-25
eNPS Score
Q&A With Pearson Employees
Wherever learning flourishes, so do people. Would you like to help education have a lasting effect on people around the world? If so, there’s a place for you here, no matter what your background.
How employees describe working at Pearson
To the Leadership Team at Pearson / Alabama Connections Academy, It is with a great sense of pride and a forward-looking vision that I write to you today. Having recently retired from my role as the Executive Director of Human Resources for Limestone County Schools, I find myself reflecting on the m
Colleagues are the best, at least for venting.
My interview process was very unique as the manager was moving quickly to progress for higher, so my experience was great
Review from Sales Dept
Constant reorgs. Now rebranded as “iterative approach” to workf
Communication. Care about employees more.
What it's like to work at Pearson
- Pearson employees generally work 9.2 hrs a day
- Employees at Pearson report the work pace is comfortably fast
- On a typical day, employees at Pearson have 1 meeting
- 79% of Pearson employees look forward to interacting with their team every day
- Pearson employees most often take 20-30 paid vacation and sick days each year
- 59% of Pearson employees report they are happy with their work life balance
- Pearson employees typically get valuable feedback on how to improve at work Once a quarter
- 57% of Pearson employees call their work environment positive
Q&A With Pearson Employees
IDX: 0 TOT: 57
What's the pay like for IT roles at Pearson?
Depends on the skill set you bring to the table. Pearson pays at or above average for IT roles
I would say a little above the average.
Slightly above industry average for staff roles, more so for management. The trap is that salaries and titles are rarely tied - promotion does not guarantee a raise, and with continued layoffs and reorganizations, one person can easily be asked to do the work of four or five departed colleagues, with no increase in compensation or title change.
How's the leadership on the IT team at Pearson?
Top Employee Response
Depends on the level - the CIO/COO is attempting to implement a plan with slim chances of success, while doing two separate c-level jobs. His direct reports seem scattered and inconsistent, more focused on turf wars than execution of the strategy, or even thoughtful comment on it. At the VP level (next down), there are some very capable people, hamstrung in the turf/budget wars mentioned previously. The directors run the gamut from ridiculously over qualified to just as ridiculously incompetent. Line managers do their best, but for some reason, “simplification” in the Technology group has resulted in two or three new layers of management, and complicated workflows. With the loss of many talented and effective managers to re-organizations since 2011, confusion is high, and morale very low.
My personal leadership is excellent here at Pearson.
My direct leadership is awesome.
What are you most excited about working at Pearson?
Top Employee Response
As corporate environments go, Pearson is very inclusive and supportive of IT, especially the general user population. Many have been with Pearson for decades, and work to include the IT staff and managers in the Pearson community in social and celebratory events. This may seem like a small thing, but it makes a big difference in how appreciated IT people feel, and how well they perform.
The people and technology
The workers and line managers are great people, and very skilled at what they do. Too much of their energy and the spending to support them is wasted as upper management changes direction too often, leaving projects half-done, or less, in the name of being "nimble."
What's the IT team like at Pearson?
Knowledgable and professional.
Smart, hardworking, dedicated, and fun.
My team is excellent.
What's the vibe like in the IT dept at Pearson? How many hours are you working?
I work 40 hours a week plus some on-call work due to the nature of my role. The vibe here overall is good.
Most of us work a 40 hour week with an on-call rotation, as we are a global company.
The "vibe" is very low. Leaders who were communicating and engaging even six months ago have become more and more distant and silent. As to hours, that depends greatly on your function and on your manager. If your team is 100% local to you and your manager, chances are you can have a normal, manageable schedule. If your manager is in another time zone, or on another continent, or going crazy from the turnover in the management layers above them, then your schedule will probably not be so nice and neat.
How's the vacation policy at Pearson?
Vacation policy is good in general. It can be more or less lenient depending on who your manager/director is.
The vacation policy in the US is very "aggressive," starting at two weeks for your first two years, then increasing to three weeks in the third year, three and a half in year seven, and four weeks in year ten, with a "bonus" fifth week added every fifth year after that. Plus, each employee gets five "sick" days, five "personal" days, and one "employee-designated holiday" each year, so even a rookie has four weeks of paid time off available - survive a couple re-orgs, and you can end up trying to cram it all in by year-end. That's the one drawback - it's a "use it or lose it" deal.
All right in terms of time. It depends on your manager to be a decent person whether they'll let you go out during the busy season. There is a lot of work from home and flexible hours.
