Allstate is a Fortune 500 company headquartered in Illinois.
The organization, which was founded in 1931, provides personal lines insurance coverage for over 16 million American households.
With over 113 million proprietary policies, Allstate is committed to ensuring every American has the coverage they need when they need it.
As part of their commitment to their insureds, Allstate has created a very employee-centric workplace environment.
The enterprise, which employs over 45,000 individuals and 8,400 independent agents, invests in its workforce through education, work-life balance support, and professional and personal development programs.
While Allstate is not the highest-paying insurance employer, employee morale is high and most employees remain with the company for at least five years.
Are you considering a career with Allstate?
If so, you’ll want to research the position you’re applying for, the required skills, schedule requirements, and the industry average for compensation.
After evaluating hundreds of employee reviews, we’ve compiled a list of the top-reported pros and cons of working for Allstate.
Read on to find out what past and current Allstate employees are saying about their employer and learn why Allstate consistently earns prestigious awards for its work.
Table of Contents
Pros of Working at Allstate
1. Empowered and Engaged Workforce
Studies indicate that an engaged workforce is 17% more productive and 21% more profitable.
Recognizing this value, Allstate has worked hard to create an environment that is inclusive, diverse, and inspiring.
Employees are encouraged to collaborate and be open to listening to different perspectives.
Workers must be able to work individually and be held accountable for their actions and decisions.
As a result, Allstate has created a workforce of individuals who continually strive to be the best version of themselves.
2. Supports Work-Life Balance for Every Employee
Allstate continues its efforts to deliver an engaging workplace environment by encouraging work-life balance for every team member.
The industry leader provides work-from-home options, flexible schedules, and access to several health and wellness programs.
Benefits designed to support work-life balance include:
- Paid Time Off (PTO) with the option to “buy” additional days
- PTO for company holidays, jury duty, bereavement, and naturalization
- Identity Protection Program
- Legal advice for qualifying issues
- Commuter Benefits Plan
- Buckle Up Baby Program
- The Good Hands People® Program
- Adoption reimbursement
- Dependent Day Care Flexible Spending Account
3. Employee Benefits Package
As a leader in the insurance industry, Allstate understands how important it is to have proper insurance when the unexpected occurs.
Its goal is to ensure every employee can rest easy, knowing they’ll be taken care of before, during, and after a medical event happens.
As a result, Allstate employees have access to a comprehensive benefits package, which includes the following:
- Multiple medical insurance policies to choose from
- Dental and Vision insurance
- Health Care Flexible Spending Account (FSA)
- Group Critical Illness Plan
- Group Accident Insurance Plan
- Group Hospital Indemnity Plan
- Accidental Death & Dismemberment Insurance
- Life Insurance
- Short and Long-Term Disability Insurance
Additionally, Allstate employees are vested in the Allstate Pension Plan after three years and can contribute up to 50% of their income in a matched 401(k) savings plan.
4. Professional Development Program
The Allstate management team believes that each individual should strive to grow, both professionally and personally, on a daily basis.
In an effort to support its employees on their journeys, the organization has developed several personal and professional development programs.
These support programs come in many different shapes and sizes, including:
- Internal advancement for open positions
- Talent Share – Provides access to short-term projects and experiences to help build and strengthen skill sets.
- Talent Connection – Talent and learning management system, where employees can access online webinars and sign up for seminars and classroom training courses. Courses cover everything from interpersonal and technical training to leadership development.
- Tuition Reimbursement
- Matching Grant Program through the Allstate Foundation
- Access to resources to help identify strengths and weaknesses
- Professional networking opportunities
- Leadership development training and support, including guest speakers and annual events
Employees are also encouraged to partner with a mentor and to ask for feedback from both management and their peers.
5. Job Security
While some employees report being micromanaged, most Allstate employees claim they feel a strong sense of job security.
This is in part due to management support and partly due to the organization’s willingness to invest in its workforce.
Unlike most industries, insurance is a fairly recession-proof industry, further adding to the job security that many Allstate employees feel.
6. Helping Others Throughout the Community
While many consumers detest the idea of purchasing insurance, the industry provides an invaluable service to its customers – being there for financial support during their time of need.
Since many consumers are intimidated by insurance and don’t understand the coverages they may need, it’s up to Allstate’s workforce to educate and guide them, both during, and after they’ve purchased a policy.
Allstate has taken this job very seriously since its inception in 1931.
