Not the best experience, overall, central leadership is out of touch with regional conditions. - Architect HDR Employee Review

2.0
Feb 4, 2013
Recommend
CEO approval
Business Outlook

Pros

Can have exciting projects, when office actually has projects.

Cons

Decision to layoff half of our office was made at corporate headquarters with little input form local leadership. DId not take the time to really look at who did what at local office, and who had value beyond what they were being told. Did not take into account past contributions of people like myself who had travelled every week at times for the good of the company and projects.

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.

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