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Take your own tea/coffee to work. - Assistant Environmental Consultant Atkins Employee Review

1.0
Jul 21, 2021
Recommend
CEO approval
Business Outlook

Pros

The best part was the constant stress of fulfilling time-sheet obligations (~ 95% billable time at a minimum). This gave me sleepless nights and I lost about two stones or nearly 12 kilos in terms of body weight due to stress. This was great as I didn't have to take any gym membership (not that I could afford one). Low starting salary and subsequent pay freezes also meant I could only afford limited food and couldn't eat out or take out. This meant that my caloric intake was limited and I led a healthy fat-free life.

Cons

They take cost-cutting rather seriously. There was a coffee-machine (percolator) in the office when I first started. It was useful as it was the only place I could get decent coffee (as I could barely afford a £2.50 coffee outside on my graduate pay). They threw away the machine citing a monthly expense of £250 on coffee beans (for circa 100 staff). By the time I left, they also kept the tea-bags locked up in a cupboard lest some member of the staff drank more than their usually allocated amount of tea. There was also a time when staff couldn't claim expenses on teas/coffees/bottled water/soft drinks if they are out on client meetings or site visits (not sure if it is still applicable - please check with hiring manager if you're interviewing).

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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