PCL Construction Enterprises Reviews

Pros

All salaried employees have an opportunity to buy company stock (it's 100% employee owned and 3400 employees own it). the stock returns (dividends and increase in share value) have averaged 42% per year since 1975 so many long term employees see dividend checks well in excess of their annual salaries. It's strongly family oriented, ethics driven and offers incredible benefits compared to others in this industry. This is my 26th year and I only wish I had joined PCL earlier. Both of my sons work here as well because they saw growing up what a great place this is to work as our family prospered. This is the 6th consecutive year PCL has been on the FORTUNE 100 best companies to work for list.

Cons

Occasional long hours and relocation may be necessary to move up the ladder more quickly but well worth both.

Advice to Senior Management

Keep up the great wellness program and communication efforts.

Pros

The company benefits are beyond compare

Cons

You get moved around a lot

Advice to Senior Management

If you truly want employees to stay with your company give them some level of stability

Pros

Great health benefits, employee owned company, great vision for the future, pay is average, has mentoring program,three weeks vacation

Cons

Very long hours, poor communication from district management team who is quick to pass the buck if a project is in trouble

Advice to Senior Management

Better communication from upper management. PCL offers a mentoring program, however, does not use it. Match up the skills of an employee to the project they work on don't throw them in the frying pan and give them the advise "you will sink or swim"

Pros

Great profit sharing program, benefit package, and starting salary for an entry level engineer - especially during this poor economy.

Cons

The hours are terrible, you must move project after project, management leads you on to believe you are moving one place and the next thing you know you are stuck in the armpit of America.

Advice to Senior Management

Be honest with your employees from the beginning about expected workload, performance reviews, next project location, and hire PM/Supers that have actually completed similar work in the past.

Pros

The job has decent pay, employees can purchase shares. Typical benefits are included, w/paid vacation granted you are on salary.

Cons

Upper management pays you for 40 hours a week, but you are EXPECTED to work overtime everyday. If you leave at 3:30, expect to hear about it. Why should I have to make an excuse to leave after 8 hours? 11-12 hour days are common. Work starts early, ends late. Be prepared to have NO LIFE. Weekend work is not compensated. If you work in the field, be prepared for long commutes as job locations change with projects. The work environment is too militaristic. Expect superiors to talk down to you. No initial training, they will put you on a project and expect results. Poor screening processes by HR in the hiring phase as the employee tasks within the company are not specified, thus leading to incompatibilities between worker skills/expectations and the actual job.

Advice to Senior Management

Be more thorough in the job description for applicants so they know what they are getting into. Do not just dump new employees into the job and expect high levels of productivity, especially if prior training does not completely correlate to the job itself.

Pros

Great people and culture at PCL

Cons

Little encouragement for further education pursuits

Pros

Great work experience, great people to work with, all driven people trying to improve the company. Competitive environment helps produce quality work. I appreciated how PCL want to build quality work not just get the job done fast.

Cons

Have to be patient for the shares to kick in

Advice to Senior Management

Keep up the good feed back

Pros

Employee owned company with great job security even in a down economy. Average salaries, but excellent return on comany share program.

Cons

Job adavancements are slow in some of the career paths. Extreme amount of paeperwork required in everyday job activities from safety to meetings.

Advice to Senior Management

Better assistance with assigning work to employees in an efficent manner and before the fact. Better employee / management comunication.

Pros

Great benefits, Work along side good dedicated people.

Cons

Very long hours when a job is in full swing.

Advice to Senior Management

I had a great experience and was supported during my time with PCL.

Pros

Challenging projects that come with asense of accomplishment. Technology focused support with GPS, computer modeling and licensed P.E's. Employee owned stock is second to none.

Cons

They own you and relocation is a must sometimes a few moves each year. Poor performing field supervision is rampant. Its who you know not what you know that predicts the internal ladder climbing.

Advice to Senior Management

Let the subordinates rate/grade their supervisors. Dont move poor performing supervision from one job to the other. Terminate the people whose only contribution is flattery to higher level management.