Horrible for Shared Services - Anonymous employee Gensler Employee Review

This review focuses on shared services roles (HR, marketing, legal, etc.), as the challenges within design roles are well-documented in other reviews. Unqualified Leadership: Leadership within shared services roles often lacks the relevant education or professional experience necessary for their positions. Many senior leaders in these roles have transitioned from unrelated areas/design roles, leading to a disconnect between leadership and the expertise required to manage these departments effectively. This has resulted in a lack of direction and credibility within these teams. Poor Management Accountability: My direct manager exhibited the worst professional behavior I’ve encountered. Despite providing extensive documentation and regularly reporting the issues to HR, no meaningful action was taken. While HR acknowledged the complaints and provided superficial coaching to the manager, the company failed to hold them accountable while recognizing continuous problems with the individual, creating a toxic environment for employees. Ineffective Development Programs: The company’s development programs are poorly executed and lack genuine value. Rather than fostering meaningful growth, they seem designed to promote a corporate narrative without addressing real skill development or career progression. High Turnover Among Senior Hires: The company struggles to retain senior hires and attributes this to its "unique culture." In reality, the poor operational structure and leadership are the root causes. Experienced professionals quickly identify these issues and leave. Dismissive Leadership Culture: Leadership often disregards employee feedback, creating a disconnect between management and staff. For example, when employees expressed concerns about returning to the office four days a week, leadership increased it to five days—despite inadequate office space.