Overly Insulated-Resistant to Change - Anonymous employee Jackson-Dawson Employee Review

2.0
Jun 12, 2017
Anonymous employee
Recommend
CEO approval
Business outlook

Pros

Lots of free food (charged back to corporate clients indirectly), some very nice people.

Cons

It took me a while to decide whether to post this review. The culture is enclosed and cliquish in ways beyond other organizations. I've worked in many places, all have internal politics, many undesirable. The difficulty with JD is that they've been a private company and fixed in their ways for so long that, despite rhetoric for new ideas/strategies, when introduced, they are dismissed and buried. There's a profound refusal to receive or listen to new or different ideas with vast judgment attached. I've heard comments such as "s/he hasn't the skillset" s/he doesn't produce quality. However, said quality is never defined or explained. The vagueness protects these judgement assertions, which are frequently inaccurate. I've seen excellent work by several employees be so judged and dismissed without valid rationale. These work products were , however, "different" than those existing, either in strategy, technique, process. Conformity is key in an almost cult-like manner. Because JD has a familial atmosphere, the management appears to rely on whispers for information. The gossip climate is not as Theory X as sometimes happens, rather it is used to determine whether the person "fits" in a non-professional, overly-familiar, borderline unethical manner. Communication, ironically, lacks in terms of expectations, feedback, scope. JD is Darwinian in terms of "Impress Me" is an apparent position description, camouflaged in language like "entrepreneurial spirit." A pronounced managerial deficiency results. Rather than coach, mentor, discuss, etc., bosses ignore, shut down, refuse confrontation. Then the manager will huddle with others to devalue the employee until eventually HR calls the meeting to fire him/her. There have been mentions regarding religious overtones. This is true. Although not all individuals subscribe, the inner circle/upper management relies on these loyalties. True advancement only happens to those, described by a few employees, as the "Handshake Club." It's rather scary.

Explore other reviews about Jackson-Dawson

5.0
Feb 4, 2025
Recommend
CEO approval
Business outlook

Pros

I’ve been employed at JD since March of 2023. The hiring process was excellent and no time was wasted to get through the process. I wasn’t entirely sure how I would do in this role, but our leadership at JD and our client ensured I was prepared to be successful, and successful I’ve been. Although, JD is based in Detroit and I’m located remotely in the Philadelphia area, it never became an issue for when I needed anything. They have provided me with all the tools and support to thrive, and have done it in a way that has been personalized to my work ethics. In short, JD is a diverse company who supports their employees in every way and I highly encourage anyone reading this to consider my company. Lastly, I should mention how respectful they are with life/work balance.

Cons

By nature, our team is remote throughout the country and working with other employees in person is just not possible, but this is of no fault to JD.

2.0
May 6, 2026
Anonymous contractor
Recommend
CEO approval
Business outlook

Pros

Great people in the company. End Users are easy to work with and very friendly.

Cons

The IT department operates under a noticeably different set of expectations than the rest of the organization, and not in a positive way. Engineering staff are required to be onsite full time, while leadership appears to follow a hybrid model similar to other departments. This inconsistency reflects a broader lack of alignment within leadership. The System Engineer role has experienced extremely high turnover, with around eight individuals rotating through the position in just two years. That level of churn raises serious concerns about long-term sustainability and how the role is managed. Leadership often makes decisions reactively instead of following a defined strategy. This results in constantly shifting priorities and inconsistent technical direction, making it difficult to execute projects efficiently or build stable solutions. Project progress is frequently stalled due to lack of leadership engagement. Scheduled project meetings are regularly missed by management, leaving engineers unable to move forward due to missing decisions. This leads to unnecessary delays and wasted effort. Work-life balance is a significant concern. IT staff are expected to be available after hours and on weekends as a standard expectation, with little consideration given to total workload or personal time. There is minimal regard for maintaining a sustainable work schedule. There were also situations where hourly contractors felt pressured to work beyond their scheduled hours without clearly defined compensation. This created concerns around compliance with Michigan labor regulations and added stress for contractors.

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