If you have been thinking about applying for a job at Kaiser Permanente and wondering what it’s like to work for the company (from an employee perspective), this is the guide for you!
Our guide provides an overview of seven top pros and cons of working for one of America’s leading healthcare industry employers.
Learn more about what jobs Kaiser hires for and get an inside look at how current and former employees feel about working at the company in the comprehensive guide below.
Table of Contents
- Working at Kaiser Permanente
- 7 Pros of Working for Kaiser Insurance Group
- Pro #1. – Kaiser Insurance Group Offers a Competitive Salary and Benefits Package
- Pro #2. – Career Growth and Educational Assistance Help Boost Employee Careers
- Pro #3. – Supportive Coworkers Make a Pleasant Work Environment
- Pro #4. Remote Work is Available for Qualified Employees
- Pro #5 – Employee Health Benefits And Health Plans are Available
- Pro #6. – Union Representation Helps Keep Employees Informed and Safe
- Pro #7. – Pleasant Work Environments and Friendly Coworkers Are The Norm at Kaiser Permanente
- 7 Cons of Working for Kaiser Permanente
- Con #1. – Poor Work-Life Balance Can Lead to Feelings of Frustration and Burnout
- Con #2. – Ineffective Management Styles Confuse Many Employees
- Con #3. – Bureaucracy and Red Tape Can Make Carrying Out Daily Job Duties Difficult
- Con #4. – Employees Say Kaiser is Behind The Technology Times
- Con #5. – Staffing Issues Are Common Across the Board
- Con #6. – Low Morale and High Negative Feedback Lead to Frustrated Employees
- Con #7. – Seniority Levels Can Make or Break Your Experience
- 14 Pros and Cons of Working for Kaiser Permanente – Summary Table
- Should You Work for Kaiser Permanente?
Working at Kaiser Permanente
Kaiser Permanente is a leader in health care and related services, operating health care plans and providing over thirty hospitals across the United States.
The company was founded in 1945 and has been operating from its headquarters in Oakland, California, providing national health care services in the US since that time.
Kaiser says that its goal is to provide affordable and high-quality health care for its plan members and employees.
What Jobs Does Kaiser Permanente Hire For?
Most people think of front line healthcare jobs when seeking employment at top industry providers like Kaiser.
In fact, the company hires for a variety of other roles including allied health care roles, customer services jobs, janitorial, housekeeping and information technology jobs.
Some technology and customer service-based employees have options for working from home and getting healthcare benefits and services through the company.
Following are a few more examples of key roles Kaiser Pernamente hires for.
- Doctors
- Nurses
- Allied Health Professionals
- Pharmacists
- Clinical Staff
- IT Staff
- Customer Service Associates
- Housekeeping Services
- Kitchen Helpers
- Receptionists
- Cashiers
Now that you have an idea of key positions available at Kaiser let’s dive into the pros and cons of working for the company!
7 Pros of Working for Kaiser Insurance Group
Kaiser employees report relatively high levels of job satisfaction.
The company has earned a star rating of 3.9 out of 5 stars on Glassdoor, and more than 65% of employees approve of the current CEO.
Over 70% of employees providing data would recommend the company to a friend.
Pro #1. – Kaiser Insurance Group Offers a Competitive Salary and Benefits Package
Many Kaiser Permanente employees are attracted to work for the company based on their competitive benefits and salary packages.
As one of the leaders in its industry, Kaiser provides well-paying base salaries coupled with work-life benefits that can include group coverage for medical insurance, dental insurance, retirement plans, and paid time off plans.
Pro #2. – Career Growth and Educational Assistance Help Boost Employee Careers
Employee reports consistently show that employees feel the company has their best interests at heart when it comes to career growth and educational opportunities.
Satisfied employees say that Kaiser provides many internal opportunities for growth, education assistance benefits, and tuition reimbursement programs that help them progress in their careers.
Pro #3. – Supportive Coworkers Make a Pleasant Work Environment
Many current and former associates report that an expected upside of working at Kaiser is the close-knit community of coworkers who offer support and camaraderie on the job.
Happy employees say they love coming to work, knowing that their favorite coworkers will be working side by side with them.
Tight bonds and close-knit employee relationships are the norm for Kaiser employees across the company and its many departments.
Pro #4. Remote Work is Available for Qualified Employees
Kaiser team members whose roles are primarily computer and customer service-based have the option to work from home in key positions.
Working from home in a customer service, support, or other administrative role allows increased flexibility for home-based employees who can balance their personal and work commitments.
Remote employees also experience benefits like savings on gas, transportation, and wardrobe costs.
Pro #5 – Employee Health Benefits And Health Plans are Available
One of the unique benefits of working at Kaiser is that it offers employees access to comprehensive healthcare plans and services.
Kaiser also offers its staff members discounted and group-based healthcare services that can result in healthcare-related cost savings throughout the year.
Pro #6. – Union Representation Helps Keep Employees Informed and Safe
Having union representation is another major upside for Kaiser Permanente associates, who can seek union support for negotiating better wages, benefits, fair compensation packages, and on-the-job advocacy.
