Kimball International, a business unit of HNI Corporation headquartered in Jasper, Indiana, is a furniture manufacturer known for its workplace design and craftsmanship. It cultivates a Collective culture that balances a modern maker spirit with its extensive manufacturing legacy.
Measures how clearly defined the profile is, not whether the culture is good or bad. Methodology
Researched 3 months ago
Leadership
KJ
Kristie Juster
CEO
Kimball International is a manufacturing company with 1,000+ employees headquartered in Jasper, Indiana, founded in 1950. Here’s a detailed look at their workplace culture across six key dimensions.
Kimball International Culture Dimensions
Innovation
50
Process-drivenBoundary-pushing
Kimball International takes a balanced approach to innovation with a score of 50/100.
Hierarchy
50
Flat & fluidStructured & clear
Kimball International takes a balanced approach to hierarchy with a score of 50/100.
Collaboration
50
IndependentTeam-oriented
Kimball International takes a balanced approach to collaboration with a score of 50/100.
Work-Life Balance
50
Always-on hustleStrong boundaries
Kimball International takes a balanced approach to work-life balance with a score of 50/100.
Mission
50
Profit-firstPurpose-driven
Kimball International takes a balanced approach to mission with a score of 50/100.
Growth
50
Stable & steadyHypergrowth
Kimball International takes a balanced approach to growth with a score of 50/100.
What It's Like to Work Here
Kimball International operates as a business unit of HNI Corporation, manufacturing commercial furniture with a focus on workplace design. Headquartered in Jasper, Indiana, the company attempts to foster a Collective culture characterized by a 'Harmonizer' and 'Trailblazer' framework that prioritizes teamwork and 'people-focused ethics.' You'll find a deep legacy of employee investment rooted in founder Arnold F. Habig's 1950 establishment of the Jasper Corp., where he eliminated punch clocks—a spirit that continues today through a profit-sharing retirement plan and a $2 million employee scholarship fund. Corporate messaging emphasizes being 'Makers of Possibility' and boasts a Great Place to Work certification, with verified workplace data noting that 'everyone is approachable and friendly, from leadership to peers.' However, your daily experience will depend heavily on your specific role. Office and engineering staff enjoy significant autonomy, including flexible schedules and work-from-home options. Conversely, production employees face a physically taxing environment with 'very fast pace production' that can 'break your body down,' alongside inconsistent schedules that fluctuate between layoffs and mandatory overtime. While the company actively promotes its maker spirit, strong ethical framework, and customer-centricity, manufacturing workers frequently report insufficient training for complex tasks like upholstery and frustration over perceived favoritism, with long-term veterans feeling left behind as new hires secure higher pay rates.
Kimball International Culture Highlights
Generous vacation time provided immediately upon hire for new employees
Certified Great Place to Work with 74% employee approval
Dedicated health center for Jasper employees and their families
Profit-sharing retirement plan and a $2 million scholarship fund for employees' children
Autonomy and flexible work-from-home options available for office and engineering roles
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Kimball International Leadership
KJ
Kristie Juster
CEO
Initiated a major organizational transformation in 2019 to restructure the company and revise compensation plans for higher growth.
AH
Arnold Habig
Founder
Established a foundational culture of trust by famously eliminating punch clocks for employees.
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What People Say About Kimball International's Culture
Synthesized from public sources · open to employees who claim their company
From the research
4 themes
Approachable Leadership·Positive
Everyone is approachable and friendly, from leadership to peers.
Workplace Satisfaction·Positive
74% of employees at Kimball International say it is a great place to work compared to 57% of employees at a typical U.S.-based company.
Ethical Framework·Positive
Formalized Compliance and Ethics Program which provides overall governance.
Production Environment·Critical
Very fast pace production that can break your body down.
Real voices
Community
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Posted by current or former employees who claimed their company via a work-email domain match. Email round-trip verification is coming.
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Claimed
Confirm you work(ed) at Kimball International with a matching work-email domain. Your email isn’t shown publicly — and we’re honest about what this is: a self-reported claim, not a verified-by-email badge.