Terrible work environment, favoritism, and politics - Field Engineer Hensel Phelps Employee Review

Strong values & great managers.

Work load can get heavy and you may relocate.

Gained valuable experience working on large, fast-paced projects that helped me grow technically and professionally. I had the opportunity to learn about field operations, coordination, documentation, safety, and how major projects are managed day to day. There were also several hardworking and knowledgeable people I worked with, especially in the field, who took pride in their work and helped me learn. The experience challenged me and gave me skills that I will carry forward in my career.

One example that stood out was seeing jobsite resources used in a way that felt inappropriate. During a period when field employees were working 12+ hour days in extreme summer heat, it was observed ice from the jobsite ice machine being used to fill a cooler of beer. That created a perception that leadership priorities were disconnected from the needs of the field. Compensation fairness was another concern. In some cases, it appeared that new hires were starting at higher salaries than employees who had been with the company longer and had more experience. That created frustration and made it feel like loyalty, performance, and field experience were not always valued or rewarded fairly. There were also concerns about inconsistent accountability and the perception of favoritism. At times, it appeared that company policies were not enforced consistently across employees, which hurt trust and morale. Employees were left with the impression that personal relationships with senior supervisors could influence how situations were handled.