Urban Utilities
    (70 reviews)

    Company Reviews

    Working at Urban Utilities

    2.970 ratings in total
    5
    14
    4
    16
    3
    11
    2
    7
    1
    22
    87%
    Rate salary as high or average
    51%
    Employees recommend this employer to friends
    Work/Life balance
    3.4(70 ratings)
    Career development
    2.7(70 ratings)
    Benefits & perks
    2.9(69 ratings)
    Management
    2.5(69 ratings)
    Working environment
    2.9(69 ratings)
    Diversity & equal opportunity
    3.4(68 ratings)
    Ratings for Urban Utilities are shared as-is from employees in line with our community guidelines

    Reviews

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    1.0
    Worker
    Apr 2026
    Brisbane QLD 4000Less than 1 year in the role, former employee
    If you want to work and grow, don't join here.
    The good thingsThere are no good things to describe.
    The challengesIf there is one thing challange it can be improved, everything is a challange here.
    2.0
    General Clerk
    Mar 2026
    Fortitude Valley QLD 400610 to 11 years in the role, former employee
    Find Somewhere else to work.
    The good thingsFew and far between good things.
    The challengesManagers are poor. No development. Manipulative management. If you're not in the right clique, you'll get nowhere.
    1 person found this helpful
    2.0
    Negve Opinion
    Jan 2026
    Fortitude Valley QLD 40061 to 2 years in the role, former employee
    Strong values on paper, but not consistently lived in practice.
    The good thingsSome dedicated staff who genuinely care about their work Occasional positive initiatives when internal politics don’t get in the way
    The challenges• In my experience, the organisation presents itself as highly values‑driven, but the day‑to‑day culture doesn’t always reflect that. • Progression and protection seemed to depend more on aligning with the dominant internal narrative than on performance or expertise. • Speaking up was encouraged in theory, but I often felt that constructive challenge wasn’t welcomed in practice. • Decision‑making appeared influenced by internal alliances and optics rather than consistent, transparent processes. • Turnover in certain areas suggested deeper cultural issues that weren’t being addressed. This may suit people who are comfortable fully embracing the internal culture and messaging. Those who value open challenge, psychological safety, and evidence‑based decision‑making may find the gap between the stated values and lived experience difficult to reconcile.
    2 people found this helpful
    2.0
    Prefer Not To Say
    Jan 2026
    Fortitude Valley QLD 40062 to 3 years in the role, current employee
    Good people, clueless managers, toxic culture
    The good thingsThe genuine good people who want to make a change.
    The challengesWorking at Urban Utilities can be challenging if you’re looking for a supportive and growth-oriented environment. The organisation is heavily influenced by internal politics and cliques, which often overshadow collaboration and merit. Decisions and opportunities tend to favour certain groups, leaving others undervalued regardless of performance. The environment is extremely toxic, especially during Enterprise Agreement negotiations where retaliation was expected and received for exercising basic industrial relation rights. Feedback is selectively ignored, ideas gatekept and problems kicked down the road for the sake of appearing busy and productive. Solving problems only creates problems for you as the managers then become irrelevant. Stay away at all costs.
    3 people found this helpful
    1.0
    Complaints Officer
    Sep 2022
    7 to 8 years in the role, former employee
    Working at Urban Utilities eventually broke me and I would not recommend applying for work there.
    The good thingsUrban Utilities has some field workers and engineers who know the water and sewerage networks across south-east Queensland inside out and can teach you so much about something that is so important but rarely seen.
    The challengesThe unnecessary corporatisation of Urban Utilities has been at the expense of allowing the people with the expertise to do their job without interference. Some of the most level-headed people I've ever worked with have used the often overused word "toxic" to describe the culture that rewards the appearance of cutting costs over any reality of providing better networks for citizens.
    8 people found this helpful
    1.0
    Band 3
    Aug 2021
    former employee
    Many staff burned out and quit
    The good thingsGreat company vehicles and friendly coworkers
    The challengesGrossly understaffed for years. Not allowed to take holidays. Managers don't talk to customers.
