Pros
They do a great job outwardly branding themselves as supportive, warm, values-based, and people-first. Their public-facing messaging about culture, excellence, and integrity is polished and convincing.
Cons
Unfortunately, the internal experience does not match the facade. The culture is highly performative. There is a huge gap between what they preach and how they operate. Many of the people in internal leadership roles do not follow the policies, values, or “HGF Way” they expect contractors to follow.
There is no real space for honesty or transparency. If you voice concerns, express boundaries, or don’t play along with the scripted positivity, you will quickly find yourself on the outside. It feels like you’re rewarded for agreeing with everything and punished for telling the truth. The internal culture is more about image-management than healthy communication or safety.
One of the worst parts is that the values get used against you. The language of kindness, collaboration, and “supportive culture” becomes a tool to deflect responsibility or place blame. When issues arise, instead of ownership and leadership, it’s easier for them to position the contractor as the problem.