Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) About Working for Parsons
Parsons' diverse workplace spans the globe to plan, design, engineer, construct, and operate the infrastructure that is the foundation of sustainable and integrated communities in a safer and healthier world. We have many employees who have worked with us for more than 20 years. It is also common for former employees to return to us at different points in their careers.
We believe the loyalty and commitment of our employees stems from our corporation's core values and the benefits derived from being a part of Parsons' world-class team.
Benefits with Choice
Continuing Education and Professional Licenses
Credit Union, Savings, and Retirement Plans
Global Business Units
History of Community Service
Industry Ranking
Markets We Serve
What Employees Say About Working for Parsons
Parsons offers a competitive compensation and benefits package that includes medical, dental, vision, and life insurance; tuition reimbursement; credit union membership; an Employee Stock Ownership Plan (ESOP); a 401(k); and career development. In addition, we have a Wellness for Life program that promotes taking time for fitness, eating well, and obtaining preventative medical care.
Our human resources staff works with our health care insurance carriers to keep the deductibles low and quality of care high. Our employees' privacy is key, and specific health information is not disclosed to our management.
Newly hired employees may enroll in plans for which they are eligible at the time of hire. An employee may add medical insurance if not previously enrolled in a Parsons sponsored medical insurance plan when a life event occurs that coincides with a transfer to a new location or subsidiary company. Please note that not all benefits apply due to the structure of certain subsidiaries, joint ventures, or limited liability companies.
Medical - Parsons employees along with their dependents and domestic partners are eligible to participate in our group medical plans. Our medical plans encourage wellness exams and screenings for the prevention and early detection of disease, as well as chronic condition management programs.
Dental - Parsons employees along with their dependents and domestic partners are eligible to participate in our group dental plans, which include an option for orthodontia.
Life Insurance - Parsons has various life insurance programs available. In addition to short- and long-term disability options for our employees, we also have life insurance and accidental death and dismemberment options for our employees along with their dependents and domestic partners.
Auto/ Home Insurance - Parsons employees are eligible for car, home, and other personal property coverage at special group rates.
Paid Time Off (PTO) - At Parsons, PTO includes cumulative vacation and sick time. In addition, we observe 8 national holidays including the day after Thanksgiving.
Vision - Parsons employees along with their dependents and domestic partners are eligible to participate in our group vision plan, which includes annual eye exams and updates to contacts and glasses every two years.
Employee Assistance Program - Provides employees with professional counseling across a wide range of issues, starting with three no-cost counseling sessions annually, financial and legal assistance, child and parenting support services, adult and eldercare support services, and assistance with employee/employer conflicts.
Wellness for Life - This program expands our standard wellness services to include the opportunity to complete a personal health assessment, receive personal heath coaching, and access to a 24-hour nurse line for real-time answers to heath questions.
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At Parsons, we believe in the power of professional knowledge. Continuing education and training is an important part of our strategic plan for recruiting and retaining employees as well as satisfying our clients' needs for an intelligent organization that can provide one-of-a-kind solutions.
Tuition Reimbursement - Subject to approval, Parsons provides financial assistance to employees who take outside educational courses on their own initiative. The tuition reimbursement program is available to active employees of qualifying Parsons' companies or subsidiaries who are employed in a "full-time regular" status.
ParsonsU - We have a Corporate Training & Development Website (ParsonsU) where on-line learning provides our employees with a strategic advantage. Parsons employees have access to more than 440 on-line and media-rich learning courses aligned to individual career and corporate objectives.
Our course collection includes Orientation information and tools that help new employees quickly get up to speed on everything "Parsons." We offer a comprehensive Leadership & Management program that provides all supervisors of two or more employees specialized achievement-based training. We designed our own Project Management Institute and Project Management Certifications to help our Project Managers build skills and expertise. In keeping with the corporation's "Safety-Make it Personal" culture, ParsonsU provides the industry's best Safety learning resources and tools.
Professional Licenses - Parsons recognizes the value of professional registration and qualifying certifications to both the conduct of our business and the development of our employees. Full-time professional employees are encouraged to seek professional registration or certification from qualifying national organizations in their field and to renew them on a continuing basis. State license fees will normally be reimbursed for the state where our employee is employed. Registered employees relocated by Parsons (career moves) to an office location in another state will be reimbursed for the cost of obtaining and maintaining registration in their new home state. Up to 8 hours of paid time is available for the purpose of taking the examination during normal business hours.
