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      HKS

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      HKS Reviews

      4.2

      91% would recommend to a friend

      (481 total reviews)
      avatar

      Heath May

      90% approve of CEO

      78% positive business outlook

      Ratings by category

      4.3

      Culture and values

      4.3

      Diversity and inclusion

      4.2

      Career opportunities

      3.8

      Work/Life balance

      3.8

      Senior management

      3.6

      Compensation and benefits

      HKS has an employee rating of 4.2 out of 5 stars, based on 481 company reviews on Glassdoor which indicates that most employees have an excellent working experience there. The HKS employee rating is in line with the average (within 1 standard deviation) for employers within the Construction, repair and maintenance industry (3.7 stars).

      Reviews by job title

      481 reviews
      1.0
      12 Aug 2018

      Don't

      Anonymous employee
      Recommend
      CEO approval
      Business outlook

      Pros

      Like anywhere you might work, there are some truly lovely people here, committed to helping each other and very nice. I agree with another review here that Marketing and Research are great departments to connect with, and the xChange program does a good job of connecting offices (though you'd better have an in with someone to get into it).

      Cons

      There's no way to outline it all here. Stifling hierarchy. Unrelenting favoritism. Good employees constantly being forced out of the firm by someone who feels threatened and has the "power" to get you out. "Utilization rate" is king and nothing else matters, no matter what they say. If you are in a branch office (anything other than neck-deep in the good 'ol boys club in Dallas) you are highly expendable. Diversity is a joke. Constant issues with firm communications being tone deaf to all types of diversity and inclusion perspectives, to an absolutely laughable degree. Health insurance is absolutely awful--expensive and pays for almost nothing, so you'd better hope you don't get sick. A cap of 3 weeks on leave, ever, so hope you don't have much of a desire to have a life--between that and the overtime you won't have one. If you bring any issues up, there will be total denial and they'll start crowing that their diversity, benefits, design, whatever--is the best in the industry, and they certainly won't listen. Constantly culling to "fit the culture", meaning if you don't think like us and kiss butt, you're out.

      avatar
      HKS Response
      7y
      We appreciate your comments and thoughts, but are also disappointed with the culture and experience you’ve described. The topics you mention are all vital to the success of our firm and we’ve made intentional strides to continue to improve and be mindful of how we progress in the days ahead. Important areas such as diversity, culture, insurance, growth, structure, relationships, and others, require a great deal of leadership, work and careful thought. We are dedicated to making HKS an outstanding place where everyone can feel fulfilled. I would strongly encourage anyone who would like to express their feedback to find a trusted leader that they can vocalize their opinions to and be prepared to be a part of the solution. Thank you again for sharing your thoughts. - Billy Hinton, Principal, Director of Architecture
      5.0
      21 Aug 2018

      Sky is the limit

      Anonymous employee
      Recommend
      CEO approval
      Business outlook

      Pros

      I've been with HKS for a while now and I love the freedom you are given to take on new initiatives and make your job what you want it to be. The CEO encourages an entrepreneurial spirit and it shows with the specialized groups and offerings they have. Employees can participate in an exchange program where they live and work in another HKS office in another part of the world. Or they can get involved with highly specialized teams in research, computation or sustainable design. But what I like most are the people at HKS. They have truly become a family to me and it's a place I want to stay.

      Cons

      Parking is pretty rough downtown. I wish parking benefits were offered to everyone instead of just titled employees.

      2.0
      28 Jun 2018

      Women are not respected, terrible benefits, unusual pay structure.

      Anonymous employee
      Recommend
      CEO approval
      Business outlook

      Pros

      Some great projects and people.

      Cons

      Management has little respect for women, even those with a lot of experience. Little diversity, and many women and minorities are pigeon-holed. Benefits are the worst in the industry, but when questioned, management says they're as good as every other firm in the industry. Pay structure is strange, with a low base and potential for a large bonus. But the bonus structure is never explained., so you have no idea how much money you will earn each year.

      avatar
      HKS Response
      7y
      It is certainly our intent to have a diverse workplace where all are valued for their contributions. If that is or was not your experience, we encourage you to contact a member of the HR team directly and provide them with specific information, so they can address any inequities that may exist. As for our benefits, they are comparable to our competition and in many cases, like our new parental leave policy, our benefits exceed those offered by other firms. Bonuses are based on overall profitability and firm leadership determines individual bonus amounts based on merit. Thank you for bringing your concerns to our attention. We value your feedback. - Michelle Carroll, Principal and Head of Human Resources
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      Glassdoor has 563 HKS reviews submitted anonymously by HKS employees. Read employee reviews and ratings on Glassdoor to decide if HKS is right for you.