User talk:Virginia pfeifer

David Landau & Associates, LLC

David Landau & Associates, LLC pays poorly, treats employees even worseAugust 12, 2011

1) Extremely high staff turnover, approaching 60% per year. 2) Do not expect to get a raise. Ownership will try to pull one over on you. Asking for a raise is a bad idea. It is not encouraged. 3) DLA will not pay for any training other than occasional online CPE course; as long as it is less than $100 or so. 4) DLA reimburses for mileage, BUT will subtract $20 from the total as calculated by the IRS-reimbursable rate. The $20 subtraction has no rhyme or reason but to pinch pennies. 5) The owner does not help cover healthcare premiums (OK, maybe 2%). When you join the company, it may appear as though the salary is competitive, but when you get your first paycheck, you will be so disappointed at what DLA will NOT cover. I call it the "DLA Surprise"....not a good one. Think about it; as an employee you cover all premium increases every year and since you do not get a raise, well, you get the idea. 6) Low morale - Employees do not get along and their senior leadership maintains control like a Soviet dictator. Reprisals and backstabbing is routine. It is a sweatshop mentality. 7) Billable hours are the only important thing here. Work quality is NOT important - At least weekly and sometimes daily, senior leadership maintains a tight eye on billable hours. Depending on the season, DLA mandates at least 45 hours per employee per week regardless of staff level and workload. There is simply not enough work to fill those hours and employees are forced to do 'busy work' to pump hours. Additionally, at a moment's notice, management will mandate 50-hour work-week even though workload has not increased. This is a gimmick to meet cash flow. 8) All year, management holds the prospect of generous bonuses, but at year end, only tell you that bonuses will disappoint and that they will be paid out later than expected. This is of course after you've worked your 45- to 50-hour workweeks all year and done everything and then some, including 'looking busy' so you can bill the 45 to 50 hours. 9) The owner is blinded by favoritism, even at the detriment of his business. He plays favorites to those who follow him blindly. Senior leadership abuses junior staff. It is a constant culture of fear, intimidation and retaliation. 10) DLA, LLC offers contract positions with the prospect of full-time work; you will not get hired full time. They will pay you 40 hours, but you'll have to bill out at least 45. 11) Better use all your vacation time before you leave the company; you will not get it the form of a check.

Pros: company picnic Cons: poor benefits, low morale, high turnover, no training, abusive environment, must bill 45-50 hrs/wk, favoritism, sweatshop mentality, fear and intimidation, retaliation