Professional Society Memberships - Parsons views professional society participation as being primarily of value to the individual member. However, in certain circumstances, an employee's membership may also serve the best interests of, and be a meaningful resource to, the organization. Therefore, reimbursement for the cost of society memberships must be reviewed carefully on an individual basis. Parsons may reimburse employees for the cost of society membership when there is a clear and necessary benefit to the conduct of our business.
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A common myth abounds that "my only chance of becoming a millionaire is winning the lottery." The reality is that wealth in America is the result of hard work, living within one's means, and diligent savings combined with financial planning. While Parsons can't promise financial security, we do offer an Employee Stock Ownership Plan (ESOP) that is available to most employees.
Parsons ESOP - Parsons is 100% owned by The Parsons Corporation ESOP. Eligible employees have a unique opportunity to participate in a stock bonus in which their individual efforts, as well as the efforts of fellow employees, influence, in part, their long-term financial position. The financial benefits that flow from Parsons' annual performance accrue only to ESOP employees and are not shared with public stockholders. We believe that our ESOP provides an excellent benefit and a strong incentive for each employee to contribute his or her best and the opportunity to receive the financial rewards of his or her efforts.
Shares vest (become nonforfeitable) based upon length of service. An employee becomes fully vested in his or her shares after six years of credited service. Annual share allocation is based upon the ratio of an eligible individual's covered compensation in relation to the covered compensation of all ESOP employees.
Parsons 401(k) - Our 401(k) plan is in addition to the ESOP and provides eligible employees with the opportunity to save and enables us to take an active role in deciding how our money is invested. It allows eligible employees to make pre-tax contributions each year subject to annual limits. Our corporation makes a matching contribution of 50% of the initial 4% of employee deferrals.
Employee contributions are made on a pre-tax basis, which reduces current income for federal and, in many cases, state income taxes. Taxes on the Corporation's contributions, as well as any investment gains on Plan accounts, are also deferred. Cash distributions from the Plan are subject to income tax. Plan accounts may be transferred tax-free to an individual's IRA when the employee's employment with Parsons terminates.
In addition, the Plan allows employees to borrow up to 50 percent of their accumulated account balance and to withdraw funds in the event of extreme financial hardship, subject to IRS regulations and Plan provisions.
Parsons Federal Credit Union (PFCU) - PFCU was chartered in 1975 and is committed to providing a broad range of products and services. It uses proven technologies and professional methods, in a reliable, financially sound manner, while ensuring the security and privacy of members' information. At every PFCU office, you will find a friendly and helpful atmosphere, where financial choices are offered without pressure or obligation. All member accounts are insured up to $350,000 by a combination of federal National Credit Union Share Insurance Fund (NCUSIF) and private American Share Insurance (ASI) funds. All members of PFCU's Board of Directors are volunteers, elected by the membership. These dedicated volunteers reduce operating costs, helping the PFCU offer better rates.
Whatever you have planned for the future, these plans and services will help you get closer to meeting your financial goals.
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Since its inception, Parsons has given back to the communities in which it works. From hosting blood drives, funding scholarships, and participating in the United Way, to raising money for victims of natural disasters, the corporation quietly and consistently supports local and national charities. The final tally of Parsons employees' United Way pledges exceeded $415,000 in 2007, some 10% higher than the goal we set!
For more than a decade, our Chemical Stockpile Disposal Program staff made yearly donations of more than 30 boxes of new toys and clothing for the children at the USC Women's and Children's Hospital in Los Angeles.
In Newport, Indiana, Parsons' chemical demilitarization staff is actively involved in helping those in need. When the project started in 1999, we began collecting donations and participating in fundraisers organized by the employee recreation committee. We have contributed cash and merchandise to local families and schools and purchased winter coats, hats, gloves, and toys for children during the holidays. On average, we give 36 pints of blood to the American Red Cross every two months.
In Russia, Parsons' chemical demilitarization staff has made similar contributions. We have created and managed a charity fund that has directly benefited local families by raising almost $10,000 of non-cash donations. In 2004, the Russian team attended the annual holiday show at the Rassvet orphanage in Shchuch'ye. During the event, our Moscow and Volgograd personnel donated food items, sweets, presents, and 5,000 rubles in cash to the organization.
Approximately 15 members of Parsons technical staff volunteer their time to teach science and engineering to middle school students as part of the Future Scientists and Engineers of America.
