Offer at ACS

I have an offer from ACS for a mgmt positon at a senior level. With everything going on with ACS I was wondering if this is a good time to join. Im thinking the move to take it private could result in restructuring and trimming. thoughts?

You should definately read in depth the blogs on this site. Especially the ones pertaining to employment with ACS. They are probably (barring none) one of, if not, the most ruthless organizations in the Fortune 500 today.

I've been with this company for about 5 years as a result of an acquisition. They have made life miserable for those of us who have remained. They watered down our benefits, insulted us in our reviews and have given an average of 1 1/2% increases over that time period.

Unfortunately for some of us with familys and the IT job market being what it is, we are sort of trapped and they know it and take advantage of it.

Do yourself and your family (if you have one) a great service, find a job elsewhere. Believe me, in the long run the peace of mind that you and your family will realize will be well worth it.

Working for ACS is not a job or a position, it's indentured servitude.

Zomer wrote:

I have an offer from ACS for a mgmt positon at a senior level. With everything going on with ACS I was wondering if this is a good time to join. Im thinking the move to take it private could result in restructuring and trimming. thoughts?

Think very carefully and be prepared for a very unstable experience. To put it bluntly, the company is money grabbing, cheap, and screws all but the elect. Lay-offs are as regular as the atomic clock and the severance pay is non-existent. I would not even recommend ACS to an enemy.

Think long and hard - if you haven't already. Most folks leave stable, strong companies to come to ACS, then they "use you and lose you". Don't do it!

I have been with the company for about 15 years. I have worked with Lynn Blodgett (now CEO) and other top management. They have always treated me and my teams with respect. I would also say that ACS is a family friendly company. I have made a good career here. I have never had to ask for a raise or time off. I wouldn't hesitate to recommend taking a position at ACS.

Some of the negativity coming out on this site from supposedly ex-employees is over-the-top. Some people just have a complaining nature and I assume they had it for the (short) time they were employed at ACS too. Their problems are always someone else's fault.

I was an employee of acs for 12+ years and got fired for as what they said was a violation of their email policy. I just wanted to say that ACS Sucks and i would not recommend them to anyone. Before acs bought the contract to the place where i worked at i was employed by fleet bank which i would like to say was one of the best companies that treated their employees fair and offered better benefits than acs does. This company is finding reasons to fire people that have been their longer so they can pay someone else less which i think it's unfair. to fight a company like acs we need to have everyone that has been screwed by them to come together and bring this company down to it's knees. Acs is no longer giving raises and they are changing their attendance policy in order for employees to have no choice but to choose between taking their children to a doctor and risk losing their job or to come to work. Acs is paying their employees for what they work for which is peanuts so they can pay that person less than what they are worth. take my advice and find work somewhere else or you will regret it.

ACS is not a good place to work. Be prepared to work with self centered, clickish, and dishonet leaders. As a business they must do everything possible to hit their numbers, but at they same time they should care for people.

No, the negativity comes for a very real reason. ACS will say ANYTHING to get a contract and when they cannot do the job they will send as many jobs as possible overseas. They think this can make up for the fact that they got a job without the skills to do it. They are very much not a family friendly and have made their name trying to se how far they can push people -- how many hours they can get out of them. I have yet to meet anyone who has been with them for more than 5 years.

They are a schlocky bunch of salesmen and you will be embarassed to have your name attached to this organization

I have had the privilege of working for several companies over my career. Joining ACS was an absolute mistake. I was promised everything "under the moon" as an inducement to work for them. Even if it is in writing - don't believe them unless you intend to sue to enforce your contractual rights. They are an awful company to work for. They have no consideration for their employees. Their ethics are non-existent.If ever given an offer from ACS, run for the hills and don't look back.

As a side note: I left on my own volition to work for a better company. I had outstanding evaluations from my superiors at ACS.

I see some negative comments from current and former employees and they point out a few facts:
1. They are not happy.
2. No one should work for ACS.
I am a Corporate employee that works closely with each operations unit and I know these facts: This is a fast-moving, high performing company and if you are not up to the challenge then I'm sure you are miserable. I would suspect that each bitter employee or former employee did not conform to our high standards. Furthermore we do make big promises but those promises are only made true if you are adding value to the company.
I have a suggestion for current miserable employees. Review your performance and ask youself why you are so miserable. Is it because you didn't deliver what you promised when you got hired?
In my experience ACS is a company that is centered on service excellence and if you are able to provide that level of service then you will be respected and appreciated. Our product is our people and ACS is a great company but only for the right kind of person.
I have found ACS to be the best company in Dallas to work for and I applaude managers that set the bar high. That must be why we have a 95% retention rate on current contracts. We are also a company that has experience double digit growth the last 5 years. I'm sure that if you are unhappy or disgruntled it's because you didn't rise to the challenge

ACS is the place to be if you are ethically challenged, meaning you would stab your own mother in the back for a penny and charge her for the 911 call.
The criminal charges in Edmonton speak volumes for ACS' ethics. Where there's smoke ...

