Worst Company I have ever worked for - Commercial Property Manager Hines Employee Review

1.0
26 Jul 2021
Recommend
CEO approval
Business outlook

Pros

Hines (Globally) builds beautiful buildings, so it is a great experience for your own growth. Many of the people you may meet are smart and have worked on interesting projects. However, they are shrouded in secrecy for all the terrible treatment they have received. They tend to take it. Especially if they are women.

Cons

The company is run by White Men in the US that do not think outside the box. There is no discussion on other ways to do things, there is only their way. They continually make fun of Canada and assume we do not know how to manage buildings as they do. They also like to harbour issues instead of addressing small problems. Thus they are not leaders - they like copycat clones of themselves only. There is little to learn from them culturally (expect what not to do) but there is a lot to learn if you dive into your own experience of operating a building. They are terrible at giving support and have a self-righteous approach to all that they do. The Management in Toronto and the Management in the US do not get along so you are caught between the two constantly. Speaking up and speaking honestly will get you nowhere. Once you quit, even if you are doing the right thing with substantial notice they will undermine you and ignore you. The Canadian operations are broken and most would agree it's because of one person.

Explore other reviews about Hines

5.0
10 Feb 2026
Recommend
CEO approval
Business outlook

Pros

This company rewards those who work hard for them.

Cons

Can be high demand but rewarding if you can accomplish what they ask.

2.0
27 Jun 2026
Recommend
CEO approval
Business outlook

Pros

The firm’s name on a resume still carries significant weight amongst older industry professionals in some geographies. If you join, treat it as a short-term strategic play for your personal brand and nothing more.

Cons

The internal reality is a sharp departure from the external reputation. The firm is currently suffering from a severe case of “re-org transition" and a leadership vacuum, where the best days of this organization are possibly behind it. The primary issue is a complete lack of a unified governance structure. Leadership is fractured, with power cliques operating in silos trying to protect their turf or many times undercutting each other with competing projects that don’t play well with each other. Instead of a cohesive strategy, you have a collection of ungoverned egos, each running their own fiefdoms and creating constant, unnecessary chaos for the teams beneath or adjacent to them. The political environment is intense and deeply personal. It has become an "insider-first" culture where professional merit is often secondary to internal patronage. You will frequently see people being promoted or conversely, pushed out based on proximity to specific leaders, family connections, or long-standing personal alliances and decade old grudges rather than authentic operational impact. If you aren't part of clique or circle with a strong alliance you are effectively working in a different company than those who are, and your ability to impact success has to be at the expense of others not in your clique,

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