Q&A With Blackboard Inc. Employees

Blackboard makes up losses by firing people as they always project what they can't meet.

We don't really see a connection between the actions of the CEO and our everyday lives until they decide to randomly fire people

Most people do not interact with the CEO at Bb. You will learn who he is and his name in training. Most have no opinion of the CEO.

Low amount of pressure, but no one will hold you back if you try to burn yourself out by working all the time. So some discipline on your own side is required to not fall in this trap and become overworked.

As good or bad as you care to make it

Very well balanced.

Generally understanding about working remotely as needed.

Distributed team means that some teams can work remotely and culture is built around remote work. So most employees are capable of working through timezones, cultural and miles differences.

Casual to Business Casual

Casual

2% annually, like clockwork

2% per year, like clockwork

Yes. It's a fairly decollocated workplace, though different divisions have different policies.

Yes

Start with 20 days PTO including sick leave. Use it or lose it.

Hourly employees receive vacation time after one year. Salary employees receive their time after 90 days. The amount of time you receive is dependent on your tenure and hours worked. After 4 years I was allotted 96 hours a year. They also allow you to borrow vacation time if you need it. Typically, you receive your base rate(wages) per hour.

There are a few initiatives that are going nicely.

Intelligent people to work with, co-operative management, good leadership, flexible hours, vacation time off over the years.

They let employees take a half day every so often to volunteer, I think.

They happen, but it's hard for me to say how likely it is for any particular person. Another problem they've had is lots of managers per individual contributor.

More ways to encourage and reward employee initiative and innovation.

Cumbersome, in my experience.

20 days, upfront without a need to accrue, but you do not take it with you when you leave.

A half-day orientation. Your boss briefs you. Then you have a "buddy" who has coffee with you and who is available to answer questions for a few months.

Mostly just team lunches. Occasional (but rare) company-sponsored lunches.

There are performance plans and goals, but I think these are more or less to get one more HR's checkbox checked off.

(7/11/18) Quite a few people work from home, but looks like company's attitude towards it is changing, so this option might be gone soon.

I found my schedule to be very flexible.

Excellent

They're doing their best.

They're doing their best.

Relatively painless.

Blackboard does not proactively include or exclude members of any group from employment. Our diversity reflects the demographics of the industry and our various locations.

Super-common

People make the place.