Pros
The salary is competitive, and the benefits are okay. The new engineer training program is excellent, and may make this a decent place for a recent graduate to start. There are many good people within the rank and file of this company. I have heard that the new CEO has made significant changes in upper management, and this is probably a positive change.
Cons
Lyondell was a good place to work. I had respect for its top management. With the acquisition/merger with Basell, that all changed. I feel that LyondellBasell was badly managed. The company was forced into bankruptcy in January 2009 and the CEO "elected to pursue other opportunities" in May. They eliminated about 20 % of their workforce, in an apparently haphazard fashion. I know of several excellent engineers who were let go, while others less competent were retained. The people remaining are stretched way too thin. From what I have heard, it has become a stressful and often unpleasant place to work. Perhaps the new (current) CEO has started to turn things around, and perhaps the company will become a better place to work after the bankruptcy is settled. Or perhaps not.
