customer service representative

intern

software engineer

actuary

director of financial planning and analysis

Ameritas Life Insurance Corp

"Ameritas is committed to assisting associates in maintaining a healthy work/life balance by offering a number of flexible work schedule options. Telework is a term that describes a flexible work arrangement that allows associates to work at home...may include either all or part of an associate’s working schedule...Associates may be eligible for telework, pending approval from their manager...in consultation with the senior officer/business head, will determine if business goals can be met through a telework schedule...Job responsibilities and expectations are the same as if the associate were operating on site...Telework schedules may be arranged on a flexible basis whereby an associate may work partially off-site and partially at the office...Telework associates may be asked to work “core days” in the office to facilitate collaboration and teamwork."

Lack of work from home opportunities and a conservative, antiquated culture. Not because the system can't handle it; every employee is set up with Citrix access in which to access their desktop from anywhere. It only requires approval from the direct supervisor; but "some" departments/employees "don't work from home." And not because their jobs need them in the office everyday, like a call center, or something that is customer facing. I'm not talking about WFH everyday, just in rare instances, or core days a week. Supposedly, it's only because a few bad apples ruined it for the bunch. What's funny, is half the employees work from satellite offices, which isn't that different from WFH if you really think about it. They'd rather pay for half-empty satellite offices than allow for WFH. It's usually all sales people who are never there and a few support staff. It's like they depend on other employees to nark you out if you're naughty, potentially turning employees against each other. It's so backwards. Most competitors allow this feature because it's an inexpensive way to make employees happy, and could potentially cut down on overhead costs.

The training I received didn't come close to preparing me for the job. During training they try to push you on the phones as soon as possible regardless of the fact that there's the chance you're going to give people the wrong information. Then you've got to apologize profusely for people giving misinformation. I was told once by someone on the helpline, "it's the Ameritas way, you do something a certain way for years just to find out that you've been doing it wrong the whole time." I receive an attitude from coworkers I call on the helpline or any other department in the company. So not only do I have to deal with customers giving me a hard time I have to worry about my coworkers too. The answers they want us to give insured members are super vague and I find myself realizing that I'm not actually helping these people almost at all. I wanted to make a difference but instead I'm answering for the decisions of higher ups that I'm never ever going to meet. The pay is not worth the pain and the insurance they provide has such a high deductible it's crazy. You would think as an insurance company they would want to take care of their employees in terms of insurance coverage. I recently qualified for free therapy sessions based off of my income, how high my insurance deductible is and my monthly expenses. While that sounds great and all I feel like I shouldn't qualify for something like that when I'm working full time with overtime added to it every single week since I got out of training. I'm tired, I'm constantly on the verge of a mental breakdown, and I'm barely making ends meet. This company needs to take care of their employees better.

In the claims and benefits department, there is almost always mandatory overtime, even when they tell you they will eventually cut back on the overtime. The pay is decent but the benefits are horrible. You are subject to a very strict schedule that you must adhere to if you want to move up at all in the company. It also affects your yearly bonus/raise. If you make one mistake on a claim you process, it affects your performance. There is next to nobody there is you need help, and when you do reach out, most people talk to you like you are in idiot and you can tell they are frustrated that they have to assist you. Management is a joke. Your team leaders pick and choose who they want to favor. They ignore everyone else or are very snarky to those they do not prefer. They just changed to paid time off guidelines in 2018. Prior to 2018, they gave you all the PTO you were eligible at the beginning of the year and told everyone they had to use it or they would lose it. In November of 2017, after most people had used their PTO, they sent out notice that starting January 2018, you had to accrue all PTO. Therefore, nobody had PTO at the beginning of the year. The flu went around the office and several people either stayed at work and passed the flu around because they couldn't afford to go home and not get paid, or others went home and missed out on pay. They were also subject to disciplinary action because they didn't have PTO. This is a long review and I could go on even more but I would not recommend this company/position.

Since when did it become acceptable for HR or any dept to respond and debate a former or current employees' opinion, review and experience at a company?? Why has someone been given the task of responding to each and every review with their own spin or explanation(s)?! Job seekers depend on these reviews when considering the type of employer they want to work for/with and I, personally, depend on them being as honest and forthright as possible. Having someone from the company being reviewed come behind them with passive aggressive responses when no one requested their input is borderline threatening to anyone who leaves a review that doesn't make the company look good. My experiences are mine and what I've witnessed at a workplace is MY version of events to tell. It is extremely arrogant for ameritas to feel the need to contradict a bad review and enthusiastically thank the ones who left good ones. On one response, ameritas had the audacity to explain why the reviewer felt the way he/she did and used their working from home to reason away the review they left. Seems to me ameritas is aware they have more negative than positive reviews from current and prior employees and are doing damage control. But what they're actually doing is revealing who they are and confirming the statements made about them. There IS a lack of diversity. There IS favoritism and cliques. There ARE TeamLeaders who socialize with certain members of their own teams outside of work almost weekly. Ameritas' damage control may try to spin it, twist it and turn it or try to explain it away but truth never changes.

I worked at Ameritas for a total of 17 years. I became close to my coworkers and managers. It was a team environment. In the early years I was able to work four ten hour days. Enjoyed that extra day off. My primary job duties consisted of paying dental and vision claims at a high rate per day. Speed was a factor in the review process. 

