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Cummings Properties

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Look elsewhere - Construction Worker Cummings Properties Employee Review

1.0
Apr 12, 2024
Recommend
CEO approval
Business Outlook

Pros

Overtime, nothing else is positive

Cons

Bad work environment, bad management, military style management, very very cheap, doesn’t like to take care of its buildings properly, doesn’t like to give its employees credit for the work we do. Working here has a very bad life/work balance. Management argues with you constantly, ZERO communication. You need to learn the “Cummings Way” in order to like it here which is the wrong way of how to do things.

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Cummings Properties Response
2y
We were disappointed to see this review, as it thoroughly mischaracterizes our corporate culture and business practices. The comments about management style and communication are particularly surprising, given our longstanding emphasis on collaboration. We believe that the frequent exchange of opinions and ideas between colleagues at all levels enables teams to produce the best possible results. Cummings is also transparent in its commitment to sustainability: we do not discard functioning equipment and quality materials simply because they are no longer new. We employ green business practices to deliver superior values to our clients while maintaining a high standard of service. With exceptional client service sometimes requiring extra time and effort, we are pleased to offer opportunities to earn overtime pay to interested colleagues. Such opportunities are voluntary, allowing each individual to control their own work/life balance. We’d appreciate the opportunity to address this colleague’s specific concerns, and strongly encourage them to take advantage of Cummings’ liberal open-door policy by speaking candidly with any of the Company’s managers, including the president, CEO, or HR manager—after all, initiating such conversations was for many senior managers the first step toward earning their current roles.

Explore other reviews about Cummings Properties

5.0
May 4, 2024
Recommend
CEO approval
Business Outlook

Pros

Cummings is a great and professional company that manages to make you feel at home and welcome. The welcoming attitude of fellow coworkers and management alike makes it a great place to work.

Cons

Sometimes the days are long however flexible hours and available overtime makes it easy enough to fit most schedules.

1.0
Jul 8, 2025
Recommend
CEO approval
Business Outlook

Pros

There is an opportunity to make really good money here if you're willing to work 50+hrs for it. Non-management level staff are nice, normal, and down-to-earth people . Standard work environment in that regard. Free parking and lunch.

Cons

The Beverly office was straight out of the movie Office Space, cant speak so much on the Woburn office. Giant outdated cubicles, desk phones, technology and computers from the late 1990s/early 2000s. and filing cabinets filled to the brim with old lease documents. Absolutely zero Zoom or Microsoft Teams capability in their conference rooms. A kitchen/breakroom with three seats for an office of 30+ people. Despite coworkers being friendly with one another, there was always a sense of rock-bottom morale and negativity and that the company culture would never evolve and continue. It truly seems like nothing has changed since the 1970s...oh for the exception of no longer having to wear a tie which I think only became a policy in the mid 2010s. Some of the posts on this page from 10 years ago might as well have been written 10 hours ago. It sounds like the culture is ingrained and will never change. Some of the longer tenured staff have been there so long (and for the vast majority of their professional career) that they know no other way how to work or deal with people. Sometimes, longevity is the not the best thing for a company culture, and promoting staff who only echo what senior executives want to see or hear is the wrong way forward. Micromanaging is off the charts, even going as far to proofread basic email communications up to 3x or 4x before sending out to a client, only for the client to give a 10 word normal response. The policing of communications, even internal communication (you always need to bcc yourself) is outrageous and is a way for managers to constantly ensure the "Cummings Way" is enforced. Rampant firings and stern talking to's were always a thing. I saw senior level male staff reprimand female staff for wearing too tight of clothing or showing too much skin, as well as male staff being spoken to for having too much stubble on their face. Let people live and let people work without feeling self-conscious. No flexibility, specifically for childcare or hybrid work. 8-5 or 9-6 butts in seats schedule, zero exception. I knew of colleague's spouses who wanted them to quit before having kids....because of the lack of time and support the spouse would receive because of the Cummings work schedule. That's a true story. You'd think the pandemic would wake up even a commercial real estate firm that the "future of work" is not M-F for a 9 hr in-office shift, but not Cummings. I know so many people who spent hours "checking in on clients or prospects" when in reality they were hiding or crying in their cars or a vacant office suite. Despite the company doing a ton for charity (and they do a lot), that's unfortunately the culture that exists within their own walls. And I don't foresee that changing. Ever. It's sad. People here are legitimately brainwashed, and those who leave while they can are lucky.

1
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Cummings Properties Response
1y
We’re pleased to see that this reviewer appreciated our firm’s highly competitive compensation and benefits, warm and collegial team dynamic, and support of several hundred community-based nonprofits. That said, much of the remainder of the review is somewhat perplexing—particularly the remarks concerning progress, longevity, and morale. Collaboration is a cornerstone of our corporate culture. Team members are encouraged to share new ideas freely and to make full use of our open-door policy, which includes access to any manager, up to and including the president, CEO, and HR manager. More often than not, it is this proactive approach—not seniority or deference to executives—that has propelled many of our current senior leaders into their roles. We recognize that no workplace will be the perfect fit for everyone. However, we’re proud that the average tenure of our full-time staff—among them many women and working parents in leadership roles—exceeds 10 years. We believe this speaks volumes about the positive and rewarding work environment at Cummings, and sincerely hope this reviewer has found a similarly fulfilling opportunity in their current position.
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