Working at Hal Hays Construction in Riverside, CA: 49 Employee Job Reviews by Real Employee working in Riverside, CA Area

"Awesome experience, love the environment."

What do you like about working at Hal Hays Construction?

"Everything! Team environment! Support! GREAT Benefits! Trust! Freedom! Growth!I have known of this company for the last 20 years. I have watched it grow. It is within the last 2 years that I made the decision to join the team. It is very apparent to me that the poor review/ratings were posted by FORMER Employees. Every objective employee knows that there is a reason you were let go. What you might state a negative, I see as a positive. YES, they do have a high turnover rate; due to the fact that the boss has an uncanny ability to spot the lazy, and is not afraid to terminate it for the betterment of the TEAM. Basically, if you are not afraid to work, you will do great in this enviroment!There is a reason that the company has thrived thus far!"

Do you have any tips for others interviewing with this company?

"Be yourself, state your capiabilities from the start. Be ready for growth!"

What don't you like about working at Hal Hays Construction?

"A few lazy people that need to be weeded out."

What suggestions do you have for management?

"Keep training. Keep the bar HIGH! The right people for the team are out there."

"Worked for 8 months, management doen't support their employees, no team work."

What do you like about working at Hal Hays Construction?

"Nothing. They have cameras installed throughout the office. No trust."

Do you have any tips for others interviewing with this company?

"Do not go to the interview with this company - mistake."

What suggestions do you have for management?

"Support their workers, stop with the cameras, trust your employees more."

"It beats living on the street. But there is no dignity in either."

What do you like about working at Hal Hays Construction?

"It put food on the table. I learned how not to treat people."

Do you have any tips for others interviewing with this company?

"Don't. They thrive on a culture of paranoia. You won't be allowed to fix the problems. You will be watched. Literally, there are cameras everywhere, and the owner is watching. Your time will be watched. The owner doesn't understand that a smart, dedicated person, working a smarter 50 hrs a week is better than the uncreative HHCI robot working 60 plus. There is no opportunity for growth. the company is as large as it will ever be under the current leadership. No matching 401k."

What don't you like about working at Hal Hays Construction?

"Turnover. It seems they have a goal of hiring every QC and safety officer in the state. I've seen people fired because of their personalities. Illogical and knee jerk directives from the owner. The cameras and culture of paranoia. The fact that it was apparent on several occasions that the owner didn't understand some of the basic elements of Design-Build, but refused to listen to those who were experts who did understand it. The owner surrounds himself with yes-men."

What suggestions do you have for management?

"You will never grow further than you are right now if you continue to hire and fire at the current rate. Period. Good people, unless desperate, will never join you. Doesn't it make more sense to hire someone, train them on how to do things the HHC way, give them clear goals and expectations and keep them longer You are wasting money and and other people's time. You want to move from good to great. You should start at being good first."

"Clueless. Terrible. Unprofessional. Incompetent. No management structure."

What do you like about working at Hal Hays Construction?

"Absolutely nothing. Maybe the occasional donuts on Friday.There is a reason this company has gotten such horrible reviews. Please keep that in mind. Please also keep in mind that the few positive reviews that suddenly appear are from employees that were asked to write good reviews in order to mitigate the bad."

Do you have any tips for others interviewing with this company?

"Don't waste your time. If you need a job HHCI is always hiring but is it worth it Read all of these reviews carefully and weigh your options. At the end of the day it is a job and in these tough times, a paycheck is a paycheck. That is the only thing Hal Hays Construction has to offer you."

What don't you like about working at Hal Hays Construction?

"The negative working environment. The very unprofessional business practices. The rude and condescending management team that are above reproach. The extremely high turn over. You will be in constant fear for your job and wonder when you will get fired. It is a revolving door and it is a complete joke...although if you're lucky they will be completely incompetent about handling information regarding your impending firing and scheduling interviews for your position that you will have a few weeks notice to look for another job like I did. They are extremely incompetent. The owner knows nothing of running a business, how to treat employees or how to treat subs. The HR Manager is clueless as to HR policies and procedures but does know how to gossip."

What suggestions do you have for management?

"There is no management structure of any kind or any kind of business sense. They are extremely unprofessional. I have seen employees get berated by the owner, called out for mistakes that were not their own, and talked down to and humiliated in meetings. There is absolutely no accountability at Hal Hays. Everything is always someone elses fault except upper management, of course. Its also a favorites club. They do not hide who their favorites are, and if you are there long enough you will figure out who those people are. They only way to get ahead in this company is if you are a relative of the owner or if you are a kiss ass. If you are in either of those two categories you will do just fine. You will advance nicely in the company even if you have no education or experience."

"Fear. Insecurity. In the dark."

What do you like about working at Hal Hays Construction?