Another Happy ACSer wrote:

I see some negative comments from current and former employees and they point out a few facts:
1. They are not happy.
2. No one should work for ACS.
I am a Corporate employee that works closely with each operations unit and I know these facts: This is a fast-moving, high performing company and if you are not up to the challenge then I'm sure you are miserable. I would suspect that each bitter employee or former employee did not conform to our high standards. Furthermore we do make big promises but those promises are only made true if you are adding value to the company.
I have a suggestion for current miserable employees. Review your performance and ask youself why you are so miserable. Is it because you didn't deliver what you promised when you got hired?
In my experience ACS is a company that is centered on service excellence and if you are able to provide that level of service then you will be respected and appreciated. Our product is our people and ACS is a great company but only for the right kind of person.
I have found ACS to be the best company in Dallas to work for and I applaude managers that set the bar high. That must be why we have a 95% retention rate on current contracts. We are also a company that has experience double digit growth the last 5 years. I'm sure that if you are unhappy or disgruntled it's because you didn't rise to the challenge

Either your as unethical as the Leadership of this Company in Dallas or all the rain you have experienced there recently has affected your brains ability to reason logically. Please, do yourself a favor, seek medical assistance immediately. Your family will the better for it.

Absolutely the worst company I have ever worked for. The 2 comments from "happy" ACSer's are typical of those that keep their jobs there. "Butt Kissers" and "Liars". 95% retention rate? I can only laugh at that one. They just lost Nike, their most profitable account.
As for the negative comments, I can not find one single statement that I did not experience.

This is directed to Another Happy ACS in Dallas Texas.

Want to know what the real scoop is on the Leadership of this Company? Go to the following Link and read it and weep.

http://biz.yahoo.com/ms/070727/198861.html...

I got an email from their HR Dept. that I would be receive my offer letter and add'l paper work overnight for a job in Maryland Then all of a sudden nothing, no letter and no one will return my calls or emails. Thank God I didn't turn in notice at my current job based on their promise of an offer letter.

I have an offer from ACS for a mgmt positon at a senior level. With everything going on with ACS I was wondering if this is a good time to join. Im thinking the move to take it private could result in restructuring and trimming. thoughts?[/I got an email from their HR Dept. that I would be receive my offer letter and add'l paper work overnight for a job in Maryland Then all of a sudden nothing, no letter and no one will return my calls or emails. Thank God I didn't turn in notice at my current job based on their promise of an offer letter. QUOTE]

Another Happy ACSer wrote:

I see some negative comments from current and former employees and they point out a few facts:
1. They are not happy.
2. No one should work for ACS.
I am a Corporate employee that works closely with each operations unit and I know these facts: This is a fast-moving, high performing company and if you are not up to the challenge then I'm sure you are miserable. I would suspect that each bitter employee or former employee did not conform to our high standards. Furthermore we do make big promises but those promises are only made true if you are adding value to the company.
I have a suggestion for current miserable employees. Review your performance and ask youself why you are so miserable. Is it because you didn't deliver what you promised when you got hired?
In my experience ACS is a company that is centered on service excellence and if you are able to provide that level of service then you will be respected and appreciated. Our product is our people and ACS is a great company but only for the right kind of person.
I have found ACS to be the best company in Dallas to work for and I applaude managers that set the bar high. That must be why we have a 95% retention rate on current contracts. We are also a company that has experience double digit growth the last 5 years. I'm sure that if you are unhappy or disgruntled it's because you didn't rise to the challenge

Yeah, and the participate in Rice Blacklisting too! Are they still doing background checks in the District of Columbia?

ACS The real history? Darwin did not start ACS in 1989. I worked with DD back in Dallas at 1712 Commerce street in 1979. At that time ACS was Affilated Computer Systems, Not Services. Darwin was a salesman. The company was bought by Mercantile Bank and it became Mtech. EDS bought Mtech in 1986. Darwin started a "New" ACS in 1989. The "New" ACS is nothing like the original company. Management has no balls at ACS and fear of job loss is a daily thing. Did I mention Sarbox?

ACS Employee wrote:

ACS The real history? Darwin did not start ACS in 1989. I worked with DD back in Dallas at 1712 Commerce street in 1979. At that time ACS was Affilated Computer Systems, Not Services. Darwin was a salesman. The company was bought by Mercantile Bank and it became Mtech. EDS bought Mtech in 1986. Darwin started a "New" ACS in 1989. The "New" ACS is nothing like the original company. Management has no balls at ACS and fear of job loss is a daily thing. Did I mention Sarbox?

"Did I mention Sarbox?" I've still got enough for some convictions. I've seen it before, really! I wouldn't say that they don't have any balls when it comes to using the law and their influence against people they don't even know. However, from the standpoint of growing up and acting like adults I would say that they are seriously lacking in that department.

ACS Employee wrote:

ACS The real history? Darwin did not start ACS in 1989. I worked with DD back in Dallas at 1712 Commerce street in 1979. At that time ACS was Affilated Computer Systems, Not Services. Darwin was a salesman. The company was bought by Mercantile Bank and it became Mtech. EDS bought Mtech in 1986. Darwin started a "New" ACS in 1989. The "New" ACS is nothing like the original company. Management has no balls at ACS and fear of job loss is a daily thing. Did I mention Sarbox?

Did somebody "drop the potatoes"? I knew you would get it.