What do people at Pearson think about the CEO? What do they do well and what can they improve?
Mixed
Depends greatly on the business unit, and time with Pearson. Those who've joined under Fallon are pretty tolerant, those more senior much less so. The older folks remember a growing Pearson, and are deeply saddened and frustrated with the diminishing one.
As a person, he's well-regarded; as a manager (let alone executive), he has no credibility left. Calls for accountability ring quite hollow when the CEO is left in place after yearly profit warnings. Either his direct reports haven't found good information, haven't presented it, or he isn't listening.
What's the office vibe like at Pearson?
Engaging and mellow
It is pretty calm. We have an open floor plan, so one can hear lots of different conversations going on.
At the moment, things are pretty downbeat, especially at the "legacy" offices. A new wave of headcount reduction (3,000 positions) has been recently announced, and that's apart from any sale of more major businesses, such as the US K-12 unit, or outsourcing/"re-bagding", where Pearson employees are transferred to a vendor, sometimes with a significant cut in compensation. There's little accountability above the middle management layer, and much of the top talent has left, or been pushed out in the other two re-organizations since the current CEO took over.
How many women are in your team? is it diverse enough?
Top Employee Response
three out of six of my direct reports, 14 out of 27 in my group
1, no
There are zero women in my architecture team.
How can I improve my chances of being hired at Pearson?
Network with people and have a tailored resume for the role you are applying for.
Having a connection.
How difficult is it to maintain a social life while in your job at Pearson?
Not difficult at all.
Not difficult at all.
How do you feel about going to work at Pearson everyday?
I enjoy my day here at Pearson.
I feel good. The integrity is something that gives me great confidence in making a difference and knowing I’m an important asset.
How secure do you feel at your job at Pearson?
Fairly secure at this time.
I feel very secure in my position but eould like more opportunity for advancement.
What's the best part of your job at Pearson?
Great people and managment
The benefits and coworkers. Team members are genuine and have good work erhics.
What's the office layout like at Pearson?
Choppy in some areas. However decor and special areas are nice.
Open office space.
What's the interview process like at Pearson?
Panel interviews that must go through a tag team process to avoid biases.
somewhat extensive, but nothing abnormal from an HR perspective.
What part of Pearson's business is growing fastest? What part is having difficulties?
Marketing is growing.
Print is dying. Direct digital access is where most of the resources are moving.
How does Pearson make decisions around promotions?
Budgeting controls everything.
Pearson makes decisions based on seniority and reviews from your direct manager. The only person who reviews you after your self-review is your direct manager. They have strongly resisted having 360-reviews or input from colleagues and are management-heavy. Just this past month was the first Pearson attempt to have managers reviewed by their direct reports, managers, and colleagues.
How's the work life balance at Pearson?
Awesome
Officially - terrific. There's a very progressive vacation policy, and competitive personal/sick time allowed. Practically - staff cuts without coordinated reductions in workload have many folks working evenings and weekends to make up for missing headcount. This is tolerable for a while, but it's been going on for years, and shows no hint of ending.
What benefits does Pearson provide?
Top Employee Response
401k match up to 3%, 1.5% on the next 3%. normal health benefits. 5 personal days, sick time. two volunteer days per year. ESPP program.
The normal and flexible work hours
How common is it to switch departments or teams at Pearson?
Top Employee Response
Very, very uncommon.
What skills do you need to be successful in the Engineering department at Pearson?
Java
How are layoffs handled in the Engineering department at Pearson?
Top Employee Response
Layoffs cause lots of fear.
How are the career growth opportunities on the Engineering team at Pearson?
Pretty good, but could be better.
How innovative is Pearson?
In my group we innovate every day
Curious about what work's like at Pearson?
Anonymously Ask Pearson Employees Any Question
Should I work at Pearson?
29% of Pearson employees would encourage their friends to become coworkers, whereas 17% are neutral and 54% would not recommend working at Pearson to their friends.
| 29% | Promoters |
|---|---|
| 17% | Passive |
| 54% | Detractors |
Recently Asked Questions about working at Pearson
- How common is it to switch departments or teams at Pearson?
- What skills do you need to be successful in the Engineering department at Pearson?
- How are layoffs handled in the Engineering department at Pearson?
- How are the career growth opportunities on the Engineering team at Pearson?
- How innovative is Pearson?