"OK benefits (no matching 401k). Many hardworking professionals, challenging market."

Do you have any tips for others interviewing with this company?

"If you are looking for work and are getting desperate, take the job, but keep your resume out there. 6 months is average stay for most managers."

What don't you like about working at Hal Hays Construction?

"The culture of fear. Everyday could be your last. If there is a plan, a vision to move the company to the next level, it is not communicated. Yet, you are responsible for getting them there. It has been made obvious on many occasions that a large portion of the revenue is from a market that the owner knows nothing about. I applaud the effort to diversify, but they have jumped into waters that are out of their depth, but it isn't the ownership's fault, it's everyone else. It is obvious that decisions have been made that are knee jerk reactions and panic."

What suggestions do you have for management?

"You cannot sustain growth with the amount of turnover you have. You don't know everything, hire people to help you and then trust those people. While a 25 yr old operation manager might know how to do things the HHCI way, it doesn't mean he knows how to do things the correct way. If you want to grow, you have to communicate with your people. Stop saying you want leadership if you refuse to listen to what the leaders are saying."

Do you have any tips for others interviewing with this company?

"Tips for interviewing Nope. Except don't waste your time. I will leave them with some parting words of wisdom that may be of some use in the future.1)When you are planning on firing someone, do not leave the job description laying out where the person getting fired can find it. This usually tips them off that they are going to be fired soon.2) Do not have face-to-face discussions with others regarding the person getting fired while that person is gone. It makes it awkward when they interrupt that conversation as they walk back to their desk.3)Do not put scheduled interviews on any calendar that the person getting fired has access to. Again this might tip them off.Thank you Hal Hays Construction for being that incompetent to do all of the above. Not only did I know from day 1 of the plan to replace me, I also knew every single time they held an interview for my position in front of my face. Because of their ineptitude and lack of basic discretion I had about a months notice and was able to look for another job in that time."

What don't you like about working at Hal Hays Construction?

"Its a very strange working environment they foster at Hal Hays. Actually, to be blunt, it is a very negative environment and very unprofessional. I have never experienced such negativity and suffered as many rude comments as I have until working there. They are extremely incompetent. God only knows how this company has lasted this long. No one seems to have a clue. Everyone else that is in the position of power got there by being a yes man (or yes woman). Say yes to anything and everything, kiss each others backside and you are golden."

What suggestions do you have for management?

"There is extremely high turn over there. You will be in constant fear for your job and wonder when you will get fired. Do not get attached to people there because more than likely you or they will not last long. It is a revolving door and it is a complete joke. They may want to portray the high turnover as letting incompetent employees go.really Ok if you want to go with that then why are they constantly hiring incompetent people Doesn't that say something about their hiring practices Why are they constantly hiring people that do not have the right experience or qualifications to work on their projects That reflects poorly on them as a company but its how HHCI does business. From good to great right! Its the HHCI way!"

"Amazing"

What do you like about working at Hal Hays Construction?

"Everything. It's a nice place to go to work. Do good."

Do you have any tips for others interviewing with this company?

"Bring your a game. Only a players here. Bad ones get weeded out quickly"

What don't you like about working at Hal Hays Construction?

"Nothing absolutely perfect place to work. Very busy and good"

What suggestions do you have for management?

"Keep working hard. Do your best and don't play favorites ever."

What do you like about working at Hal Hays Construction?

"They are open to new ideas on how to do things better. Great benefits."

Do you have any tips for others interviewing with this company?

"Don't believe the negative comments; most of those folks are gone because they couldn't do their jobs."

What don't you like about working at Hal Hays Construction?

"There is no perfect company; so work hard, be honest and make the most every day."

What suggestions do you have for management?

"Keep an open dialog with the employees; it's extremely beneficial."

What do you like about working at Hal Hays Construction?

"HHCI is one of the few companies has built their company on core values. I love the fact that Hal Hays Construction has an extensive background with the completion of so many successful projects. I have been given so many growth opportunities with the company and have been given a chance to demonstrate my strengths and be part of a great team."

Do you have any tips for others interviewing with this company?

"I would recommend that anyone who is interested in interviewing for this company not take into consideration any of the negative comments left on this website by hostile employees who no longer work for HHCI. Please be prepared for a trustworthy company that takes pride in everything that they do."

What don't you like about working at Hal Hays Construction?

"To be honest, I do not have any feedback to leave in this section. I love my job and the company that I work for. I am proud to say that I work for HHCI and look forward to going to work everyday."

What suggestions do you have for management?

"The Management Team at HHCI is a strong team of experienced personnel who continue to build the company and work towards the best interests of the company. I recommend that they continue to analyze the departments and evaluate the needs of the company as they have done."

What do you like about working at Hal Hays Construction?