    6 people found this helpful
    3.0
    Procurement Department
    Apr 2020
    1 to 2 years in the role, former employee
    Amazing for work life balance, not so great if you're trying to develop yourself professionally
    The good thingsPeople are approachable, eager to share knowledge and easy to work with
    The challengesAccountability low - 4pm clock off, everything else can wait; management can be quite spineless
    5 people found this helpful
    3.0
    Why would I target myself
    Mar 2020
    former employee
    Head office, great accessible location. Fair pay, lack of career growth or opportunity. Instability in executive leadership team that flows down to staff, creating several reshuffles and organisational restructures each year. It a company that wants staff for more than a year or two. Never a moment that a full time employee doesn’t worry about job security.
    The good thingsNew, clean office environment
    The challengesPoor career growth, preference to hire temporary contract staff to upskilling or second,ent opportunity. Company lacks looking for talent within. Major drawback is instability because of frequent organisational restructures. This is an organisation that promotes short term employment and is not interested in creating career paths for existing staff.
    7 people found this helpful
    4.0
    Office
    Mar 2020
    Progressive and caring company
    The good thingsLot of focus on creating a great employee experience and developing leaders to deliver. Great flexibility and benefits. Pay is good and company is quite innovative and trying to do lots of new things
    The challengesStill lots of policies and red tape. Bit too much going on. Senior leaders try to hold on to control and it can take forever for decisions to be made. Feels like work on a lot of the same stuff each year without it landing.
    1 person found this helpful
    4.0
    Human Resources Role
    Mar 2020
    1 to 2 years in the role, former employee
    Great organisation to work for, definitely recommended
    The good thingsLots of great people, career opportunities, open to new ideas/change, care for their employees
    The challengesRed tape at times Some silo mentality but this is changing Some legacy council staff that don’t want to change the way they work to keep up with technology and market changes
    1 person found this helpful
    1.0
    Administration Role
    Mar 2020
    A terrible work environment and culture
    The good thingsNone whatsoever, terrible place, terrible culture, like being in school all over again.
    The challengesThe people are awful and management is complacent
    10 people found this helpful
    1.0
    Information Technology Business Analyst
    Mar 2020
    Worst IT department I've been in
    The good thingsLack of management in IT, so could basically work on whatever I wanted.
    The challengesManagement in IT have no connection with their staff, can't manage the simple things, and can't deliver on projects. An absolute failure of leadership.
    9 people found this helpful
    2.0
    Analyst
    Mar 2020
    1 to 2 years in the role, former employee
    Full of opportunities but all "vaporware"
    The good thingsGood location, pretty good office space, no perks though.
    The challengesManagement makes commitments then doesn't keep them. Terrible resourcing and unrealistic expectations.
    6 people found this helpful
    5.0
    Events Coordinator
    Nov 2019
    Educational
    The good thingsAwesome team, great culture
    The challengesLearning a lot in a short time
    4.0
    Leader
    Nov 2019
    5 to 6 years in the role, former employee
    Great people to work with.
    The good thingsGood people. Culture is improving. Great facilities.
    The challengesProcesses need improving
    1 person found this helpful
    3.0
    Senior Manager
    Nov 2019
    A workplace with great employee benefits but poor leaders who don’t sing from their own hymn book
    The good thingsGreat employee benefits
    The challengesDysfunctional Executive Team
    1 person found this helpful
    5.0
    Customer Engagement Representative
    Nov 2019
    9 to 10 years in the role, current employee
    9 years down, rest of my working life to go!
    The good thingsWork life balance exists at QUU. There is room to have a career and focus on your family too. Flexible working hours and great salary. Management actually cares about the individual.
    The challengesWithout a technical degree, it is very difficult to progress within the organisation
    4.0
    Finance Team Member
    Nov 2019
    Sad that I had to leave
    The good thingsGreat team environment and team building Lots of communication Management support
