Too many layers. Controlling management both in the US and from France.
In the US at each business there is a management level who try to run their business at each location but also have to do whatever France decides - even when it is very counter produtive to growing the business and selling the product. Then there is for some businesses a C suite level who are useless, their role is to get on planes to rack up miles and go to meetings that resolve nothing and help with nothing, eat expensive meals and collect big paychecks. Those at the C level show up at things, add NO Value, and no little about the industry or products. Then, they moan about the travel This level does nothing to help the businesses grow. Next there is a puzzling level called "Fives Inc" in the US. They help hire the wrong people for uper management and keep adding C suite level people, they are there for oversight for France, but they DO NOT want truthful feedback if it is in any way evenly mildly negative, even if helpful. And yet another layer are the teams in France. These teams in France love the layers because it abdicates them from any responsibility when business aren't doing well - they blame the layers underneath. All these layers completely Stifle innovation. There is no money left for R&D, or pay raises. The lack of R& D money will kill the companies.
France management has no respect for the history of the companies in the U.S.A. and for the people that know the industries and customer bases.
If you dare to leave your company, Fives management, at all the levels (local, C, US management and France) will try to trash your name and reputation, trying to find dirt on people that leave. They do this because they know of the strong connections of employees to the customer base, and because Fives management are narcissists - they think they do no wrong. I refuse to participate in this. My moral compass set at a higher level than Fives and I wish my reports the best in their next venture.
Please note that the Fives HR and Comm departments went on a campaign to enlist positive reviews (writing their own) on several job sites in order to counter the HONEST reveiws that are negative.
