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Perkins & Will

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A Good Starter Firm, Lots of Turnover - Architectural Designer II Perkins & Will Employee Review

4.0
Aug 18, 2023
Recommend
CEO approval
Business Outlook

Pros

Overall I enjoyed working here; the benefits were decent but not amazing, the office culture was really great - super social! Relatively flexible hours and you could work from home 2 days a week. The work was pretty uninspiring at times but most of the employees are great people who are talented and capable. I definitely enjoyed working here and rarely felt like I was overloaded with work. Overall, I would say that I would recommend it as a workplace but would suggest that someone not consider it long term or a career firm.

Cons

Despite the great employee culture, it's still a very corporate office. There's a ton of turnover, they are constantly hiring and losing people. They do frequent layoffs - I was recently laid off in a commercial slump when last year the company was doing great and they had hired at least 20 people in the past 6 or so months, and they have done 4 series of layoffs in about 4 years. Granted, some of that was COVID, but still it's a frequent occurrence. Also, while they have competitive salaries, it's important to note that they do annual bonuses INSTEAD of annual raises. The raises are barely even COL raises. The bonuses are definitely generous when the work is good, but don't expect your salary to increase while there. Also, oftentimes their loud rhetoric about sustainability and diversity was not being reflected, except in token ways, in their work and office. Additionally, promotions seem pretty hard to come by; I had a few friends who were turned down for promotions with little reason.

Explore other reviews about Perkins & Will

5.0
Mar 30, 2026
Recommend
CEO approval
Business Outlook

Pros

Wonderful access to resources and internal mentorship. There are some wonderful people working here.

Cons

Compensation could be higher across the board, especially for more junior employees.

1.0
Jun 2, 2026
Recommend
CEO approval
Business Outlook

Pros

The firm has a strong reputation, attractive project portfolio, and talented employees who work hard despite challenging circumstances.

Cons

There is a significant disconnect between the image the company promotes and the experience many employees actually have. Leadership frequently speaks about collaboration, innovation, diversity, and employee well-being, but those values often feel more like marketing slogans than realities. Decision-making can be highly centralized, with little transparency around important business and staffing decisions. Employees are expected to be deeply committed to the firm, yet that commitment does not always seem reciprocated. Recognition for hard work can be inconsistent, and career advancement often feels unclear and dependent on office politics rather than merit. Work-life balance is frequently discussed but can be difficult to achieve in practice. Long hours may become normalized, especially during deadlines, and employee burnout is often treated as part of the profession rather than a problem to be addressed. One of the most frustrating aspects is watching talented and dedicated staff leave due to limited growth opportunities, management issues, or dissatisfaction with the culture. The firm invests heavily in maintaining its external reputation, but there appears to be less focus on addressing the concerns raised by employees internally. The company talks extensively about being people-centered, yet many employees are left feeling like they are simply resources to be utilized until the next deadline is met. Morale can suffer when leadership appears disconnected from the day-to-day realities faced by staff.

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