landscape laborer

landscape foreman

lead hand

woodworker

skilled laborer

Bienenstock Natural Playgrounds

When starting this job I was told that they were very busy and there would be lots of work. I was told the hours might go down in the winter come the new year but only down to 35 hours the least. After reading reviews on here I questioned getting laid off and weekend work as I had a newborn on the way. They ensured me that this would not happen and weekends were optional. The weekend part was true and it wasnt mandatory. Most of the workers were very friendly but there were some things that were unorganized. Coming from a woodworking background I was able to do a lot of things without needing to ask for clarification or to be shown more than once how to do things as some was new for me. There were a lot of staff there that didnt have near the experience as me but had been there for a while. Just after christmas I was told that hours would be going down like I was told come the beginning of January because of less work. Come Friday of the first week of January I was told that I was being let go(just before my 3 month probation) because of lack of work. This is what I had questioned in the beginning and was told it wouldn't happen. I was lied to by this company and this shouldn't have happened. I feel like I was just hired on to help get through their busy season and they knew from the start they were letting me go before the 3 months. I feel like they could care less about their employees and what they are doing. They shouldn't do this to anyone let alone knowing I had a newborn coming and had other job opportunities. I gave them a chance and took their word for it and it backfired. Worst of all the boss couldnt even tell me himself I was being let go he made someone else do it!

Be prepared for some of the most random and stressful experiences. If you apply for a crew position, be prepared to change door locks, mow lawns, and do a thousand other things other than what you signed up for. If you're a skilled craftsman, you just might end up installing flooring or fixing plumbing issues, putting together desks, etc. They refuse to hire electricians, cleaning staff, proper HR representatives, plumbers, and landscapers. Instead they use their existing employees including office staff to mop and clean up.

Second of all, preferential treatment. If you are buddies with management, you'll move up faster, and will be treated and compensated better than others. I started 6 months ahead of someone else who somehow managed to become friends with the owner and essentially boosted his way up into doing special projects instead of their regular construction job. It doesn't matter how hard you work or how smart and efficient you are, you can be as smart as a log or as efficient as a sloth but as long as you're friends with management, you're set.

There are no adequate practices for the treatment of staff in any way. It's hard to take direction from management that only recognizes your flaws or errors, but never commends you when you do a good job. I can't even have lunch in peace with no proper lunch area, no break area. You're told to go outside where there's active construction and production taking place for your breaks. It would be understandable if the company didn't have the finances for it, but they are simply cheap when it comes to investing in their own workforce.

I'm still employed here for the sake of having an income, which is an average income for the field, but I have no desire to stay and would advise others to steer clear of the sinking ship this company is.

Workplace culture at Bienenstock Playgrounds is rooted in craftsmanship, purpose, and collaboration. There’s a strong shared belief in the mission of creating natural, meaningful play spaces, and that sense of purpose shows up in the way people approach their work. It isn’t just about building playground components, it’s about contributing to spaces that communities and families will use for years.

The culture values quality and attention to detail. Whether it’s large structural elements or smaller finishing touches like engraved plaques and memorial benches, there’s an understanding that the final product represents the company. People take pride in doing things properly rather than rushing them out the door.

It’s also a hands-on environment. Team members are expected to step up, solve problems, and communicate when challenges come up. Collaboration is important because production, logistics, and finishing work are closely connected. When communication is strong, the workflow feels smooth and efficient.

At the same time, it’s a workplace that requires accountability. Deadlines matter, and precision matters, especially when dealing with custom work or compliance components. The culture encourages ownership of your responsibilities and trust in your skills.

Overall, the work culture blends creativity with practicality. There’s room for craftsmanship and pride in the details, but also a clear understanding that teamwork and reliability keep everything moving forward.

Well after 3 years of keeping my head down and working my way up I don’t think my job is safe anymore. 
Be prepared to get verbally abused by the owner, looked down on, and reminded who you work for. 
After seeing a long term employee of 4 years get let go for “no reason” just months after filing HR complaints and speaking up about the harassment and abuse endured from the owner and upper management, I have reason to believe no one is safe anymore unless you’re buddies with higher management. You will also be safe if you’re in sales or design, they are put on a pedestal and worshipped for their hard work even though they rarely come into the field and often their designs are unrealistic. 
Bonuses and reviews are dangled above your head in the first half of the year but following up on that is almost never the case. Reviews are more than 6 months apart at times and bonuses all of sudden depend on the reviews not the work completed in the last year. All bonuses and raises are left to the discretion of the owner even though he never actually sees people working. Basically buddy up and you’re good. 

I’ve heard stories of install people being on the road for 6 plus months a year and almost no appreciation sent back for that.. 

The final straw was letting one of the hardest workers with the most experience go for basically no reason. Someone who many if not all of us looked up to and respected for his quality of work and professionalism. 

I’m going to try keep my head down while I look for a new job with owners and management who genuinely appreciate and care about me but I don’t see any reason to stay after this latest screw up by management. 

What is the best part of working at the company?
I have just recently started working here and I can honestly say I could not be happier with the company. The people are fantastic, the work is an awesome mix of typical construction but also having a creative side to it. Every manager I talk to has told me that if I have any questions while out in the field to call them. The support and onboarding process has been fantastic. There is definitely a learning curve because this isn't your typical construction job but I know that if I am not sure about anything I have a list of people I can call to answer any questions or clarify anything I run into during installs and maintenance. Since researching and learning the benefits of natural playgrounds for kids and how beneficial they are, it is awesome to be part of a company that is so driven to get children into the outdoors.

