined emotionally and intellectually by trying to meet moving target expectations and the flavor of the day behavioral modification techniques...aka fear, mind games, drama and the need to not stand out due to opinion, position, style of work or challenging standard conventions. Again, what a shame.

I greatly respect my direct manager as a person...he has to put his thoughts and perspectives aside in order to clone the behavior of his direct manager who is an oppressive psychopath. He has a family, bills, health insurance needs, etc. to be filled and does what he has to in order to retain his job and keep those above him content. Fear is not a motivator. Fear is alive and well here. I feel sorry for these people and actually envy those that can close their eyes and hearts to what I consider abuse.

Enough ranting….my own hypocrisy requires me to be assimilated. I too have bills, family and needs that out weigh the pain in my stomach as I drive to work every day, smiling and back slapping my happy way to the coffee machine. One more time….what a shame. So much talent oppressed by so many egos and misconceptions. We miss the days when you could be yourself, make mistakes, correct them and learn and actually enjoy what you do for a living. I’m just as bad as the rest of them I guess. What a shame.