Allstate has also created the Allstate Foundation, which was designed to support others through volunteering and financial donations to nonprofits. Some initiatives the Allstate Foundation supports include:
- Empowering our nation’s future leaders
- Disrupting the cycle of physical and emotional abuse
- Fighting for racial equality
- Leadership skills strengthening and education
7. Industry Leader in Innovation and Leadership
Innovation is key to every business’s success, and the insurance industry is no exception.
As the “good hands” insurance company, Allstate understands how important innovation is, both for its customers and employees.
The organization encourages communication and teamwork, as well as transparency.
The C-suite’s goal is to encourage consumers to embrace emerging technology, help others develop their leadership skills, and pave the way for a brighter future.
Cons of Working at Allstate
1. Hiring Unqualified Candidates
While it’s admirable that Allstate wants to help every American strengthen their leadership skills, not everyone is cut out to work in the insurance industry.
Insurance is a complicated product and it does require a particular mindset to excel in this line of work.
Some past Allstate employees feel that the hiring process needs to be more extensive.
They feel that new hires should have some relevant experience and that the hiring manager should be more clear regarding the amount of work that will be expected of them.
2. Limited Growth Opportunities
While Allstate has an extensive professional development program and resource library, some employees find that there is little room for growth.
If you have long-term professional goals in the insurance industry, you’ll want to focus on job openings at a corporate Allstate office as opposed to an agent’s office.
This will afford you greater opportunities to learn every aspect of the business, take advantage of educational opportunities, and network within the organization.
3. Employees Feel Micromanaged
Like many corporate settings, employees from some departments report feeling micromanaged.
Their time is monitored down to the second, with little room for bathroom breaks or to take notes about a recent call.
These employees felt their managers did not trust them to perform their jobs well, which affects the overall morale of the department.
4. Challenging and Stressful Work
There’s no denying that working in the insurance industry can be stressful at times.
Employees working in the call center and in sales indicate that the work can be stressful and challenging, particularly during certain times of the year.
Depending on the department you’re assigned to, you may be expected to reach certain sales goals.
Some employees find these goals are higher than they should be and worried about the repercussions of not meeting these goals.
5. Inefficient Onboarding Training
Despite Allstate’s emphasis on education and leadership development, polling of current and past employees revealed that some workers feel the company’s initial training program needs to be improved.
This, coupled with the fact that many new hires are inexperienced, impacts the organization on every level.
It creates additional work for more experienced employees and lowers morale in the entire department.
6. Pay Is Lower Than the National Average
While the average Allstate employee earns over $140,000 annually, research shows that the organization pays lower than the national average.
Some positions offer the opportunity to earn bonuses, but this is limited to a few departments.
If you feel you would be a good fit and possess the necessary skills and experience to perform your job well, make sure you’re fully prepared for your interview.
Do research on industry compensation standards, particularly for the job you would be performing.
Over 40% of male and female candidates used this information to negotiate a higher starting salary with Allstate.
7. High Turnover Rate
Unfortunately, the insurance industry is known for having a high employee turnover rate.
There are a number of reasons for this, including the high-pressure and high-stress environment and the need to stay current on legislative changes in the industry.
In an effort to reduce employee turnover, Allstate created People Experience and Culture teams.
These teams were created to gather employee feedback and information regarding their preferences, beliefs, and needs.
The results have been astounding.
The workplace culture has improved, and the company’s attrition rates have significantly reduced.
14 Pros and Cons of Working for Allstate Insurance – Summary Table
| Pros of Working at Allstate | Cons of Working at Allstate |
|---|---|
| 1. Empowered and Engaged Workforce | 1. Hiring Unqualified Candidates |
| 2. Supports Work-Life Balance for Every Employee | 2. Limited Growth Opportunities |
| 3. Employee Benefits Package | 3. Employees Feel Micromanaged |
| 4. Professional Development Program | 4. Challenging and Stressful Work |
| 5. Job Security | 5. Inefficient Onboarding Training |
| 6. Helping Others Throughout the Community | 6. Pay Is Lower Than the National Average |
| 7. Industry Leader in Innovation and Leadership | 7. High Turnover Rate |
Should You Work at Allstate?
While every workplace has its weaknesses, most past and current Allstate employees are satisfied with their employer and would recommend working for the company.
The enterprise takes its commitment to education and leadership seriously and recognizes that this commitment starts with them.
Its management team has created a workplace environment conducive to learning and growth, making changes whenever necessary.
Before you decide if Allstate is right for you, we encourage you to consider what’s important to you in the workplace.
Read employee reviews and research what your employment options are, both now and in the future, with the company.
Finding the right position will help set you up for long-term success.
