project manager

estimator

health & safety manager

associate project manager

construction project manager

Michels

There are two very different views for Michels... 

There is the field side and there is the office side.

I have no personal information regarding the field side of things. However, having worked in an office setting at one of the satellite yards, I have plenty of personal opinion here.

Michels preaches that safety is their number one concern. There are many times that this is apparent though there are also plenty of times when safety is thrown aside in order to let production prevail. Realizing that productivity is important to a growing company, some safety issues can be overlooked, but when some things are life & death, overlooking isn't an option.

Management cares about themselves first and foremost. Most of the management acts as though giving a subordinate a raise would come directly out of their own pocket. Therefore raises are very hard to come by, no matter how much a person might deserve it.

The benefits are swell. But, there used to be additional things that the company would do to show their appreciation for us and those extra things have gone away for some reason. Our time off policy has changed which negatively affects the majority of employees. We used to receive little incentives for safety or the number of days without a record-able safety incident, but it's definitely been a while since that has happened. My first year they gave us a gift card for a "holiday bonus" which was nice, but there hasn't been anything since. 
The 401K matching is on par with many companies I believe.

There is very little appreciation shown to anyone below management no matter how worthy you are. Since I have started with Michels, my position and job responsibilities have grown significantly and continues to grow as I am expected to pick up much of the "slack" from other employees... yet my pay has not increased much beyond the (tiny) cost of living raise amount that everyone gets. There is very little motivation for a good employee to go above and beyond the basic requirements. There are employees who do nearly nothing all day and get treated like royalty. And then there are those that pick up that employee's slack on top of doing their own job well, and we are overlooked and underappreciated. 

Even when specific issues are brought to the attention of management, it doesn't go very far. They've implemented supervisor surveys - that are supposed to be anonymous... but the results are printed and given to the supervisor so they are able to see what was exactly written (usually giving them enough information to know exactly who wrote what) so there are VERY few people who are brave enough to be completely honest on these surveys because the idea of retaliation and repercussion seem too scary to make it worth it. So people just put nonsense in the surveys anyways. Therefore, nothing changes. Management continues to treat people terribly. Great employees continue to leave for better opportunities or suffer. 

When I first started, I absolutely loved everything about Michels. I still really would love my job if something was done about the division between low-men and management. Many reviews have said that there is good teamwork - and I want to add that I agree, but I would not include management in that "team". I thoroughly enjoy most of my coworkers and would call some of them friends... and it pains me to see so many of them leave or suffer.

All in all, I think there is a lot that could and should change, but being at the bottom of the totem pole doesn't leave my opinion very recognized.

Working with Michels definitely improved my skills as an Application Developer. I was given a challenging project right away and through support, mentoring and guidance of my team and department we were able to create a piece of software that benefits the company long term. It is a finished product that I am proud of and it was possible due to good cooperation and teamwork and management. A typical day consisted of going to my work station and programming of whatever project had priority. There was an occasional meeting to keep track of progress or update the department on new developments. Every day was filled with new challenges. They were difficult to resolve but the results are well worth it. I learned new skills, sharpened new ones, and felt life I was a part of a well balanced and well coordinated team. Hardest part of the job was to learn a new project or system that is unfamiliar. Most enjoyable part of the job was to deliver the product to a business analysts or managers and receive satisfactory feedback. It validates the quality of my work. I learned that good management of the project and the team is a vital part of being a developer. If the management restricts funding and technology, the development process is impaired. If other parts of the company that need the applications are not reciprocating and understanding the requirements of what they actually want, the end product gets delayed and the satisfaction and productivity plummets. It is vital to ensure proper communication and support between the developers and the part of the business that need the technological enhancements. Understanding and patience go a very long way.

● Work-life balance
As with any job, with the right people, the work can be enjoyable and rewarding. Just don't make any plans for a social life. Travel expectations are short notice and for months at a time.

● Pay & benefits
Well compensated, union pay.

● Job security and advancement
Some people are able to advance. Not an option for me in my specific situation.

● Management
Direct management, in my experience, is helpful and knowledgeable. Corporate is another story. Consistently required to travel for months at a time with little to no notice. No regard for personal life or extenuating circumstances. Basically, the workers are treated as well-paid robots, expected to drop everything at a moment's notice and leave everything for months at a time.

● Culture
Do your job, keep your head down, and avoid the corporate entity and it can be a fun, rewarding job.

● Overall
Quality, fast paced work environment that is results-oriented. My division is different from the rest in that we are expected to travel for long periods on little to no notice. Perfect for a young, single person. Not as much as you get older and have a family. If you want to make money and see the country, and living out of a hotel most/all of the year doesn't bother you, this is the job for you. Just don't expect understanding for personal life situations.

Leadership - The lighthouse that should guide ships safely through turbulent waters is dim and flickering at Michels. Leadership is ineffectual, if not entirely absent, leaving employees adrift without direction or support. Decisions are made in a vacuum of accountability, and dissenting voices are silenced or dismissed, further fueling the toxic environment.