Eventually phone calls were incorporated in our day regarding inquiries of claim and policy guidelines. I took from 80 to 100 calls a day in addition to processing claims. We were the sounding board of the company.

 My annual reviews didn't allow for any significant salary increase. So I was very unhappy with the expectations put upon me. I tried for 6 years to move to a different department. Received numerous interviews, but felt since I lacked a college degree, was unable to advance. 

I did work in underwriting for a very short period. Left the company the first time to be a stay at home mother. Upon reentering the company in 2006, I was again working in the original claims department primarily taking phone calls. That proved to be disheartening. Sometimes working in a corporate setting isn't very fulfilling.

It was a terrible job for someone with a disability. The training was horrible and quick-more than half the class failed after training which says a lot. Many things missed and not explained thoroughly. I had to quit because their expectations were too much for a normal person to handle. Not APA nor HIPAA friendly. You were berated constantly to the point people left including me. I had to report the trainers to the Corporate office and stated they broke HIPAA laws (even though they enforce them with other clients, just not their own people) regarding my disability. I know I could do the job with adequate training. The trainers were constantly angry and they would call you "kiddo" even if I was 47 years old. Being in government for 15 years, the trainers blamed everyone for not succeeding instead of themselves. It was just not a friendly place. The ONLY thing enjoyable about the job was the friends you would make there. I was embarrassed many times because of stupid mistakes the trainers made. They just wanted warm bodies in seats. I overheard the call center was at 40% capacity. Not my issue. However, I'm going to contact APA and I'm going to contact the BBB in regards to this company.

Pay is adequate and benefits are decent, team leads are lenient on genuine mistakes and usually friendlym
They require you to use PTO for EVERYTHING, and they're extremely bad with sick days, medical leave, along with FMLA since it's outsourced to a third party.
The technology here is extremely outdated, quite literally the same programs they've been using since before 2000, and the IT team is VERY slow to respond to major problems. The EDI team expects everyone to know the internal and back end of their work and understand every TPA when you don't work on their team.

If you work hard and do a good job they just saddle you with more work but no better pay, nor respect. They lied to numerous people about their prospects of working hybrid or remote, and they dragged their feet for over a year to inform people they promised this to; this was the last straw leading to good workers leaving.

Half the training team is friendly and helpful, however one of them is extremely toxic and well known for making newer people cry after grilling them over minor mistakes, along with giving associates demeaning nicknames and making fun of them when they upset someone. I have no idea why she is still there nor why she is never punished for this.

What is the best part of working at the company?
Really awesome trying to help people when you don't have help yourself. This company is cheap, the pay is poor, it's stressful, all they care about is how much they can squeeze out of you while you struggle to pay rent. It's an amazing opportunity! 

What is the most stressful part about working at the company?
Very poor training and after the poor training, they throw you on the phones. If you have questions, expect at least a half hour TAT, if you're answered at all. To top it off, when you are off the phones trying to figure out things(by yourself) they should have helped you with more in training, they're on your case about how you should be on the phones non stop. It's terrible. 

What is the work environment and culture like at the company?
Very lonely and soul crushing. Minimal support, and support that is given contradicts itself leaving you more confused then when you started. 

What is a typical day like for you at the company?
Hang in there, struggle to answer things that should be simple and straightforward. Get belittled by customers who don't realize the sh*tstorm you're dealing with. Almost daily break down in tears of immense frustration.

Since the takeover nearly ten years ago, the investment group has run out many professional, ethical, skilled people in favor of inexperienced under-performers focused on doing what they are told and collecting a paycheck every few weeks. If you want to develop and present interesting new investment ideas which could help the organization and its clients--forget it. You will be identified as a threat and treated as if you smell bad and steal lunches from the break-room refrigerator.

Management is narrow-minded and expects their old, tired ways to eventually be accepted by the rest of the investment world. Co-workers probably went to the University of Nebraska and majored in business. Most do not have advanced degrees or significant life experience outside Lancaster County, Nebraska. The hardest part of the job is forgetting your ambitions, but things get easier when you realize that you will be in the exact same job in 10/20/30 years because your career movement will be non-existent.

Training is 6 to 8 weeks and then after that there is a type of additional on the phone training  called Aftercare for 4 weeks. If you miss 1 day or if you get sick or have a emergency since life happens. Be prepared to be written up. Those hiring bonuses good luck with that. They will take them away for missing 1 day. Then if you have to leave for a half day cause you are ill. They will count it as a full day and threaten to fire you. 

There is an excessively high turnover due to that impossible rigid attendance rules.

The Training team is very harsh and micro managing.

The system they use is very old and  outdated dos system. Information is very difficult to find. Plus you have to go through so many F12 keys. 

They expect way too much for $15 an hour.

The medical Insurance is a very high deductible plan and the only option. To top it  off the insurance for the employee and spouse is $375 Per pay period. It is outrageous for a person making $15 hourly.
 

Top Job Titles	Average Salary
Customer service representative 10 salaries reported	$17.65 per hour
Intern 6 salaries reported	$19.17 per hour
Software engineer 7 salaries reported	$95,544 per year
Actuary 3 salaries reported	$89,333 per year
Director of financial planning and analysis 6 salaries reported	$114,500 per year

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