The Zweig Group has ranked Neumann Monson the second-best architecture firm to work for in their 2021 national employee experience survey. The Zweig Group “Best Firms to Work For Awards” is the largest employee experience survey in the architecture, engineering, environmental, planning, and construction (AEC) industry. The program evaluates AEC firms on culture, workplace practices, employee benefits, retention rates, professional development, and more—from both management and staff perspectives. Awards were given in multiple categories based on firm size and discipline.
“This is more than a contest. It is a powerful look at what the employee experience looks like in today’s AEC firm,” says Zweig Group CEO Chad Clinehens. “Firms can use this ranking and the data it yields as a powerful tool in the recruitment and retention of staff, which is the number one challenge for many AEC firms.”
Enhancing Employee Engagement
Participating in Zweig Group’s program is part of our ongoing effort to continuously enhance company culture. Company culture is increasingly important for talent attraction and retention in the AEC industry with many young professionals ranking culture more important than salary expectations, according to the Zweig Group. With turn-over rates high, especially in the pandemic, many AEC firms are working to retain talent by incorporating Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) criteria into their company culture. Equity, inclusion, and sustainability are becoming the tenets of employee engagement.
Within the last five years, we have become a top firm for young talent. From 2017 to 2020, Neumann Monson received an Emerging Professional Friendly Firm Award from the American Institute of Architects (AIA) Central States Region, with an “outstanding” recognition in 2019. We also received a CX-cellence Employee Engagement Award in 2019. Our employee engagement is partially attributed to our commitment to ESG principles. In addition to our focus on sustainability, we have also taken steps to increase equity within our firm. In 2020, Neumann Monson emerged as a leader in the International Living Future Institute’s Just Program, a voluntary program that assesses company culture in terms of equity and social justice.
Driving Positive Client Experience
We believe company culture and client experience work in tandem. In response to the Zweig Group Award, President Tim Schroeder says, “Our team’s engagement is foundational to our level of client service. Helping our clients live their mission starts with creating an environment where everyone can thrive, and this recognition affirms we are on the right path.” This award reminds us that driving positive change starts in our studios. Looking to the future, we will build on our strong foundation and continue to uplift our clients, communities, and team members.