Staff is talented. Leadership lacks agility. - Manager HDR Employee Review

4.0
Jul 17, 2018
Recommend
CEO approval
Business Outlook

Pros

HDR has grown by acquisition to get the best talent they can. HDR does a little bit of everything, and thus inspires engineers and scientists of many persuasions. HDR has many initiatives in support and development of staff. Corporate values are shared and emphasized with staff.

Cons

While HDR's work is diverse, when you get down to the local level, there are many cliques and silos. Lip service is paid to worksharing and cross-training, but ultimately, whatever benefits the bottom line the best wins the day. This puts short term profit over long term investment in staff and growth in the marketplace. Your experience as an employee is highly dependent on the skill and professionalism of the local managers. Note that engineers (including those in the C-Suite) don't necessarily make the best Executives... especially when an executive has to make business decisions on businesses that are outside his professional experience.

Explore other reviews about HDR

5.0
Jun 24, 2026
Recommend
CEO approval
Business Outlook

Pros

Fantastic teamwork. The Coastal Group is very close and highly collaborative. There is a lot of support from upper management in the Coastal Group. Lots of projects lined up.

Cons

PTO and Sick Leave are tied together.

1.0
May 19, 2026
Recommend
CEO approval
Business Outlook

Pros

Decent benefits and that was about it.

Cons

This was one of the most challenging management experiences of my career. The manager had spent her entire career at HDR and lacked both external perspective and experience in learning and development, which was critical for our team. There was a clear pattern of favoritism, and feedback tended to focus more on mistakes than recognizing contributions. Work-life balance was minimal, and expectations often extended beyond reasonable limits. I was consistently seeking growth and development opportunities, but these were not supported unless I was willing to fund them myself. Compensation and recognition also felt uneven. Outside of engineering and architecture roles, bonuses were not offered, and raises were infrequent—I received only two raises over four years. Although I’ve since moved on, the experience had a lasting impact on me. I would encourage the organization to invest more in leadership development, employee growth, and a more balanced and supportive workplace culture.

1
See reviews by: Helpful|Rating|Date|All