Mixed feelings - Engineer Pape-Dawson Employee Review

3.0
Jul 16, 2019
Recommend
CEO approval
Business Outlook

Pros

NOTE: Your experience will vary depending on office. This is a review for the main branch - Good benefits; OT pay (straight hours) for salaried employees and end of year bonus - Involved in the community through outreach and charity; company mission / values - Promotions and career growth available for entry level positions - Some flexibility in working hours off to take time during the week - some great people at this company, and if you have a chance to work with/under them, then your experience can be enjoyable. Your direct manager has a large impact on job satisfaction - overall grateful for the opportunity and experience - a Lot of work available for you, and to work OT, if that is what you want (see CONS)

Cons

If you value work-life balance, this is not the best option for employment. Expect to churn out work like a factory, with little to no appreciation of work done. The only time management will comment on your work is when it was not to completed to their expectations, and during annual review. There is more work to do than there are people to do it. Sometimes your manager/supervisor will inflate the urgency of work, which you can complete and then have it sitting on a desk to be reviewed for another two weeks. You'll always feel behind unless you're willing to work 55+ hours a week, and also made to feel like an under-performing employee if you don't put in those hours. There are cars at the office before 6:30AM, cars at the office after 7:30PM, cars at the office on the weekends. Because they pay you when you work OT, they expect you to work OT. - PMs / VPs can be hit or miss; some great engineers do not make great managers - Attitude of upper management can be condescending - there is an open door policy but depending on your boss, you probably won't feel comfortable using it - As others have mentioned, no use of music during work hours. Depending on coworkers in the vicinity, this can be very annoying. There are chatty people, heavy breathers, snackers... - 2 weeks for first 7 years of employment and expect jokes when you actually utilize your vacation time - Can be a pro for some, but very traditional and conservative - Very little formal training for new hires except through videos (to be watched/studied on your own time) and occasional lunch and learns. Expected to learn from asking/watching others, who may or may not have time for you. On the other end of the spectrum, when training others, you are expected to maintain productivity

Explore other reviews about Pape-Dawson

5.0
Jun 27, 2026
Recommend
CEO approval
Business Outlook

Pros

Faith based company with personable leadership.

Cons

Pressure to perform with project metrics

1.0
Jul 2, 2026
Anonymous employee
Recommend
CEO approval
Business Outlook

Pros

Opportunity to work on significant projects

Cons

Hostile work environment, low pay, burnout

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