Great projects, horribly toxic culture - Transportation Planner WSP Employee Review

2.0
Dec 8, 2025
Recommend
CEO approval
Business Outlook

Pros

Since WSP is so big, we often owned the main contract for some really large, high-profile projects. I really enjoyed the pace of staying on a large project for a longer period to see it through from early planning phases to design and construction. WSP also seems to be one of the higher-paying A&E firms in the area, enough so it was a big factor in me choosing to come here over another large firm I had an offer with.

Cons

For WSP corporate: - While I was there, 401(k) match was capped at $2700 (was simply 3% before) and we went to an "unlimited PTO" model where we don't accrue time (and can't cash out when you leave) and are pressured to take less time off to maintain utilization targets - IT systems were outsourced and one small ticket could take over a week with multiple calls/emails to sort out - We were moved to a shared-space office half the size we had previously with cheap furniture, zero separation from other groups/people (it was literally one giant open room), and non-working laptop hubs that meant I had to also lug my power brick to work every day. Specifically in Seattle's Planning group: There was a lot of churn, including managers and a lot of people were vocally derisive of the culture and politics on their way out. Some of the people who stuck around for a long time were incredibly toxic: lots of loyalty tests, backstabbing other coworkers, and lying to clients and team members about the sloppy, half-baked work we'd turn in. For me, it got to a point where I was spending more time navigating politics or trying to stay out of toxic situations than I was doing work.

Explore other reviews about WSP

5.0
Apr 9, 2026
Recommend
CEO approval
Business Outlook

Pros

Super friendly team and flexible work hours, there’s opportunities to attend site walks too, which I appreciated

Cons

Work gets a bit repetitive sometimes and it might feel tedious at times

2.0
Mar 3, 2026
Recommend
CEO approval
Business Outlook

Pros

This role provided strong foundational experience in environmental consulting, particularly in multimedia sampling, regulatory compliance, reporting, and client interaction. As someone who entered the industry without prior experience, I gained valuable hands on field exposure and developed technical skills through direct project involvement. Team collaboration was solid more or less, with multiple rounds of document review and technical input to prepare deliverables for clients. Safety resources and sampling equipment were provided, expenses were covered, and benefits were competitive. The position offers broad exposure to both field and office responsibilities, which can be beneficial for building a well-rounded technical baseline.

Cons

The role ultimately differed from initial expectations in both workload and structure. Travel demands were significantly heavier than described, often requiring five consecutive days on the road with limited recovery time, which made maintaining work-life balance difficult. Office tasks frequently extended beyond standard hours due to shifting priorities and communication gaps. During my first six months, consistent billable work and structured training were limited, which made it challenging to integrate as someone new to the industry. Over time, leadership support declined, with inconsistent communication, canceled one-on-one meetings, delayed responses, and feedback that often felt either overly vague or excessively critical without much constructive middle ground. There appeared to be minimal accountability at the management level and limited transparency regarding workload distribution and advancement pathways. The compensation did not feel aligned with the travel intensity, workload, and expectations of the role.

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