there are pros and there are cons - Anonymous employee 1100 Architect Employee Review

Thank you for taking the time to provide feedback. I appreciate that you note the significant opportunities we provide our employees with regards to project typologies and responsibilities. Indeed, our diverse portfolio has supported many employees' path to licensure. And we just recently promoted 6 of our team members to Senior Associate or Associate. While it's hard to address your specific concerns here's what I would say: Our dynamic culture of teamwork, transparency and accountability isn't for everyone. It's true that our leaders expect the best from team members, and sometimes those expectations can be quite demanding, challenging. And we are successful as a firm and as a group of people due in no small measure to this spirited and strong leadership. Many architects/designers come to 1100 to advance in their careers and many have found that we provide the platform from which they can thrive. Receiving timely constructive feedback is critical to this growth – and I am disappointed that you have not received more. Your feedback actually supports my initiative that we augment annual performance evaluations with more touch-base conversations, perhaps scheduled at the midpoint and end of an employee’s project(s). I am also working with project leaders on ways to provide better guidance, direction, and coaching. But I would also recommend that you ask for feedback too – my experience shows that when you make yourself open to feedback, you will receive more feedback and also - more recognition. Work/Life balance is a common topic among the Partners and Principals. Aside from our focus on hiring talented team member as we grow, we are always aware when there is a team or employee putting in extra hours – so we routinely award comp time after intense charrettes and long stretches to meet deadlines. We also take hours worked into consideration when we award end of year bonuses. I wonder if you were not with us long enough to receive any comp time or an end of year bonus. I would like to understand better what you mean by “hr shares personal information”. As the person in charge for “all things HR” at 1100, this comment truly surprised me. Without details, I can only clarify that our confidential employee information is just that - confidential. If you remain a current employee, I would like to help you reach your goals and potential at 1100. Please feel free to connect with me, I would be very happy to help. Thanks again, Betty Gonzalez (Business Director)