You're expendable, unless you buddy up with higher ups - Designer Gensler Employee Review

2.0
24 June 2020
Recommend
CEO approval
Business outlook

Pros

Big company with lots of offices. Well known in the industry

Cons

When COVID19 hits, the leaderships acted fast to implement working remotely. They even assured everyone that the company is doing well and have no debt, thus our jobs are safe. Then comes an email stating Principals taking pay cut to keep the company afloat. After a week or two later, mass laid off across the entire company (some said 1/6 of the total headcount was let go). I felt blindsided and being lied to. To sprinkle salt on the wound, they posted something about "we're in this together" on social media on the same day of the laid off. Gee, thanks. How about acknowledging the laid off and help recommending jobs within the industry? Besides COVID stuff, depending on which office and which teams you ended up in, your experience may vary. You could be cruising on daily task, or you could be burning midnight candles on both ends on daily basis (without compensations). Anti working from home, despite touting the benefits and pushing the ideas to thier clients. Leadership likes to use the word "tremendous". Kinda reminded me of someone whenever they speaks. Bad experience with an ill-fitted manager that abused the entire team, nothing was done about it for a year.

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Gensler Response
5y
Our world and our communities have been thrust into an unprecedented crisis that changes daily. This is causing upheaval and uncertainty in our economy. Unfortunately, we are seeing an impact in our business. Thanks for taking the time to share feedback on your experience at Gensler. We appreciate your candor and consider all the feedback we receive. Providing honest feedback is critical to supporting our culture and our values of integrity, trust and mutual respect. We appreciate your feedback and will share your comments with the firm’s leadership.

Explore other reviews about Gensler

5.0
20 Apr 2026
Recommend
CEO approval
Business outlook

Pros

Good firm to work at

Cons

Nothing bad about the firm

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Gensler Response
1mo
Thanks for providing feedback on your experience at Gensler. We value our interns and love to hear their perspectives. We are thrilled and delighted to see your 5-star rating!
1.0
29 May 2026
Recommend
CEO approval
Business outlook

Pros

Nice office, lots of “rah rah Gensler” events with food & booze, some nice people

Cons

Where do I start…..some studios are TOXIC. Favoritism permeates every aspect of working here. It’s nauseating. There is zero loyalty, zero recognition for hard work (yeah you get a bonus but sometimes a kind word is needed). Oh-and never ever express an opinion that may be in opposition to “leadership’s”. Your private life, beliefs, politics and other personal things are fair game for letting you go. I’ve seen it happen-fired because someone expresses in a private conversation that one has ethical concerns regarding projects that are in the office (but in another studio/office) will get you fired. They will make up some bs about “work performance”, yet no conversation ever with anyone about “needing improvement “. Out of left field. Bye bye. Management tells leadership that they’d already “warned” the person-completely untrue. Hear later it was likely due to having concerns about a client/project. Lesson learned-shut up, work 12 hrs a day and be happy with the scraps you’re thrown. Also-egos galore! Unwillingness to take accountability for mistakes.

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