    The challengesWitness some unfair treatment to some employees in difficult circumstances
    1.0
    Water Industry Worker
    Nov 2019
    I wouldn't work for them again
    The good thingsIt was poorly managed
    The challengesWorking under a manager that didn't care about field crews
    1 person found this helpful
    2.0
    Water Industry Worker
    Sep 2019
    You only matter if you work in an office
    The good thingsGround staff are friendly
    The challengesBeing part of the company since its birth and not being acknowledged after all the effort i had put in . Ground staff are \"Just a number\"
    1 person found this helpful
    4.0
    Assistant Accountant
    Sep 2019
    Less than 1 year in the role, former employee
    I’m a mother of two young children. Definitely suited me.
    The good thingsFlexible hours. Timesheet. Work life balance. Reasonable workload. Low pressure. Collaborative and supportive team and management. Big desks. Bright office.
    The challengesToo many systems. Not consolidated. Takes a few to do a thing. Limited view of all accounts and the big picture. Semi-Government style. Could kill someone who’s very ambitious and aggressive. Hard to be permanent. Work as a contractor first.
    2 people found this helpful
    5.0
    Analyst
    Sep 2019
    3 to 4 years in the role, current employee
    Still here, still happy.
    The good thingsWorking from home, flexible hours.
    The challengesSlow decision making.
    2 people found this helpful
    5.0
    Information Management Specialist
    Sep 2019
    Less than 1 year in the role, current employee
    One of the best working environments I’ve been part of in a long time. I really feel my expertise is acknowledged and am respected for my skills contribution
    The good thingsFlexible working hours from home Great vibrant and caring culture even across different Functional departments Diversity proactive Great Senior and High Level leadership culture Understanding, Skills Acknowledgment and Respect is their motto Forward thinking and innovative (young professional development)
    The challengesNeeds to establish solid and progressive internal standards to be on par with other industries to remain competitive, but good forward thinks strained are waiting to be implemented
    1 person found this helpful
    1.0
    Information Technology Support Analyst
    Sep 2019
    former employee
    Highly disillusioning.
    The good thingsThe salary was relatively high for Brisbane
    The challengesThe senior management in the IT division was the worst I have ever encountered. I still find it difficult to comprehend how six people can all be so crippled by ineptitude and indecision.
    3.0
    Maintenance Role
    Jun 2019
    5 to 6 years in the role, former employee
    Good experience but not the best out there
    The good thingsWork life balance Management in very open for you to pursue different oppurtunities withing the organisation Promotes innovative thinking New and different ideas are encouraged Lot of team buildings and fun
    The challengesBelow average salary for permanent employees Lot of change means no definitive processes and systems of working. Which results in every department doing things as they like and no consistency Lot of silos because of above Management seems confused.
    1.0
    Team Leader
    May 2019
    Pathetic
    The good thingsGoing home after work
    The challengesEverything, Pathetic roster and pay
    3.0
    Project Management Officer
    May 2019
    Agile organisation but black and white methods
    The good thingsVery agile and engaging
    The challengesToxic environment and lack of honesty and communication
    2.0
    Business Analyst
    May 2019
    11 to 12 years in the role, former employee
    Fantastic until QUU took to outsourcing everything.
    The good thingsThe BCC EBA, flexible work arrangements, respect and approachable management.
    The challengesRestructure and constant removal of staff and replacement by short term contracts and each change of management re-inventing the wheel.
    1 person found this helpful
    3.0
    Operations
    May 2019
    Complacent and backwards looking.
    The good thingsWide range of experiences, I had the opporutunity to work on a variety of interesting projects.
    The challengesTheir equipment, hardware, networks, and software is outdated and very inefficient. Uninterested in investing for the future.
    4.0
    Finance Business Partner
    May 2019
    current employee
    Good work life balance
    The good thingsNo long hours, positive culture
    The challengesStill has some restrictive elements of a government organisation
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