Pros
I cannot say enough great things about B&G. Brasfield & Gorrie truly values each employee; and, although it is a large company, it feels like one big and extended family. Each office is like a distant cousin, unique in its own special way, but still very much part of the same family as a whole. The same applies to job sites; on a personal level, I’m especially proud of these teammates as they physically push their bodies to the limits and bring the visions to life. It’s amazing to watch and see these hard workers day in day out, showing up and working with a smile. Even in 100* heat. They smile and are kind and happy. Overall, everyone really works well together-it’s a team (not man for him/herself) mentality, and employees are helpful, kind and actively work to build trustworthy relationships with one another. Encouragement from peers and leadership is always present. You do not have to feel isolated, and even if there is a struggle in one area or department, there is always someone willing to listen and help! We all feel and are aware that it takes a village to make a project successful-this includes every role, every person, every subcontractor and the many, many others involved along the way. When an employee has a personal issue, the company is extremely understanding and accommodating and intentionally does the best it can to help however and whatever is needed. Brasfield and Gorrie feels to me like a series of completed puzzles. Without each piece fitting exactly, precisely where it should go, it remains incomplete. This is why we are successful. We recognize each puzzle piece, although different from the other, is of an equal asset to the accomplished final picture. Our projects when finished, are puzzles that have come together perfectly. We may have a few pieces we needed to figure out along the way, but in the end, everything is a perfect fit. It’s a beautiful picture. I left Brasfield & Gorrie and was fortunately able to return again in a different capacity. I had what appeared to be an incredible opportunity and went to work with a similar company, of similar size in a similar organization. Beyond that, nothing was similar. The Brasfield & Gorrie culture is hard to put into words, but it’s one where you aren’t just a number or name. You are a person, someone who is valued and made to feel included. People are willing to hear your voice! I immediately missed my “home” aka…place of previous employment at BG and regretted leaving. Life has funny ways of working itself out, and now I’m back with a different group, in a different area, and a totally different position and my feelings are even more certain than they were before. There is nowhere I’d rather work than Brasfield & Gorrie.
Cons
Okay, I’ll be totally honest here too. The cons I can think of are ironically also pros. However, I’ll focus on why I feel these items lean slightly more towards cons. Brasfield &Gorrie is now at its 3rd generation of succession. This means we see those who built the business are no longer “working,” those who grew the business are heading out soon for retirement and lots of new, young employees are entering into the family workplace because we are growing so quickly! (Which is another PRO!) We are fortunate enough to have several of our founders and founding families come to the office to say hello, maybe do a quick workout or escape to a quiet place to do a bit of personal work. It is so amazing that this happens!!!! (PRO 100%) B&G is a forward thinking organization and had plans in place for internal promotions in Senior Management and Leadership positions to fulfill these succession plans. (PRO) Those who are soon becoming the leadership of the 3rd succession, mostly been here long enough to understand exactly what it means to say you work for Brasfield & Gorrie. A HUGE pro is that B&G didn’t bring in, or hire, many Executive and Senior Management positions. This means this new and growing core Executive team will be responsible to keep the culture and company atmosphere as it is and intended. I’m proud to say most of these positions come from within, as they should. (HUGE PRO) B&G hires leaders and grows and cultivates them into leadership roles and positions, which means we have A LOT of potentially excellent young leaders in training. (PRO) However, the con to me is that I’m sad to see the second generation gearing up for retirement, especially when there is such an influx of new and younger employees. There are so many new faces and I think it’s important for these new teammates to see/know/understand where and how Brasfield & Gorrie came from. The respect and admiration I hold for those who have worked long hours, days, months, years and generations is something that is seen and experienced. When you see it, you cannot help but to have an immediate respect and desire to be the same way. With all the growth and changes, I don’t see these younger new employees having any historical knowledge or access to the first and second generation of Executives and Leaders. This is the biggest con of all. In another 50 years, I’d love to see people share the same feeling and emotion as those who were here 50 years ago.
