Avantages
Optimum is hands off in day-to-day operations, allowing branches to handle things for themselves. Management is interested in growth and innovation, and the company does what it can to evolve in terms of technology and product offerings. There is a realistic approach to business and to the world of insurance.
Inconvénients
Other insurance companies offer better benefit packages and compensation - for example Optimum has a deductible on healthcare benefits making it much less valuable for generally healthy individuals and there is no coverage for vision and glasses.
Retirement benefits consist of matching only with no base amount andare based on age - younger individuals are not able to take full advantage of matched benefits, going from 3% to 5% and eventually 7% based on your age.
Salaries seem to be in line with other companies, however there is virtually no bonus structure, profit sharing, or employee recognition/rewards. There's a possible small Christmas bonus, but compared to the thousands of dollars that other insurance companies give in bonuses during profitable years, it's not competitive.
As a small company, opportunities for advancement are difficult to come by outside of the core offices in Ontario and Quebec, and French language skills seem to be a must for advancement.