Laing O'Rourke reviews

Where to start... most of the executive team has no idea how to run a business, and no leadership skills. They are usually overpromoted far too early because they are a 'good lad' (all very nice people I should add, just not in the right jobs). The 5-day office requirement is completely unnecessary and a knee-jerk reaction by the owner-founder, who is out of touch - not least because the office is right by the Dartford Crossing so staff waste an unbelievable amount of time sitting in a 45-min queue of traffic to get out of the business park. The company presents as very modern and forward thinking but it's not at all - you don't have to scratch far below the surface to see sexist and racist behaviour being openly tolerated, conditions that make it really hard for carers to work there etc. The 'family' culture is code for there being favourite people who can do anything and will keep being promoted and paid a ridiculous amount for failing to deliver, while other people slog their guts out but will never be allowed to reach their potential.

Cons based on my own personal opinion: Micromanagement: Management behaviour leaned heavily towards micromanagement, and verged on bullying. Decision-making at the individual level was often hindered, with a constant need for approvals on even minor tasks. This limited autonomy felt restrictive and undermined productivity and confidence in employees’ abilities. Misleading Conduct: There was a noticeable gap between the company’s stated goals and actual practices. While the organisation promoted transparency and open communication, there were instances where information was withheld, or situations were presented in a misleading manner. Disconnected and Unrealistic Expectations: Leadership seemed somewhat disconnected from the realities of the projects and workload. The goals set were often ambitious to the point of being unrealistic, with little acknowledgment of the practical constraints that teams were facing. This “disconnect” between upper management and ground-level operations made it challenging to meet expectations and maintain morale.