Populous reviews

3.6

70% would recommend to a friend

(185 total reviews)
avatar

Bruce Miller

71% approve of CEO

60% positive business outlook

Populous has an employee rating of 3.6 out of 5 stars, based on 185 company reviews on Glassdoor which indicates that most employees have a good working experience there. The Populous employee rating is in line with the average (within 1 standard deviation) for employers within the Construction, Repair & Maintenance Services industry (3.7 stars).

Reviews by job title

185 reviews
1.0
Oct 16, 2025

Toxic Culture

Recommend
CEO approval
Business Outlook

Pros

Exciting projects to work on, but the pros start and end there.

Cons

The firm presents itself as collaborative and team-oriented, but the internal culture often rewards a small circle of individuals while others work long hours with limited to no recognition. The environment feels more corporate, bureaucratic, and hierarchical than the creative culture it promotes. Feedback is not welcomed or discussed openly, and decisions about personnel can appear reactive rather than transparent. There are some exceptional employees who care deeply about the work, though many are hesitant to speak candidly for fear of professional repercussions. For those seeking stability and willing to operate within a structured, top-down environment, the firm offers significant exposure to large-scale sports projects. For those looking for open dialogue, mentorship, and psychological safety, it may be a more challenging fit.

3.0
Apr 24, 2025
Recommend
CEO approval
Business Outlook

Pros

Great benefits, cool office, WFH days are great

Cons

Condescending people, travel expectations, tons of overtime

1.0
Feb 10, 2026

Not a professional company

Anonymous employee
Recommend
CEO approval
Business Outlook

Pros

Great holiday parties, good health insurance

Cons

Lack of professionalism among leadership. Favoritism is obvious and if you're a favorite prepare to a less than great experience. Long hours with no overtime. They often underestimate the time and staff needed to complete projects. Lack of industry knowledge from employees. Staffing is nonexistent - they want you to act as an independent contractor and find your projects yourself. Offices outside of Kansas City are satellite offices so you must travel to KC often to move up within the company. Terrible expense policy where you foot the bill for the company (for flights, hotels, food, etc.) and they take months to repay expenses. HR has had a plethora of racist allegations brought against them.

Viewing 10 - 12 of 185 Reviews

Glassdoor has 215 Populous reviews submitted anonymously by Populous employees. Read employee reviews and ratings on Glassdoor to decide if Populous is right for you.