The Scoop

While Erie does good business in a competitive industry, perhaps the biggest problem it faces is the ongoing fight between the CEO, Stephen Milne, and the heir to the company, Susan Hagen. A judge ruled in April 2000 that Milne could place herself and four others on Erie's 12 person board. Milne compared the ruling to Pontius Pilate ordering the crucifixion of Jesus - really. The fighting doesn't end there. Hagen's own brother, F.W. Hirt has insisted that Hagen be ousted as a member of the trust controlling 76 percent of the company.

Getting Hired

Applicants should contact the headquarters or the specific field office in which they would like to work. Erie stresses communication skills, both written and oral, in addition to its corporate emphasis on integrity. Because Erie's independent agents are not employees of the company, those interested in becoming agents should contact either the Agency Division at the corporate headquarters or the manager of a branch office.

Our Survey Says

Not a single layoff

Erie boasts that it has not had a single layoff in its entire corporate history, and its employees frequently refer to the company's "family spirit." "There's not a lot of people leaving Erie to work someplace else," says one insider. "If someone does leave for a new job, it's usually a new job in the company." One reason for the employee satisfaction may lie in the pay and work hours: "We work 7.5 hours a day. There are two official breaks per day and an hour for lunch. But there are no bells or anything -- we are on flex hours, and depending on the job, we can schedule the hours the way we want them."

Open and participatory corporate culture

Employees also mention the "open and participatory" corporate culture: "Everyone, including the CEO, is on a first-name basis and everyone answers his own phone." But don't mistake Erie for a sandal-wearing West-coast start-up. "We are a conservative company in a conservative industry," explains one. Recently, Erie has implemented an "aggressive" minority recruiting program and employees have noticed. "Women are the majority at Erie and they make a concerted effort to hire and promote all minorities," says one Erie employee.

'Painfully slow' decision making

But working at a large, conservative insurance company can have some drawbacks. "Aside from the government, Erie is probably the largest employer in the city of Erie," says one Erie employee in Erie. While this is not actually the case, the large size contributes to a feeling of sluggishness among some employees. "Erie's decision-making procedures are effective, but almost painfully slow," says one. "Lines are very much drawn between departments here," says one technical staff member. "This can be a pain sometimes if you must rely on someone else to finish your job."

Employment Contact

Dennis M. Geib
Human Resources

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