Don Robertson has brought up in employee town halls and other forums that Northwestern Mutual pay's for performance. What employees have seen is nothing farther from the truth regarding their merit which will average ~1-2 percent this year. What we are seeing in the tech space workers leaving at a higher clip then prior which is to be expected but in the town halls where every leader is patting themselves on the back about records it does not trickle down the workers. NM is not able to currently pay or keep top talent in Milwaukee or the nation.
Like others have mentioned there is no faith in Don's leadership as they are all handpicked cronies that say his policy. As a workforce there is no faith in his leadership which they have given him the nickname silver fox because you never trust a fox. The tech function under Neal is currently setting up an HR group to bypass Don and team because of the gross mismanagement of the function. This may save tech but other functions feel the same.
If you come to NM ask for the world stay 2-3 years then, current workers welcome to 70-80 percent of midpoint with no possibility of catching up :(
On a positive note Don got his first linkedin article, google it and look at the picture as his leaping out of the picture at you :)