Time for a real change - Director JD Power Employee Review

2.0
10 Sept 2008
Recommend
CEO approval
Business outlook

Pros

They pay pretty well, especially if you don't live in CA or NY (cause their pay scales are NY based as a subsidiary of McGraw Hill). There's still a core group of good employees and the cooperation between employees can be pretty good

Cons

Used to be a great company, but since being acquired by McGraw Hill it's been slowing degenerating to another publicly traded sweat shop primarily interested in bottom line. Nothing wrong with making money and profits, but when it obscures all the real issues that need to be dealt with in order to BE a better company with better products and to BECOME more profitable, then that's a problem. Short term mentality is one way, though limited, to think about it. Related to this, the company has become more and more top down. I'm in a role some might consider low level executive management and I, along with others in my type of role have become increasingly marginalized as McGraw Hill and JDPA executives make decisions behind closed doors and hand them down. The president, Steve Goodall, makes a good effort to understand whats going on as does at least one divison head, but many others really aren't that interested in bottom or middle up information, though they pay lip service to it. They are also hampered by McGraw's corporate culture. I don't know how much Goodall can really do to improve things, but there is some room there. Increasingly, the McGraw Hill profit pressure has caused the company to focus much less on clients (ironic given we are supposedly a customer satisfaction company) and look to increase profitability by charging more and creating spin-off, me too products rather than really figuring out what clients and consumers need. The well known award and trophyhave created a real protectionist mentality of the brand which hampers doing cutting edge work or really meeting client needs. Related to this, again to a degree since the advent of McGraw Hill ownership, the shots are increasingly called by finance and legal with dramatically customer unfriendly policies that hamper the business units in growing their business.

Explore other reviews about JD Power

5.0
12 Aug 2025
Recommend
CEO approval
Business outlook

Pros

unlimited PTO, supportive managers, flexible schedule, Great benefits

Cons

lots of travel can get exhausting but its still worth it

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JD Power Response
10mo
We are glad to hear you find the role rewarding and enjoy the flexibility, benefits, and support available to you. Travel is a core part of this particular position, and while it can be demanding at times, we’re glad to see you find it worthwhile. Managers are expected to hold regular 1:1s with their teams, and we encourage employees to use these meetings to share feedback, ask questions, and stay connected. We encourage you to speak with your manager or HRBP if these are not already set up as a regular occurrence on your calendar. Thank you, J.D. Power
1.0
16 Jun 2026
Recommend
CEO approval
Business outlook

Pros

Remote job that pays market rate salaries and offers decent health benefits.

Cons

It feels like the executives at this company are sitting in first class in an airplane behind a giant metal door instead of a curtain, completely sealed off from the rest of the organization that is all sitting in coach. We are told to stay seated, stay comfortable, and be grateful, cramped seats, stale peanuts and all. Every so often, a voice comes over the intercom with an announcement, and you have no choice but to accept it. Sometimes that announcement is that your colleague has been fired, so they can clear some salary cap for another former Sterling employee, and you'll need to increase your work load. This executive change honestly feels like a cash grab for the executive team and their friends and does not feel like the transformation the company desperately needed. Every executive working here is a nepobaby. They only hire people and vendors who have previously worked with the CEO and the COO at other companies, even if they are not the best candidates or companies to work with. They are also paying them obscene salaries. None of these folks have any experience in the industry that drives the company profits, automotive, nor have any interest in getting up to speed. J.D. Power used to be a place where speaking up was encouraged. Now, one wrong look at the wrong executive can cost you your job. They removed internal anonymous feedback because "it's not productive." But I am 1000% sure they are reading still reading these reviews.

7
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JD Power Response
1d
Thank you for sharing your perspective. JD Power is focused on building a strong foundation for long-term growth, and we recognize that the pace of this transition can be challenging. We encourage employees to share their feedback directly with their manager, the People & Culture team, and/or senior leadership. Thank you, JD Power
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