Hal Hays Construction Employee Job Reviews in the United States

"I am fairly new to HHCI (3 months) and this is an assessment of what I've seen. My observation is that HHCI is a GOOD organization with a lot of of potential to be great. Overall, their processes and procedures are solid, they have good core values, good safety and quality."

"I work in the administrative department of HHCI and I report in Lori's department. I feel like she's a really good boss and she really cares about us. Overall, the environment is good. There is some needless drama occasionally, but nothing crazy."

"Good company. The only reason that I'm not there anymore is because my wife was diagnosed with a terminal illness and I had to leave my project halfway through. So, I was with the Hal Hays team for about 9 months, and I always had a good experience. I am not sure if I was just lucky to be on a good project, with a strong team, but I was happy when I was there, and I'd like to think that had I not had my series of challenging events, I would still be there doing projects."

"I enjoy working here."

What do you like about working at Hal Hays Construction?

"I like the people. Good team environment and culture. Nice location."

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

"It's a challenging but rewarding job. There is opportunity for advancement."

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

"Sometimes good ideas can fall through the cracks. I would like more team building activities."

What suggestions do you have for management?

"Take more time to develop your good employees instead of throwing them into the fire."

"Overall, I thought this was a good place to work; but I could see how it's not for everyone. The leadership staff is very client-oriented and the demands get passed down to the field teams. I believe the direction of the company is to really be the best contractor in California."

"I've worked at Hal Hays Construction since 2009, mostly as a Quality Control Manager. I have enjoyed my time here very much serving our military customers and delivering the best projects that we can. I have been paired up with a great project manager a lot of the time as well as outstanding superintendents."

"HHCI employed 3 years now. I feel like the reviews in that time have been fair. Overall, the company is a place that I enjoy spending my time at. The office supports pretty well, and there is a good common vision that we are headed towards."

"I've seen some bad ones come, I've seen some good ones go. I've been here for a few years, and all in all, it's a pretty good place to be. There are a lot of good people, Kirby and I have always had a mutual respect towards one another. I always think back to my interview, I had done a thorough review of all the companies I was considering, and I brought up some concerns I had about the online reviews of this company. Surprisingly, they were very direct in addressing them and forthright in stating that "HHCI is not for EVERYONE". They were clear as to what the expectations are (quick learner, need good decision making, treat it like it's your money). I feel that I have been pretty successful here because I didn't oversell myself to get in the door, and I took heed of their expectations."

"HHCI employed for 5.5 years. Wasn't asked to do this. An honest assessment of my time here. Be prepared to be pushed. HHCI wants you to give it your all from the minute you clock in until you wrap up your emails at 7pm. That may not be for everyone but if you want it you'll be given good opportunities for future job assignments & more growth within the company. It's caused me I feel to become a better superintendent in dealing with the military market as well as Southern California Edison. Yes, you may miss a Saturday or 2 a month working but I enjoy my job. Sometimes you have to work away from your house. Of course it would be ideal to be placed within short driving distance but I'm grateful to be working. Tips for future interviewers. Be honest in your interview. If you're not capable of running a specific job or haven't had any experience working a military job don't lie about it!! That is a major reason for the high turnover from what I've seen here. Be honest and upfront."

"I have been a Site Safety and Health Officer nearly one year now. I read some of the horror stories on here, and I feel like I am working at a different company. The President/CEO has always been cordial to me, I get recognition for my hard work, good company events, etc."

"I've been here a little over a year, and I can't speak to many of the things outlined above. As far as the hiring practice goes, I have nothing to complain about. When I first came aboard, everyone was welcoming to me, the Operations Manager personally walked me around and introduced me to everyone from IT to project controls.Apparently there is a terrible side of the company that I have yet to see. Every time I see the CEO he is upbeat and respectful."

What do you like about working at Hal Hays Construction?

"It's pretty organized. You know what you need to do in order to complete your job. There are a lot of processes in place to help you be successful."

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

"Old school types don't do well here. You have to move fast. They come down on you if you don't follow the processes."

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

"Not much. I've been here a long time through the ups and downs. It's definitely doing better. I do think the design team is bad. Those guys have it easy. I have constant design problems and theres no accountability for all there screw ups. I guess if the crappy design department is the worst of the problems them it's not too bad. I like the way the company is headed."

What suggestions do you have for management?

"Continue to train, continue to promote within, hire better people, don't do design build anymore, fire the design team."

"Fairly new with the company. So far it's not bad. I always hear that after the honeymoon you get the ax so I'm skeptical. Aside from that, I have nothing but good things to say. Good (not great) benefits, fair salary, treated fairly, the owner even gave me a shout out in a company email the other day."

"Overall good place to work, just don't expect any wage increases."

What do you like about working at Hal Hays Construction?

"I am happy with my job about 95% of the time. They are always willing to look for the better way to build a mousetrap in the internal processes. The boss is a very astute businessman, is willing to get his own hands dirty to get the job done, and very good at spotting the difference between those who just talk and those who can do - which is the usual reason for a high turnover. The staff is very supportive of one another, always willing to pitch in and help a co-worker. If you are a dedicated and not afraid of hard work, you definitely can be happy here."

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

"Don' fluff up your resume or your skills. You may fool them long enough to get the job, but you won't keep it."

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

"While a lot of lip service and shows of appreciation are given, if you are office staff and do not have a degree you are not valued where it really counts - your wallet. Upper management believes everyone is easily replaceable and does not use appropriate wage comparisons to make sure high performing employees are rewarded. Some Project Managers are blatantly disrespectful to the office staff and are not reprimanded for it."

What suggestions do you have for management?

"As the job market gets better you will lose valuable employees solely due to a lack of monetary appreciation. Ask your employees - they would rather have pay increases than another BBQ, company picnic or Christmas party."

"I'm currently working for halhays for some time now and things are getting from bad to worst, it make me angry and sad to have to work for these people knowing that all your hard work means nothing for them; because at the end you are just a number, that's right...starting with your key tags, which is a magnetic tag that we scan to a clock meter at the beginning of the shift and at the end of the shift. That's fear for the company right? But not for the employee because a lot of times you have to drive far away..like 100 or more miles to a military base, to get in line at 5:30-6:00 am to get a badge and wait sometimes 2-3 hours and then get to the jobsite. And that's when you clock in. ..that's when your time start because Halhays doesn't pay for travel neither for badging time. The other and most important thing. Your prevailing wages are by far pathetic. ...when you apply and get hired they explain to you that in the classification space write prevailing wage because that's gonna be your classification and that's how you are going to get paid. Yes. ..you get paid prevailing wages if you are working at government jobs but not the right ones. At this moment halhays is under the labor board radar because of several complaints of existing and former employees. Only for one reason; they are not getting paid what the law specifies. No matter what you do they consider everybody labors, doesn't matter if you are carpenter, concrete finisher you always get labor wages. Only if the labor board inspectors are visiting the job sites they start paying what's correct but that's only a few hours, and that's for a day or two. Its like they are not afraid of getting in trouble or get bad reputation. That's only the beginning of my story. ..what about the young workers that halhays hired as construction equipment apprentices and are getting paid very low and they never been sent to school? For years you see very good workers giving the best they got and to get treated like that?"