What is the most stressful part about working at the company?
Nothing that isn't typical of any foreman position however I have an incredible amount of support from management while in the field

What is the work environment and culture like at the company?
Everyone is awesome to work for. The days are always filled with jokes while working and everyone supports the purpose

What is a typical day like for you at the company?
I switch between working in producing the playground pieces, operate equipment. Once install/ maintenance season begins travel to the jobsite and do whatever is needed.

As someone who has been working here since 2007, I felt it important to write my own review. I’ve worked in every position here; from working with the tools, to building our spaces and components, deploying our systems and IT, Marketing, Sales, and I am now the current CEO. What I have experienced and seen here is that this is a family that looks out for each other. The work we do and the people I get to work with are inspiring. 

Our team is diverse and are unified behind our mission. We lean into our values more then ever and not everyone is a perfect fit. But, for those who align I can tell you this is an amazing place to work and those team members are constantly asking who can they raise up today. We end every conversation “How can I help” 

Something we have been focusing on has been to celebrate our team and our accomplishments. If I was to choose two words to describe how I feel, it would be proud of what we have accomplished and grateful for our team. You don’t have to take my word for it, follow this link to hear from them: https://www.bienenstockplaygrounds.com/about-us/from-roots-we-grow/

If you are interested in helping us connect one million kids to nature this year give us a call. 


I'm coming up on my third year working at Bienenstock Natural Playgrounds and would love to share my experience. 

The environment is VERY team-centric and focused on collaboration around our core values; passion, teamwork and ownership. I've never worked in an environment as supportive and aligned as I do here. The pacing has picked up as the company has scales through COVID, however, the necessary support has always scaled accordingly. Through the beginning of the COVID pandemic, the company's operations, sales and marketing teams were able to smoothly transition to a remote work environment and have embraced the tools at our disposal to maintain as collaborative (if not more) approach as ever to tackling our milestones. 

While I personally tend to push myself to the limit as far as productivity, I have been offered both meaningful training and effective supports to help optimize my efforts while here. I have been compensated fairly with regular review and adjustment as my responsibilities scale. 

For those looking to embrace a position with agency and own your results; this is your landing spot. I have continually, and regularly, witnessed those who embrace their role advance. 

At the three year mark I can share, with confidence, my recommendation of the Bienenstock paradigm and work environment in the sales/marketing/design department.

A typical day at work: Stressed and overwhelmed due to disorganization of projects and lack of company employee structure (who is responsible for what).

What I learned: Never stay on a sinking ship just because they'll let you drive due to lack of capable employees.

Management: Management is very focused on company success and image. Management lacks focus in employee moral and well-being. Their focus tends to be on unnecessary "wow" factor items (ie. drones, over-the-top computer stations, etc.) and not at all on necessary items (ie. legal and licensed programs, employee raises, contract fulfillment, etc.)

Workplace culture: This company is based a lot on image. It's a company that is marketing being outside with nature and away from screens however most of the staff are chained to their desks and computers 99% of the job. When in public, employees are to be fun and goofy but in the office (trailer) employees are to focus on selling, designing, and making the big man money.

Hardest part of the job: The equipment is extremely expensive - convincing clients to purchase a playground design requires a little brainwashing and a lot of coaxing and manipulation.

Most enjoyable part of the job: Sometimes there's pizza for lunch.

What is the best part of working at the company?
Working at Bienenstock has been a really positive experience. Every day is a little different, which keeps the work interesting. The team appreciates people who jump in, solve problems, and take pride in doing things well. It is a great fit if you like practical work, variety, and being part of a company with a strong purpose.

What is the most stressful part about working at the company?
Some days are physically demanding, but I enjoy staying active and it makes it a very rewarding place to be.

What is the work environment and culture like at the company?
The work environment at Bienenstock is fast paced, creative, and very team focused. People work closely together across different departments, so there is a strong sense of collaboration and support. The culture is positive and hands on. I enjoy the friendly atmosphere, opportunities to learn new skills, and being part of a company with a strong mission and growing team.

this place  ( and especially the ones up tip top in management ) can suck the soul out of ur body,. a typical day is spent wondering who is going be fired or let go for no reason next, wondering if its u... day to day managers have no accountability for themselves and blame their teaaam on failures. think about it hard,... why is the turnover rate here so bad??? What is the common denominator in it all?! certain managers! people who have had cycles of new employees and r unable to retain any ! what does that say about management??? i believe it says that those managers cannot do their jobs...and those people managing the managers... even worse debatably due to their failures... this company is sinking faster than a boat with a leak... do urself a favour and do not apply here, get out before the walls come crushing in on it and everything catches up to them  

Top Job Titles	Average salary
Landscape laborer 1 salary reported	$22.00 per hour
Landscape foreman 2 salaries reported	$37.00 per hour
Lead hand 2 salaries reported	$25.50 per hour
Woodworker 2 salaries reported	$20.00 per hour
Skilled laborer 6 salaries reported	$21.83 per hour

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