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Unfair internal politics, no opportunities, layers upon layers of incompetent management - Senior Engineer Atkins Employee Review

2.0
Mar 11, 2017
Recommend
CEO approval
Business Outlook

Pros

Good work-life balance, it is not a sweat-shop like some other engineering companies. Good benefits. Good for new graduates as the company does not care much about competency or experience: new graduates can get an opportunity to advance very early in their career without any competence, knowledge and experience.

Cons

Unfair internal politics, incompetent clueless managers will dictate your life, from the project you are given to the supervisor/manager you are given (and some of them are very mean). Nothing is based on the actual competency of staff, just politics and appearances. Hard work, experience and/or competency are never rewarded. (The only reward is bullying) If their incompetent managers fail to find work, Atkins will just get rid of staff, not the managers who failed to do their job. Also the management is only interested in their own career progress and make sure they are rewarded/ promoted, they will never lift a finger to help you and/or look after you. One example of their management: when my manager asked me to do p'way design, I explained that it is another branch of engineering and it's not what we do. The manager then informed directors that I refused to do work and cooperate and I was removed from the project. Just because the manager did not know what p'way is!

Explore other reviews about Atkins

5.0
Oct 13, 2023
Recommend
CEO approval
Business Outlook

Pros

A lot of work to be done Many opportunities to try different things

Cons

Advancement can be hard Working alongside underperformers

2.0
Nov 17, 2016
Anonymous employee
Recommend
CEO approval
Business Outlook

Pros

Job and a paycheck but in a house of cards.

Cons

Wow, be careful! Atkins North America was acquired when Atkins in London bought a notorious US engineering based in Florida, PBS&J (Post, Buckley, Shuh and Jernigan). I didn't do enough research when hired and found out too late I was working for a company that has been prosecuted multiple times for serious illegalities, and some of the executives who participated but escaped prosecution are still there! PBS&J has been indicted for bribing government officials, illegal campaign contributions, and was a private company put on the chopping blocks to sell for being so poorly managed when several of the employees embezzled millions upon millions of dollars. As recent as 2016 the company was struggling financially because of legal costs and fines to the extent the focus became finishing out existing contracts rather than procuring new ones...an indicator they do not want new business and are likely to chop off the US engineering wing and spin those employees out to another company. Do your research before accepting a job there, the good old boy network that didn't previously get caught or prosecuted in the illegalities is still working there, and they haven't changed much in being secretive about what they are doing!! Get everything in writing as they are all about the bait and switch.

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