Avantages
The people are very friendly and very smart. The benefits are solid, but not great (high-deductible health plan with HSA, fairly standard PTO; they do offer a sabbatical after 10 years and a solid annual bonus structure). The consultants are client-focused and hard-working, and they understand internal comms and benefits. The Chicago offices are beautiful.
Inconvénients
This is a small agency whose clients are multinational corporations. It's composed of 30 people and should be at least three times its size, but management insists on keeping it a small business (likely so bonuses can be larger). The workload, particularly during open enrollment season, can be back-breaking. Consultants often work on multiple teams, but each client can be a full-time job. Days regularly consist of multiple meetings, leaving only evenings and weekends to get work done -- the flexibility that's boasted often just means your outside life needs to be flexible client needs. There are no standards when it comes to processes or project management; every client is handled differently based on the lead consultant's preferences. While this gives autonomy to those project leads, it means those doing the actual work have to learn new processes and new ways of submitting information for each client. Because of the high workload, projects are often delayed or require long hours to pull off standard tasks. Project management is expected to be a skill that all consultants develop when these projects often require those who are skilled and trained specifically at project management. When staff leaves, extra work is piled up on those who remain, with no guarantee those vacant positions will be filled. Management can also be passive aggressive and disconnected. Very nice people on the outside, but not much concern for employees' work-life balance, particularly during summer months.