Held Back by Suffocating, Unprofessional Culture - Anonymous employee FORMS + SURFACES Employee Review

1.0
Mar 13, 2020
Anonymous employee
Recommend
CEO approval
Business Outlook

Pros

The Phoenix facilities are gorgeous and functional. Lower-level employees are fantastic and work hard to make sure product gets produced quickly and accurately. Pay was in line with market rates, and I personally had a good team to work within. The products themselves are quite good and innovative in some regards.

Cons

An unfortunate amount of unprofessionalism and blatant favoritism. I have witnessed managers screaming and cursing at factory employees...it was reminiscent of temper tantrums that children have. As an office worker, this was extremely uncomfortable and saddening to see as the workers on the floor are what make this company profitable. In distinct contrast, sales employees are treated as the golden children of the company. They are vital employees that work very hard and function as the frontline to customers, and so deserve the good treatment they receive—but so does everyone else F+S employs. It’s clear that much of the leadership haven’t worked at other companies (this is a drawback, not a positive. Upward mobility for most employees is not probable because nobody ever leaves their position.) because this type of behavior would not be tolerated. It is toxic to productivity and morale of the entire workforce, not just the workers on the floor, and enables a fear-based culture. Additionally, I’m personally quite disappointed by the HR responses to these reviews. It perfectly illustrates my thoughts on what can be improved above.

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FORMS + SURFACES Response
6y
Thanks for the honest feedback. I wish that had been brought to the attention of management or HR during your stay as we will listen and seek to improve. We have made numerous improvements throughout the organization and continue to try and better our entire experience.

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5.0
Feb 13, 2025
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Pros

US-based manufacturer of architectural finishes, systems, and outdoor furnishings. Beautiful products and good management. Straightforward and high yielding commission structure.

Cons

Managers have very strong personalities. Yearly raises would be nice.

3.0
Apr 27, 2026
Recommend
CEO approval
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Pros

Steady hours, reasonable starting wages and benefits. Reasonable on the job training for inexperienced welders finishers and material handlers.

Cons

Toxic culture in upper management with a don't rock the boat mentality. Little to no upward mobility. Little emphasis on safety until someone is injured and they may be subject to liability. They will fire people for voicing legitimate safety concerns. Raises are nonnegotiable and would never exceed 2%.

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FORMS + SURFACES Response
2mo
Thank you for taking the time to share your feedback. We’re glad to hear you found value in the steady hours, benefits, and the opportunity to gain experience in manufacturing. Creating an environment where employees across all departments—production, maintenance, engineering, and support roles—can learn and grow is a key priority for us. We also take your concerns seriously. Safety is a core focus, and we are continuously working to strengthen our safety culture. This includes regular training, open reporting channels, and a safety incentive program designed to encourage proactive identification and resolution of potential hazards. Our goal is to ensure every employee feels comfortable raising concerns and contributing to a safe workplace. In terms of career growth, we have developed technical and professional career ladders that provide clear pathways for advancement across a wide range of roles within the company. These ladders are designed to recognize skill development, certifications, and performance, while offering employees greater visibility into long-term career opportunities and provides the data to provide merit-based raises. We understand that workplace culture and communication are critical, and we are actively working to improve transparency, leadership engagement, and consistency in how policies are applied. We would also like to clarify that our company does not penalize employees for using approved PTO. We encourage employees to use their earned time off and are committed to administering our policies fairly and consistently. We appreciate you sharing your perspective and will take your feedback into consideration as we continue to evaluate and strengthen our workplace practices. We wish you success in your future endeavors.
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