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RDH Building Science

Is this your company?

Great coworkers at the non-management level, but beware of some important negatives. - Engineer RDH Building Science Employee Review

1.0
24 Dec 2016
Recommend
CEO approval
Business outlook

Pros

Coworkers in staff engineering and support positions are great- nearly everyone is very professional, intelligent (both intellectually and emotionally), and eager to perform well. Option to purchase equity shares (~10-15% of annual salary) after approximately 6 months (if you negotiate) or a year (standard). Vancouver and Waterloo offices have renowned industry experts and working there provides fantastic learning opportunities for young engineers. Close ties with universities make it an easy transition for new graduates and can provide great career advancement opportunities. Three weeks of vacation to start is much better than other firms in similar markets.

Cons

Each office has a very different culture. When the company expands into a new regional market, there is a tendency to hire partner-level employees from other firms. Some of these have been fantastic hires, while others have ended up backfiring significantly- there are a few washouts or lazy/ terminal middle management types that clearly came from larger firms looking for an easier opportunity to advance. Some managers regularly engage in illegal employment practices apparently without repercussion, including: 1.) asking interview candidates if they plan on getting married or having children in the near future, 2.) formally reprimanding employees for publicly discussing the salary/benefits offered at other firms, threatening punitive action if it is done again, and canceling salary/ benefit discussions as a direct consequence, and a number of other far more severe examples that will remain unmentioned. A lot of other corners are cut in order to offer equity shares to all employees. If you are working in one of the US offices and don't have the luxury of being able to use your spouse's benefits, you will be in a very tough spot. The benefits package isn't even close to being competitive to what other firms are offering, and I can't imagine what is offered is remotely reliable for employees that depend on their employer-provided medical care. Extremely minimal 401k match (3% with no contribution). This is an improvement over what it used to be (nothing) but not competitive with other firms. Flat salary without bonuses; it ends up being average to slightly below average for the industry. Depending on who you work for, your pay curve may be a little more dependent on personality than the volume or quality of your work- this could work in your favor if you approach it right. Managers tend to easily buy into hype and word travels quickly- so if you start off on the right foot you can be in a good position.

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RDH Building Science Response
8y
Thank you for taking the time to provide insight into your experience with us. We follow all state, provincial and federal employment standards to ensure our staff and potential staff are treated fairly. Integrity is one of our core values and we will not stand for illegal practices. That said, your insight tells me that further training is needed for hiring managers. I’m sorry that our compensation efforts are not meeting your expectations. RDH actually contributes 3% of salary for every eligible employee without the need for the staff member to contribute a matching portion. The employee is 100% vested. I appreciate you taking the time to share your areas for improvement so that I can reflect on how we can adapt and ensure all staff feel valued, appreciated and are working at their full potential.

Explore other reviews about RDH Building Science

5.0
14 Sept 2025
Recommend
CEO approval
Business outlook

Pros

Collaborative, empowering, positive environment. Interesting work, rewarding learning opportunities.

Cons

Typically heavy workload, high expectations

4.0
7 May 2026
Anonymous employee
Recommend
CEO approval
Business outlook

Pros

They have a great company culture

Cons

Clarity on career growth could be better

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