Kimball International

Kimball International Company Culture

ManufacturingAI-generated
1,000+·Est. 1950·Jasper, Indiana·The Family

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.

Customer-centricityAdaptabilityPeople-focused ethicsTeamwork
36/100

Lightly defined culture signal

Measures how clearly defined the profile is, not whether the culture is good or bad. Methodology

Researched 14 hr 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

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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How to work the culture

Do

  • Take advantage of the generous vacation time provided immediately upon hire
  • Embrace the 'Makers of Possibility' spirit and entrepreneurial thinking in your daily work
  • Prioritize customer-centricity and 'Harmonizer' teamwork as a primary driver for collaboration

Don't

  • Expect extensive formal training for skilled production roles
  • Rely entirely on tenure for higher pay rates compared to new hires
  • Assume schedules will remain consistently predictable in manufacturing roles
04

Fit & playbook

Who does well here, who doesn't, and how to actually navigate Kimball International once you're in.

Thrives

You'll do well if

  • If you are an office worker who values autonomy, accessible leadership, and flexible scheduling.
  • If you appreciate legacy family benefits like dedicated health centers and scholarships.
  • If you embrace the 'Makers of Possibility' spirit and are passionate about customer-focused workplace design.
Struggles

You might struggle if

  • If you require extensive, structured training to learn complex new skills in production environments.
  • If you are a manufacturing worker seeking a consistently predictable schedule without fluctuations.
  • If you are frustrated by perceived wage compression between new hires and veteran employees.

Find out if you'd thrive at Kimball International

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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 LeadershipPositive

Everyone is approachable and friendly, from leadership to peers.

Workplace SatisfactionPositive

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 FrameworkPositive

Formalized Compliance and Ethics Program which provides overall governance.

Production EnvironmentCritical

Very fast pace production that can break your body down.

Community

0 commentsClaimed only

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

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