Pros
Great benefits, and a really supportive environment -institutionally, and personally in my office- when I had to go on family medical leave a few years back. Some hours and telecommuting flexibility (not the same across the County), great for a snow day and for family needs. In an office of workaholics, the boss models strong work-life balance and helpfully reminds us to go home to prevent burnout. Upper-level leadership shows a sincere commitment to continuous improvement and recognizing the value of its workforce. My particular office allows some opportunity to learn about and work with different County services and staff, listens to my input, and rarely (if ever) asks for work products and recommendations that won't be factored into decision-making (an improvement from some earlier years).
Cons
My non-union position happens to have deadlines unpalatable for summer vacations, and all that energy around continuous improvement some times leads to confusing guidance. Emphasis on the value of the workforce comes with the baggage of Old Union inertia, as well as antiquated employment practices that move like molasses, and are mainly based on seniority. See: average age is around 55 here. Currently has a convoluted (if extant at all) career path for my particular position, which management is working on fixing but results are not clear yet. I have seen quite a few good, bright colleagues leave for lack of advancement opportunities. Folks in my office are very empowered, but it can be tedious and painful to deal with some of the extremely bureaucratic functions of the County to get something done. The need for consensus-building, and consensus re-building can at times feel overwhelmingly tiresome. The slow grind of organizational change can seem glacial too.