Pathetic Management - Architectural Designer Salas O'Brien Employee Review

2.0
Oct 27, 2018
Recommend
CEO approval
Business Outlook

Pros

I didn’t find any pros, just Management that kills all productivity.

Cons

The management does not understand the modern workplace. They live in the 1980’s and have no concern for their future. They won’t hire skilled people, but hire cheap, unexperienced kids who are disposable.

avatar
Salas O'Brien Response
7y
Wow. This one is tough to read and hurts. I am really sorry that you feel this way. We work diligently to listen to everyone in the organization and expect both teamwork and collaboration from everyone, at all levels. I believe we are also very progressive and provide equal opportunities for all to thrive in the organization and certainly provide the tools to be as productive and efficient as possible to deliver our work. As I say in almost every meeting I have with our team, I can be reached by phone or email, anytime. You don’t need to post publicly to get my attention. In fact, if you’re willing to talk and help me understand what has happened, I want to help us all improve. Working together, I am sure that we can not only improve, but thrive. To others reading this I want to add that Salas O’Brien’s 100% employee ownership and extremely high retention rate (well above industry) speak for themselves. Our team is engaged, dedicated, and, if I may say so, well-rewarded (in all the best ways). —Darin Anderson, Salas O'Brien CEO

Explore other reviews about Salas O'Brien

5.0
Jul 22, 2026
Recommend
CEO approval
Business Outlook

Pros

The company has great management, and is employee owned so it feels like you are truly contributing to how successful each year is.

Cons

Work life balance can be challenging at times, mostly due to the industry rather than the company.

4.0
Jun 23, 2026
Anonymous employee
Recommend
CEO approval
Business Outlook

Pros

NYC office has been less close-knit without original partners. Job satisfaction is generally still very high. Clients just give really good hour budgets for us. Work-life balance is extremely good. I haven't tried applying to another office but there's a lot of opportunities as long as you like the right cities for your discipline.

Cons

NYC office is kinda low-tech, at least in all the disciplines I work with. We just do a lot of repetitive stuff without relevant software.

avatar
Salas O'Brien Response
2w
[From Darin Anderson, CEO] Thank you for this review and for sharing your perspective. What you describe about balance and job satisfaction is exactly the experience we want for every team member. Mike and Erik are still very much engaged as leaders in the NYC office. They care tremendously for the practice and I have great confidence and trust in Neville. We also know the importance of giving all team members a clear path for growth, whether that's branching out into a new type of role or building new skills. There's value in our reach across North America, and I encourage you to explore what's available in other locations or disciplines if it means finding the right long-term fit. Growth also comes from how we work. Helping team members get up to speed on AI, automation, and technology and apply it in smart, practical ways is a big focus, so our people can spend less time on repetitive work and more time where their expertise matters most. We offer Impact Academy courses, Revit automation training, and a new AI Platform, which I encourage you to explore. We also just hired Wade as our SVP Data and AI and he is working with our teams to develop our tools for better outcomes for our clients. This includes how to deliver more efficiently and lessen mundane or repetitive tasks and many others. If you have ideas, please engage him and others. Thank you for all you bring to the team. Please let me know if there’s ever anything I can do to support you—my door is always open.
See reviews by: Helpful|Rating|Date|All