"Everyone's humble and are team players. They provide the tools needed to get the project done. I am excited to be here and enjoy being apart of such a great company. Not all companies treat you like family, like this one does."

Do you have any tips for others interviewing with this company?

"I would have to say, to always be up front about your situation. Being completely honest no matter what the case is because they do not hold it against you but respect you for the honest and are willing to work with you regarding your situation."

What don't you like about working at Hal Hays Construction?

"There's no reason not to like the company. I enjoy the challenges and the growth opportunity they provide you here."

What suggestions do you have for management?

"Continue doing what you're doing, it's working and others appreciate it more than you think."

What do you like about working at Hal Hays Construction?

"Being 'at will,' I was able to terminate the relationship. I could not rip subs off and drive them into bankruptcy only to line HHCI pockets. Shopping bids, although not illegal, is an HHCI business practice and completely unethical. Sad sad company."

Do you have any tips for others interviewing with this company?

"Don't put your family at risk. you are merely a pawn in this firm and will be sacrificed for any reason that may excel their game. They are without compassion and conduct business unethically."

What don't you like about working at Hal Hays Construction?

"Life expectancy of employment is 3 to 6 months. They will promise you a career and lead you to uproot your family and drop you and your family on your butt at convenience of using you as an escape goat for a failing project or if they happen to find a cheaper replacement. Absolutely no team spirit or compassion, it is all about the dollar."

What suggestions do you have for management?

"Quit treating the people you work with poorly, most of your employees are afraid to come to work, but terrified not to."

"Work 60 hrs or go home."

What do you like about working at Hal Hays Construction?

"When I started with the HHCI it was a good place to be because it was a big family and management some what cared about his village of people that worked for him."

Do you have any tips for others interviewing with this company?

"Be prepared to work a ton of hours and get nothing in return."

What don't you like about working at Hal Hays Construction?

"HHCI does not care for your wellbeing or family; don't ask for a day off or you will pay for it in the long run or ask for a vacation because you wont get it. As the company became this huge bully they became distant from what the real goal of the company was and became very greedy."

What suggestions do you have for management?

"My suggestion to management is to maybe learn what is supposed to be done in the field instead of just barking orders that don't matter. It all starts at the with the top 5, they do not know how to do the things in the field and will not train you just fire you and get the next guy willing to bend over and do back flips for them."

What do you like about working at Hal Hays Construction?

"I made some friends there. There are decent restaurants near enough to work to have a good lunch without worrying about being fired for taking long lunches."

Do you have any tips for others interviewing with this company?

"If my first tip of Don't doesn't properly sink in, here are a few suggestions for the ideal employee at HHCI:Be a sycophantic suck-up with no spine.Be willing to work twice as many hours as you are compensated for.Be accepting and courteous when you are berated by the owner, his wife, or anyone else who shares their surname.Give up the right to be offended by sexist and racist comments, no matter how severe.Under no circumstances call anything to the attention of senior management that would lead them to believe that you do not worship the ground on which they walk."

What don't you like about working at Hal Hays Construction?

"I was classified as overtime exempt without being paid the CA state minimum for overtime exemption. I was used as a scapegoat for any and all computer malfunctions, including all untrained-user/operator errors. Even after confessing to my terrible claustrophobia, I was placed in an office that was previously used as a storage closet, with no windows and inadequate ventilation, and even after working a minimum of 50 hours a week for my six months there without ever being paid overtime, I was fired for lack of customer service the day I returned to work from my honeymoon. They also did not pay me for reporting to work that day. After being handed my walking papers by HR, the owner threatened my personal safety as I was leaving the building, if anything happens to my network."

What suggestions do you have for management?

"I suggest that management mutiny the owners and begin treating employees as something better than the indentured servants they currently seem to be."

"Horrible."

What do you like about working at Hal Hays Construction?

"Pays more than unemployment I guess.... They finally got rid of the HR guy that makes sexist comments about girls all day."

Do you have any tips for others interviewing with this company?

"Make sure it's your only opportunity."

What don't you like about working at Hal Hays Construction?

"Not much to like. Benefits are horrible, Pay is worse, micro management. Absolutely zero attention to employee needs. Don't plan on taking any vacation or personal time with out management resentment. It's a flippin' circus. If you want medical for your family for under a house payment don't look here. Don't get me started on turnnover."

What suggestions do you have for management?

"Start by hiring some management."

"Terrible place to work."

What do you like about working at Hal Hays Construction?

"I work with some nice people."

Do you have any tips for others interviewing with this company?

"Take the job only if you're unemployed and need to pay bills!!!!"

What don't you like about working at Hal Hays Construction?

"The daily mistreatment of employees, management is extremely incompetent and just plain rude."

What suggestions do you have for management?

"Treat unto others as you want to be treated!!"