Working in sustainability proves unsustainable - Staff Environmental Engineer ERM Employee Review

2.0
23 July 2014
Recommend
CEO approval
Business outlook

Pros

- One of the more accommodating companies I've worked for with regards to working remotely. - Office building is in a super convenient location for public transit, and an unlimited Orca (public transit) card is provided. - Colleagues are hard-working and smart.

Cons

- In order to meet your "billability goals" (huge in consulting) you'll be working unpaid overtime. (Potentially lots of it) - Sick time counts against you. While it's part of a benefits package, in order to meet your billability goal, you'll have to make that time up with, you guessed it, unpaid overtime. - There's little or no incentive to working efficiently, you'll still have to find work to fill those hours. (Even though it's a salaried position, every time card must have 40 hours or more on it.) - Even those at the lower levels (CL1, CL2, CL3) who receive bonuses, it's nowhere near compensating for the unpaid overtime spent. - Wages are not competitive. The salary I receive is not commensurate with the cost of living in this city. Seattle just passed a $15/hr minimum wage, which, after the unpaid overtime, tracks closely to (and some weeks is greater than) what I take home.

Explore other reviews about ERM

5.0
7 Apr 2026
Recommend
CEO approval
Business outlook

Pros

welcoming work environment and engaging

Cons

I don't have any cons

2.0
8 June 2026
Recommend
CEO approval
Business outlook

Pros

Interesting projects, flexible work hours, ability to pivot to new disciplines and teams

Cons

Employees are getting squeezed by increasingly difficult metrics, with less compensation, less work won because rates are now set so high. Less and less investment in employees through benefits and upskilling. Managers are spread so thin they can’t give time to their team.

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