The hiring practices at Michels reflect a troubling trend where nepotism and favoritism take precedence over merit and qualifications. Instances such as the rehiring of the project manager's friend, who incurred significant financial losses to the company, underscore the disregard for accountability and sound decision-making. Furthermore, the decision to hire the  friend's spouse adds another layer of nepotism, raising concerns about conflicts of interest and impartiality within the organization. These actions not only undermine the integrity of the hiring process but also erode trust and confidence among employees who witness blatant examples of preferential treatment over professional competence.

No pressure and some flexibility in hours is possible.

In the 5 yrs. I have been here just about every non-union employee has left, high turnover and I'm talking some management jobs too.
They think a normal day is 10 hrs or more. They believe in paying out of market wages(lower) because they are located in the middle of a farm field.

When I was first made job offer I was told about bonuses that have never been given. Since then 4 other employees were told the same thing and never received one. When HR was questioned along with manager their reply to all was "Did you get that in writing". So make sure you get everything in writing. Raises have been 1-2% per year. 
The company is family owned and located in middle of WI. The corporate location is filled with all sorts of family and friends as the pool to pick from in a small town is low. This company is way to big to not be run like a major corporation. If you are billing 3 Billion dollars a year you need help from people who know and understand this kind of operation.

Have been with Michels in Safety for 4 years. I have gone through restructuring and overall safety mgmt has goals and cares about safety and wellness of the operators. Depends on how good of a relationship your safety mgmt has with operations if anything truly safety related will get done. 

My mgmt has been decent and helpful but don't always feel they have your back. Upper mgmt is mostly concerned with decreasing OSHA recordables and making their numbers look good. 

Work life balance is decent for the construction industry and the few times i've had to leave or take off for emergencies, my mgmt has been understanding. Still their can be long days with little gratitude. Insurance is great and benefits are average. 

I've been told that Michels has become more corporate over the last 5-10 years, where there used to be bigger emphasis on family and employee well being. I haven't had any negative experiences in my time here. 

Overall, I would recommend this company if you're used to this industry. 

While employed in the yard at Michels earning $20+ per hour, the work environment between supervisors and technicians is mostly good; only the usual minor conflicts which are normal in any workplace occur.  My advice to anyone reading this is to understand that the corporate office and the yard in Brownsville, WI have a definite, distinct,"us v. them" attitude.  As a yard employee, you are "them."  They will manufacture a reason to fire you at any time on their whim.  The Michels HR Dept. are helpless jellyfish - you are not protected in the event of a conflict with anybody.  Before you accept a job in the Michels yard, you work on thin ice. Even if you are an exemplorary employee, as the author of this review was considered (excellent attendance, work ethic, safety record and highly respected by team members), your position at Michels is always at risk.

This workplace has a toxic work environment with poor management and no work life balance. 

Employees are often stressed and overworked, with little support from their superiors. 

The lack of work life balance leads to burnout and negative impacts on mental and physical health. 

Overall, I would not recommend this work environment to anyone. 

Additionally, there is a great fear of being terminated for speaking up or giving honest feedback to HR and leadership. This creates a toxic cycle in which employees feel silenced and unsupported, leading to further stress and negative impacts on their mental and physical health.

 This work environment is not only harmful for employees, but it also hinders productivity and success for the company as a whole. It is important for employers to prioritize creating a positive and healthy work culture in order to foster growth and success for both their employees and the company.

If your not in management then forget it.  People are treated like numbers and they can't keep anyone to save their life.  It doesn't matter if you are shop or office staff, there is a very HIGH turn over rate here.  HR can't keep anyone at all and just when you get familiar with someone, then they are gone.  Same goes for multiple other departments within the office.  Shop staff turn over isn't as bad, but they still treat you terrible.  

They say they are a growing company, but they are not ready for it.  They do not have many seasoned employees left and instead the growing theme is that if you have more than 5 years of experience at Michels then GET OUT!!  People are leaving this place for a reason and management doesn't get it.  

This should be your last resort if you are looking for employment.

What is the best part of working at the company?
Benefits and occasional company provided events/lunches.

What is the most stressful part about working at the company?
Very poor training. Expected to learn and do your job correctly in a short period of time. Very limited resources to help and coworkers were not willing to dedicate time and effort to help. Frowned upon when asking questions.

What is the work environment and culture like at the company?
Seemed to be a very somber environment. Not much interaction with coworkers. Did not feel a lot of encouragement from fellow employees. Very hard to get to know the others within the company.

What is a typical day like for you at the company?
Go in and try to do your job without proper resources and training guides to help you excel.

Top Job Titles	Average Salary
Project manager 62 salaries reported	$132,473 per year
Estimator 57 salaries reported	$113,263 per year
Health & safety manager 13 salaries reported	$100,423 per year
Associate project manager 30 salaries reported	$88,067 per year
Construction project manager 34 salaries reported	$123,647 per year

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