A long-standing corporate tradition within Parsons is its annual golf tournament on behalf of the American Cancer Society's San Gabriel Valley Unit. In 1975, Parsons began hosting The Tournament for Life at Pasadena's Brookside Golf Course, which is adjacent to the Rose Bowl. Proceeds benefit cancer research, patient services, education, and advocacy. Parsons staff, clients, and subcontractors participate in the day-long event, which has raised approximately $3 million dollars.
As a corporate sponsor of BIG SUNDAY, Parsons encourages all southern California employees and their families to participate in this weekend-long event designed to meet community needs in and around the city of Los Angeles. Whether it be to renovate a home, work at a homeless shelter, or create a community garden, there are volunteer opportunities for every passion, every talent, and every age.
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ENR Magazine is our industry's leading analyst. Each year it ranks our peers. In 2007 it ranked Parsons' design capabilities as #1 in Telecom for 7 years in a row, #4 in hazardous waste, #10 in manufacturing, #8 in transportation, and #7 in overall design. Our general building rank is #7, and our ranking in the international markets is #14. In industrial process, we are ranked #19.
Readers of Minority Engineer, the career magazine for entry-level and professional engineers, were asked to name both private- and public-sector employers for whom they would most like to work or that they believe would provide a positive working environment for members of minority groups. Parsons was ranked
14 out of 50.
CollegeGrad.com has named Parsons one of the top 500 employers of entry level college graduates for 2007-the third year in a row.
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Early Career Professionals (ECP)
We have an ECP program at Parsons that promotes the growth of our newest employees. Here is what several ECP have said about joining and working for Parsons (excerpts taken from staff essays).
"I had found a career that would nurture my morals and embrace my ethical obligation to improve the world we live in. Regardless of politics, clean water is a basic human need and I was excited to be a part of something responsible for that. I still am." -Katy Kapphahn, Associate Mechanical Engineer
"Parsons is very diverse within the industry and goes above and beyond the industry standard. I wanted to be a part of a team that consistently went beyond the call of duty. I knew this was the company where I would be an asset and be able to develop my career while maintaining a high quality of life." -Tom Klecker, Construction Business Development
Mid- and Senior-Level Professionals
Many of our mid- and senior-level professionals started with Parsons early in their careers. Others later joined our corporation. Several executives recounted their career paths that provide a road map to those seeking advancement possibilities at Parsons (excerpts taken from interviews).
"Parsons has provided me with a challenging and varied career. I graduated as a chemical engineer with the goal of building great process facilities. I was hired as a process engineer. A few years later, I chose to expand my role. My career path has included environmental and project engineering, project management, construction assistance, as well as various management positions in construction, procurement, operations, projects development, facilities. I am now our construction division business manager. Not all engineers want this variety; however, Parsons provides opportunities to grow and change careers without leaving the company. We offer our staff the ability to stay within their respective technical/engineering fields and achieve a high level of recognition. I have been associated with many, many projects that achieved my personal goal of building great facilities." -Mary Brown, Vice President
"I was working for the government, and Parsons was our subcontractor on a project I was managing. We had a good relationship. I went on to attend graduate school. [Afterward] I talked to Parsons, and they made me an offer. My first assignment, I was doing business development. [On one bid] I was proposed as the project manager. We won that job and I managed it for three years. The program became very significant to Parsons. I then became a senior manager where I supervised our Federal business unit sales efforts and then became its president. It taught me not to focus so much on my own goals and objectives than on corporate goals and objectives. I'm now Chief Operating Officer (COO) of our corporation." -Jack Scott, COO
"I joined Parsons directly following college and started my career as an associate engineer working on a drafting board. Every 18 months to two years, a new opportunity arose and I eagerly accepted each new assignment, advancing to engineer, then senior engineer, followed by managing other engineers in the mechanical engineering group. I then had the opportunity to move to a project engineering role overseeing the various engineering disciplines on projects, and that opened up an opportunity to move into project management. Then, I was presented with an opportunity in business development, which led to my promotion to division manager leading a start-up industrial division. I later became president of our commercial business unit and [am] now the Chief Financial Officer (CFO) of the corporation. It has been a fun and stimulating career." -Chuck Harrington, CFO
Transitioning to Retirement
While retirement may seem years away, many of our employees have benefited from our Employee Stock Ownership Plan (ESOP). We also value the knowledge and skills of seasoned professionals and, on occasion, can offer part-time, casual employment to retirees.
"I retired for three and a half years, and (then) I came back to work. I have a total of 32 years with the company. I, even to this day, am enjoying the rewards of ESOP. I have a comfortable retirement. I also have to thank Parsons, I met my present wife there." -Manny Stein, former employee
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