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Working at PulteGroup is being part of the American dream

Employees at PulteGroup say they take pride in helping people realize that dream.
 
Outside the PulteGroup offices in Riverview.
Outside the PulteGroup offices in Riverview. [ MALENA CAROLLO | Times ]
Published March 26, 2021|Updated March 26, 2021

Editor’s Note: Today the Tampa Bay Times publishes its Top 100 Workplaces of 2021. It comes at a time when the very idea of the workplace changed for many of us. We tell you about how some of Tampa Bay’s Top Workplaces have been adjusting. Look for our special section inside for more stories like this one.

Building a home is a major milestone for many. It’s the largest purchases some will make in their lives and can help solidify a family’s finances for generations.

At PulteGroup, employees take pride in being part of that process.

“We build what is ultimately the American dream,” said Sean Strickler, west Florida division president, said.

PulteGroup is a home building company headquartered in Atlanta. Its Tampa Bay division is based out of Riverview, employing 156 of the company’s 5,000 workers nationwide. This year, PulteGroup ranked No. 4 among midsize employers in the Top Workplaces lineup,

Strickler has worked at PulteGroup for just shy of three decades.

Pictured is PulteGroup's staff in 2019 as they welcome a recipient of the company's "Built to Honor" program for mortgage free homes to wounded veterans. | [Courtesy of PulteGroup] [ PulteGroup ]

Making a difference in their customers’ lives is one of the main draws, employees said.

Many employees enjoyed the schedule flexibility that PulteGroup offers, particularly being able to work from home.

“This allows me to take care of my children’s schedules and go to my needed medical appointments without pressure from the company and my supervisor to stick to a rigid schedule,” one employee said in the Top Workplaces survey. “I’m happier and less stressed, which makes me a better mother and employee.

Read more: Tampa Bay’s top midsize workplaces in 2021

PulteGroup’s team-focused environment was cited several times as one of the aspects of the job employees liked best.

“My manager has my back every day,” one said in the survey.

The company, Strickler said, makes sure to prioritize each employee’s professional goals and work with them on a plan to encourage their development.

“Pulte(Group) has given me the opportunity for a fulfilling career with a path for upward mobility clearly laid out,” one employee said.

To gauge employee satisfaction, PulteGroup hires analytics firm Gallup each year to survey its workers. The questions range from whether that employee has a best friend at work to how comfortable they would feel reporting discrimination if needed. The Tampa Bay branch scored most recently in the 89th percentile, outpacing the overall company’s 83rd percentile.

Read more: 19 things you didn’t know about Top Workplaces winners

Maintaining that level of employee satisfaction during the pandemic meant switching gears.

The company recently did a virtual “sip and paint” where employees were sent supplies to paint together on Zoom with a cocktail or a glass of wine.

The pandemic also shifted the way PulteGroup approached giving back to the local community.

One of its main events each year is a charity golf tournament that supports underprivileged children through the Children’s Home Network. Over the past five years, Strickler said, PulteGroup raised about $500,000 through the tournament. While an in-person tournament wasn’t possible last year, a virtual version still raised about $158,000.

Read more: Here’s how our Top Workplaces story was done

ABOUT THE COMPANY

PulteGroup is a home building company based in Atlanta.

Employees: 156

Locations: 21

Website: pultegroup.com

EMPLOYEE COMMENTS

Everyone I have encountered is invested into my growth at Pulte.”

“I’m able to work freely to complete my work without being micromanaged. My job is not monotonous and I like the variety of what my work brings.”

“We look at impact not just results. It’s a positive work environment where we celebrate our successes.”