| Browning-Ferris | 757 N. Eldridge, Houston, TX 77079 |
| www.bfi.com | (281) 870-8100 Fax: (281) 589-7844 |
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Talking trash
When it was founded in 1967, Browning-Ferris Industries (BFI) served only a small Houston neighborhood with a single truck. Now the company is the second-largest waste management operation in the world, behind only (fittingly) Waste Management. Growing by acquiring smaller waste management companies, BFI owns and/or operates over 100 environment-friendly solid waste landfills in the U.S. BFI also provides a range of other services, including transfer and recycling, portable restroom services, and street sweeping. Additionally, BFI trucks handle medical waste disposal for over 200,000 health care customers.
During the 1980s, BFI pleaded guilty to charges of price fixing and subsequently hired former Environmental Protection Agency official William Ruckelshaus to improve the company's image. With Ruckelshaus at the helm, BFI expanded its business even further; the company even moved into New York City, a much-coveted waste market.
Save Browning-Ferris
Unfortunately, the pace of BFI's expansion and acquisition was too rapid for its own good. Revenues failed to keep up with the increase in costs, forcing the company to undertake a major streamlining effort. The company was also hurt by an extended strike by California trash haulers. Beginning in fiscal 1998, it hatched a plan to cut costs by $80 million per year. This involved divestiture of certain businesses (including a $1 billion sale of its overseas operations to Suez Lyonnaise) and several hundred job cuts. In order to boost its stock price, it also repurchased millions of shares.
A time of waste
In 1998, BFI entered into merger talks with Scottsdale, Arizona-based Allied Waste Industries. The talks stalled temporarily, but after the companies agreed on a divestiture, negotiations bore fruit in March 1999, as BFI agreed to be acquired for $9.1 billion. The combined entity raises $6.6 billion in annual revenue; the merger reportedly saved the companies over $250 million.
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Browning-Ferris does not post current job openings externally. Applicants should submit their resumes via either fax or regular mail indicating their areas of interest. Still, the company looks for new employees "through referrals, recruitment, you name it."
Most candidates "start with an initial screening through the Human Resource Department." They are then given a series of five to six interviews, either all in one day or divided over two sessions. According to one former interviewee, "all of the interviews are cookie-cutter formal, corporate interviews." BFI does not ask many technical questions. More commonly, interviews consist of "questions such as, 'What are your long- and short-term goals? [and] Describe a situation in which you had to overcome opposition.'" Reports one source, "Mostly they were interested in my computer experience and past jobs."
The company makes hiring decisions promptly: "They called me back the next day with an offer - which they later submitted in writing." Most new corporate and professional employees begin their Browning-Ferris careers at the Houston headquarters.
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Perk-heavy
Browning-Ferris employees describe themselves as "thoroughly loyal" to the company and say that they are rewarded with unsurpassed promotion opportunities. Benefits "are good - but not as good as [they used to be]. They used to pay for all of your medical insurance, including your spouse and children." The company now deducts a fee for medical, dental, optical, life insurance, and legal assistance. The last of these is perhaps the most intriguing, as "for a $10 copay a lawyer will represent you in any legal matter except a DWI or a suit against BFI." By insiders' estimates, "the rate for these benefits puts BFI within the top 5 percent of companies with the best benefits." Other perks include "a customer service bonus that generally equals 2 percent of your annual salary," as well as "an on-site fitness center with aerobics, free weights, and nautilus equipment that costs $12 per month."
Not too shabby
Through its perks and a variety of other methods, "the company does take care of its employees." Says one insider, "they do hearing tests and all kinds of other things to make sure you are not dying on the job. They kind of frown [on] that." Those who do manange to survive rave about their surroundings. "The buildings here are beautiful," opines an insider. "They are the only ones in Houston made of all-granite exteriors. The lobbies are very professional and we have a really nice corporate dining room where for only $6.50 you can have such entrees as prime rib and grilled shrimp. The meal ticket includes soup, salad, entree, and dessert. We also have a cafe here that offers a variety of entrees and snacks including breakfast."
Furthermore, BFI seems to foster a close, friendly environment, lauds a source. "Each group pretty much enjoys their own happy hours and birthday gatherings, as well as wedding and baby showers. I've made several friends here."
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Human Resources
(281) 870-7255
281-870-7266
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Solid-waste collection;Solid-waste transfer & disposal;Recycling services;Medical waste;Portable restroom service;Street sweeping;Parking lot sweeping
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