Pros
Corroborating a previous review, the team that management hires consists of top notch people. In my opinion, the firm's stated goals, mission and values are what attracts talent, and the camaraderie of the staff make this firm hum.
Cons
Management makes you feel wanted and appreciated, until you start to form and voice your own opinions that contradict or question management. Despite strong initial impressions to the contrary, this is an inherently toxic and fear-based workplace. Thus, high turnover is routine. In my opinion, the problem lies in management's general insecurity and that principal individuals in management and HR used to be involved in a romantic relationship together. If staff had even a slight issue with the management , there was no neutral party in HR to help address the problem. Employees often went above and beyond the reasonable call of duty, often times at the unjust request of management. Despite making significant personal sacrifices for the benefit of the firm, loyal employees were constantly made to feel as if they owed management much more than their dedication and a job well done. Management clearly valued loyalty over competence or independence, but often times the firm would fail to reciprocate that loyalty. Furthermore, Management constantly scapegoated loyal employees if something went wrong. There was rarely accountability taken by leadership for anything. The cliche that people don't leave bad companies, they leave bad leaders is perfectly exemplified here. For instance, if communication with management was strained, it was made clear that it was the employees' sole responsibility to repair it. At that point the HR would step in as a so-called neutral party to facilitate resolution, but it soon would become evident that personal loyalties trump professional integrity. This firm is founded in dysfunction at the uppermost levels, but is shrewdly disguised as a benevolent dictatorship. The firm name is an acronym for Optimism and Health. It is a clever branding device for a firm who professes to approach architecture in the manner in which they claim. But they struggle to practice what they preach. In reality, the acronym could easily signify Obstinance and Hypocrisy.
