8 Jul 2024
Barr Engineering Reviews
4.2
81% would recommend to a friend
Ward Swanson
100% approve of CEO
74% positive business outlook
Barr Engineering has an employee rating of 4.2 out of 5 stars, based on 115 company reviews on Glassdoor which indicates that most employees have an excellent working experience there. The Barr Engineering 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
115 reviews
4.0
1 Nov 2016
Recommend
CEO approval
Business outlook
Pros
-Company is structured to provide excellent flexibility with work/life balance. -Generally the atmosphere is pleasant and respectful, compared to other places I've worked. -Project work can be very interesting, especially in the Engineering and Design Business Unit. -Customer service focused business model contributes to success because of high client satisfaction (each year clients are asked to rate Barr and indicate what they can do better). -The "free-market" structure pushes individuals to perform at their best. A good fit for a "people-pleaser", in my opinion. -Resources for continued education include 36 paid hours per year and $2,000 to $3,000 for expenses (I can't recall the exact amount for expenses). -Good opportunities for in-house training. -If you find yourself working for a poor manager, its much easier to find another manager to work for than at other companies I've worked.
Cons
-Internal "free-market" structure creates competition internally and takes away from collaboration. Not the best place for the team-oriented individual, in my opinion. I've observed this at all levels, from the staff engineers to the Vice Presidents. -Internal "free-market" structure sometimes contributes to a cut-throat culture. Also discourages loyalty. -A very litigious company. Manages risk well although in my opinion it's been over the top at times, adding to strained relationships with business associates. -Many software applications, such as ArcGIS and SWMM, are utilized with shared licenses which can become inconvenient (too many people require a license at once, can only access certain software on remote work stations, etc.). -Year-end reviews are advertised solely as a tool for improvement, but are also used to fire people. Fortunately, you can approve/deny individuals to review you. If you work here, be careful how you use the reviews and be careful who you allow to review you. -Working in a branch office is significantly more difficult because of the "free-market" culture. It is hard to maintain a presence and market oneself to new opportunities when not in Minneapolis, which is where the majority of staff resides. -I've seen Barr hire new employees when there wasn't a strong enough demand. Beware of lower-than-expected project work volume, especially if you are young and in a branch office.
3.0
19 Feb 2016
Recommend
CEO approval
Business outlook
Pros
Great onboarding program & Benefits. Company embraces remote working arrangements.
Cons
Administrative staff is not as valued as the Engineering core. Engineers are permitted to treat administrative employees with less respect. Human Resources appears to have no power in the company structure to correct these issues. No room for advancement in Administrative area - company always feels there is 'someone better' on the outside, which means internal promotions are few and far between.
Viewing 1 - 3 of 115 Reviews