Kaiser’s labor force can contact their union representative for advice on simple and complex employment issues, ensuring that their rights and best interests are protected.
Pro #7. – Pleasant Work Environments and Friendly Coworkers Are The Norm at Kaiser Permanente
One key theme of satisfied Kaiser Permanente employees is feeling a sense of satisfaction with their coworkers and work environment.
Associates reporting for their daily duties in hospitals, call centers, and technology centers say they are happy with their work environment and feel strong bonds with their coworkers.
7 Cons of Working for Kaiser Permanente
While some disgruntled employees at Kaiser have no complaints about their salary, they are dissatisfied in areas of policy and management.
Dissatisfaction with seniority policies, management feedback, and ineffective management are the top complaints across the board for Kaiser employees working in almost all departments.
Online data reports from sources like Glassdoor show some of the following cons of working at Kaiser.
Con #1. – Poor Work-Life Balance Can Lead to Feelings of Frustration and Burnout
Online self-reports from many Kaiser employees show that they are seeking a greater sense of work-life balance from the company.
Employees say they don’t feel like they are getting the paid time off they are entitled to, and the lack of PTO is having a negative effect on their work-life balance.
Some employees work more than 60 hours a week and feel disgruntled, burnt out, and ready to quit.
Con #2. – Ineffective Management Styles Confuse Many Employees
Although many Kaiser employees are satisfied with their salary and benefits, there are quite a few employees who have growing concerns about ineffective management styles and cohesion when working on team projects.
Ineffective management is one of the top complaints of dissatisfied employees seeking adequate representation, leadership, guidance, and fair practices on the job.
Con #3. – Bureaucracy and Red Tape Can Make Carrying Out Daily Job Duties Difficult
Frustrated Kaiser employees report feeling left out in the cold when it comes to making important decisions about their careers and empowering themselves in their jobs.
Online reports show that employees in a variety of departments feel hindered by existing practices and limited in their capacity to carry out their required job duties as they encounter issues with heavy red tape and bureaucracy.
Con #4. – Employees Say Kaiser is Behind The Technology Times
Several Kaiser employees report concerns with the pace of technology at the company.
Employees say they frequently use outdated software for interoffice messaging and sending external emails.
They also report frequent issues with computer system downtime and lack of access that can leave computer-based employees locked out of their workstations for extended periods.
Con #5. – Staffing Issues Are Common Across the Board
One of the most repeated claims by current and former Kaiser employees is that the company is understaffed in key areas that span a variety of departments.
Employees say short staffing issues lead to unbalanced and heavier workloads where they are required to work mandatory overtime hours to account for the shortage and are denied paid time off based on staffing levels and seniority.
Con #6. – Low Morale and High Negative Feedback Lead to Frustrated Employees
California-based Kaiser employees consistently report issues with low employee morale and high levels of negative feedback across departments.
They say that management appears to only acknowledge failures and shortcomings and fails to identify or recognize positive or praiseworthy behaviors on the job.
Con #7. – Seniority Levels Can Make or Break Your Experience
Kaiser employees on the lower end of the seniority totem pole say that they feel the burn when it comes to competing with senior-level employees for promotions, raises, and work-life benefits like paid time off.
They say the company bases many of its practices on the number of years working with the company, i.e., seniority, which leaves many newcomers and those with less experience locked out of potential opportunities, raises, PTO, and employee benefits.
14 Pros and Cons of Working for Kaiser Permanente – Summary Table
| 7 Pros of Working for Kaiser Insurance Group | 7 Cons of Working for Kaiser Permanente |
|---|---|
| Kaiser Insurance Group Offers a Competitive Salary and Benefits Package | Poor Work-Life Balance Can Lead to Feelings of Frustration and Burnout |
| Career Growth and Educational Assistance Help Boost Employee Careers | Ineffective Management Styles Confuse Many Employees |
| Supportive Coworkers Make a Pleasant Work Environment | Bureaucracy and Red Tape Can Make Carrying Out Daily Job Duties Difficult |
| Remote Work is Available for Qualified Employees | Employees Say Kaiser is Behind The Technology Times |
| Employee Health Benefits And Health Plans are Available | Staffing Issues Are Common Across the Board |
| Union Representation Helps Keep Employees Informed and Safe | Low Morale and High Negative Feedback Leads to Frustrated Employees |
| Pleasant Work Environments and Friendly Coworkers Are The Norm at Kaiser Permanente | Seniority Levels Can Make or Break Your Experience |
Should You Work for Kaiser Permanente?
While choosing your healthcare employer is a personal decision that requires research and reflection, consider the pros and cons of working at Kaiser Permanente to decide if working for one of America’s leading healthcare providers and hospitals is the right career path for you.
On the upside, current Kaiser employees appear to be satisfied with their work environment, company culture, and salaries.
Consistent downsides of working at Kaiser can include ongoing issues with red tape, bureaucracy, and a lack of work-life balance.
The choice is ultimately based on your preferences for salary and work-life balance.
Visit the Kaiser Permanente career page to learn more about the company and weigh the pros and cons of working at Kaiser before moving on to the next steps of applying for a job in healthcare online.
