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Hellman & Friedman

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Hellman & Friedman reviews

3.5

56% would recommend to a friend

(37 total reviews)

Philip U. Hammarskjold

74% approve of CEO

68% positive business outlook

Hellman & Friedman has an employee rating of 3.5 out of 5 stars, based on 37 company reviews on Glassdoor which indicates that most employees have a good working experience there. The Hellman & Friedman employee rating is in line with the average (within 1 standard deviation) for employers within the Financial Services industry (3.7 stars).

Reviews by job title

37 reviews
2.0
Aug 27, 2024

Outdated and Toxic Culture

Anonymous employee
Recommend
CEO approval
Business Outlook

Pros

Good benefits and the opportunity to work with very intelligent people.

Cons

While I’m sure the current manager of the administrative team was an excellent assistant, that doesn’t necessarily mean she possesses the qualities and tools required to effectively manage a team of assistants. It’s evident that the company has not adequately prepared her for this role—perhaps some training would prove beneficial. Her management style has fostered favoritism, which, though it may seem harmless, often disguises deeper issues of discrimination and inequity. She frequently used 1:1 meetings to gather information about colleagues and seemed to encourage competition among us. Whether through direct accusations or subtle suggestions, she appeared all too eager to plant seeds of discord. This behavior within the team was not only tolerated but encouraged and rewarded, leading to a "Mean Girl" culture that is sanctioned at the managerial level. Her vindictive nature is so well-known that even the investment staff warns newcomers of it. In addition, she often rolled out superficial initiatives, seemingly more concerned with checking boxes for her yearly review than with genuine employee development. These initiatives typically lacked substance and failed to address the real needs of the team, leaving many feeling undervalued and patronized. As for the firm itself, it exhibits a significant lack of diversity and fails to ensure equitable treatment between investment staff and non-investment staff. The investment team often receives preferential treatment and opportunities, while the rest of the staff is left feeling marginalized. The firm prides itself on being "traditional," but in reality, this approach is simply outdated and out of touch with the needs of a modern workforce.

3.0
Feb 19, 2024

Tough

Anonymous employee
Recommend
CEO approval
Business Outlook

Pros

Brilliant investment staff and elegant office space.

Cons

Navigating the dynamics of the San Francisco EA team is challenging. Caustic and immature behavior is displayed and tolerated by a seemingly untouchable subset of the group. This group is allowed to mock and disparage colleagues and investment team members alike. They are dishonest and manipulative, consistently undermine the professional efforts of other team members, and appear to enjoy selecting and isolating targets. Because of this, team morale and productivity are impacted. Only those favored by this subset of the team receive choice assignments, mentoring, long leashes, and other select perks and benefits. The behavior is unchecked, causing the remainder of the team to be held hostage to the exploits of this group. It's worth noting that the previous review labeling the workplace as toxic and taking a swipe at partners appears to have been authored by one of the malignant inciters, highlighting the pervasive level of self-importance.

1.0
Mar 3, 2025

Believe the Negative Reviews

Anonymous employee
Recommend
CEO approval
Business Outlook

Pros

Competitive salary, good benefits, lots of food and snacks

Cons

Unfortunately, the negative reviews you see here are accurate. The company suffers from a toxic culture. There are mean-spirited admins led by a former EA whose leadership style is outdated, overly controlling, and rooted in insecurity. Outside the admin group, heavy workloads across the firm. Favoritism exists. Overly cumbersome processes. Silos and cliques. Gossip. Unclear what impact the top HR head, hired a few years ago, has made. Rather than improving the culture, the environment continues to push away good people who deserve better. While the pay is competitive — which explains why some people stay — not worth the toxic environment and lack of balance.

Viewing 1 - 3 of 37 Reviews

Glassdoor has 44 Hellman & Friedman reviews submitted anonymously by Hellman & Friedman employees. Read employee reviews and ratings on Glassdoor to decide if Hellman & Friedman is right for you.