Ventajas
The community and coworkers of a shop are generally great, supportive, and well-meaning. Access to incredible resources, more or less $2mil of equipment, software, and workspace. Creative freedom with projects and some ability to provide input on a store level. Due to active outreach efforts, there are many opportunities to become better connected in the tech world and the Bay Area.
Desventajas
Atrocious communication between all levels. Management of store is split between overworked lead positions more so than a single store manager. Improper behavior by management staff on several occasions. Customers and staff alike have reported it made them uncomfortable. Favorites are chosen, others are disrespected, misogyny is frequent. No chance for a raise, no matter how long one has worked there. Despite lengthy training, all staff are officially judged at a 6 month expectancy and are always expendable. Poor organization and planning between the floor level, events, education, and leads. Problems that are caused from these problems fall upon those who get paid the least with seemingly little accountability to others. Painfully obvious that for the quality of work expected, all staff are egregiously underpaid. HR is biased and ineffective, no accountability within the company when serious issues are brought HR. Management actively intercepts meetings with HR for damage control. Semi-regular delays in pay for contractors. Overuse of contractors compared to paid staff. New "lead positions" are just glorified contractors. Older locations are not properly taken care of, lack of resources to properly perform while working. Lackluster efforts in relocating the original shop. Poor resources compared to those at newer shops, while new partnerships may have enabled company expansion, there seems to be a severe lack of attention and priority to their foundation.