HUB International Reviews

Pros

Strong sense of ownership and accountability in your role; Supportive leadership; Team performance bonuses (we are all in this together); Over 450 agencies locally run but organically united - this makes HUB International incredibly flexible and gives this insurance broker unique bargaining power with insurance carriers and third party services on behalf of the employer groups it serves.

Cons

Rapid and constant growth has its challenges, but they are absolutely worth it.

Advice to Management

Continue to fold in the new acquisitions into one unified organism that hums, much like folding unique ingredients into one superior dish, or adding musical notes to create a symphony.

Pros

Good place to get your foot in the door for insurance. Since there is no on boarding program, the learning curve is steep and will be beneficial in the end.

Cons

- Work life balance is nonexistent. Demands on teams and account associates/assistants are outlandish. Some people will get to work from home time to time, but only if you are in someones good books. - Divisions between teams and departments: everyone acts like the are in high school and will form cliques or will act like they terrified someone is coming to take their job. No real knowledge sharing or... communication between departments. The culture can be very negative at times. - If you have no education or proper insurance experience but are one of the executives or managers friends/family members you will do well and move up quickly. Lots of opportunities for the connected. If you are not lucky enough to be on the friend or family list be prepared for: hard times, eye rolls, constant criticism, and doors slammed in your face. Nepotism is king here. - No on boarding or training what so ever. No shadowing key team members. No introductions. No written instructions. Nothing. - Some people will get invited to carrier or broker events, again, mostly the connected people will actually be invited. Managers don’t think to invite their team members just the select few. - Tons and tons of unprofessional, sexist and down right bad behavior is accepted here. It’s an old boys club. Won’t get rid of the rotten apples because it would be too much to pay them out. - Lots of egos and people wanting bragging rights but no real rock stars. - No education for people who want to branch out, can have a difficult time getting this “education tuition reimbursement” if you are not on the right team, working for the right person, doing the right job. Other brokers it’s standard that if some one expresses interest in education they go and get it. At HUB you need to justify everything and pray you get a chance to grow.

Pros

Flexible with work schedule. Co-workers are wonderful.

Cons

-Experienced burnout, high levels of stress, unrealistic expectations, underpaid, undervalued. Only brokers receive acknowledgement and awards and incentives. Support staff/departments do not get acknowledged, or awarded or have any incentives at all. Lack of opportunity and growth. Expectations to set goals and expand on skills to further help the company but no rewards or compensation is given. -Senior... management micromanage, unable to trust their teams, unorganized, they don’t communicate with other managers, they hold back and don’t share critical information to team members, they play favorites, they don’t provide clear or realistic direction. They promote the wrong people. Avoid transparency -Department managers (mainly in support departments) ignore good performances from team members, avoid recognition, avoid tough conversations, unable to listen and respond, deflect attention and blame away from them to make you feel that you are the one with the problem (emotional manipulation). Insensitive to signs of overworked employees. Lack of understanding or appreciation for the work. Calls for help and resources are ignored. All concerns listed above have been presented to management and HR and although they roll out employee surveys and ensure that there are areas of opportunity where they need to continuously work on, nothing ever changes or a meager attempt is made. Many employees are disengaged, many good employees leave the company and pursue other opportunities because of the lack of opportunity and growth. They are also not concerned about keeping good employees as they are replaceable.

Advice to Management

Don't be defensive with feedback or opinions. Articulate a clear vision and inspire employees to believe what you believe and employees will join in on the company vision and figure out ways to get there. Working hard for something we don't care about is called stress, working hard we care about is called passion. Provide an environment where workers want to come to work. When employees feel that the company... cares about their employees, that they care more about their employees lives than a dollar figure, employees will be loyal and work hard to see the company vision is advanced. Learn by practicing helping each other.

Pros

Growing company, lots of opportunities

Cons

Sales culture is more important than good servicing and focusing on our clients already in our books.

Pros

Extremely Friendly Environment Warm and welcoming team

Cons

Training - could definitely improve

Pros

Good place to start if you are new to the industry as they provide some level of training.

Cons

- disconnect between management and office staff- the "Executive Team" loves to walk around and shake hands but really could care less about the front line staff. - heavy favoritism and nepotism- (get ready for the next generation of management's children/friends to slide ahead of you with minimal effort) - decisions are made at a corporate level with little or no discussion with the employees it affects- "big... company + big bully" - no mentor ship program and cheap on the employee engagement/social events I started there in my early 20's and it was essentially my first real job. It was okay for a year or two and then I started to realize what I noted above. I am also 100% certain many of the "Senior" people still work there because Management is too cheap to pay their severance. Some of these people literally handle one account and are treated with impunity because they are "partners" Lots of 50+ people stealing paychecks while they wait to retire while the millennial workers pull the weight. Also ridiculously cheap when it comes to social events for the "largest broker in Canada" although they won't let you forget when they come around with a 5$ gift card at Christmas. Lots small to medium sized brokerages in the GTA are looking to grow and will treat you much better than the folks at HUB.

Advice to Management

Good for you if you are one of the 20+ year employees that will never leave or do anything differently. Keep lining your pockets or at least grovelling around with gratitude among the ones that do.

Pros

A very collaborative atmosphere, managers and executives are easy to talk to. Good work/life balance - very rarely work overtime. Benefits are great for dental.

Cons

Poor vision benefits. Pay is below average (sacrificing pay for the culture). Confusing c-suite structure - so many executives and VPs!

Advice to Management

There needs to be a better process for the flow of communication. Sometimes there is very important information that is not distributed because there is no process in place, and it seems like each executive thinks that the other executives are informing the staff when in fact nobody is.

Pros

Fully stocked gourmet kitchen, casual work environment

Cons

Negative and highly unprofessional work environment, many staff swear (the managers doing most of it), high turnover, job uncertainty for sales positions due to fluctuating home building market,

Advice to Management

Advice to HUB - find it why there's so much turnover at Pacific/Progressive Home Warranty and maybe even secretly observe the day to day operations.