Augment Wins ‘Best Staffing Firms to Work For’ Award
When Albert Krabbe joined Augment Human Resource Services in January 2023, he didn’t find a fully built machine waiting for him but rather an opportunity to create one.
With a background in restaurants, accounting and payroll, Krabbe had only had a brush with the staffing industry earlier in his career. But what drew him to Augment was the chance to produce something from the ground up. “I knew there was going to be a lot of opportunity,” he says. “I wanted to build an entire system, not just maintain one.”
That expectation quickly became reality. On his first day, Krabbe took over payroll from an operations manager who had been juggling multiple roles, a common theme in a company defined by its startup mentality. “We all wear a lot of hats,” he explains. “You’re hired for one role, but you jump in wherever needed. It’s very much an entrepreneurial and owner-mindset culture.”
That autonomy is exactly what makes Augment stand out to Krabbe. Rather than rigid processes or layers of approval, employees are trusted to solve problems in real time. “You don’t have to submit a form to get something done,” he says. “There is a ‘let’s do it’ mentality to our work environment.”
That mindset extends across the organization and is reinforced by leadership. Co-founder James Bramble, in particular, encourages employees to think beyond immediate fixes and instead build for the future, noting, “We’re not here to chase short-term solutions; we’re here to create something that lasts.”
That long-term vision has led to a highly innovative, tech-driven environment. Since joining, Krabbe has leaned heavily into automation and AI to build internal systems and improve efficiency, something he hadn’t previously explored in his career. “I didn’t come in with that background,” he admits. “But here, it’s encouraged. If there’s a better way to do something, we’ll construct it ourselves.”
This willingness to invest in tools and remove roadblocks is a defining part of Augment’s culture — but just as important as the technology is the people. Krabbe points to a culture of ownership and recognition, where employees are encouraged to think creatively and take initiative even outside their defined roles. He recalls one colleague in HR who took the lead on marketing initiatives tied to company awards, although it wasn’t part of her job description. “She just loved it and ran with it,” he says. “And that was recognized across the company.”
“If there’s a better way to do something, we’ll construct it ourselves.”
In another instance, a recruiter struggling to fill roles in a remote location built her own solution, launching a Facebook page and experimenting with job board strategies to attract candidates. “No one told her to do that. She thought outside the box and made it happen,” Krabbe explains. The recruiter’s work was later highlighted in a company-wide meeting, reinforcing the message that initiative doesn’t just matter — it’s celebrated.
That kind of environment has been transformative for Krabbe. “This has probably been the most impactful role of my career,” he says. “There’s so much opportunity to grow professionally while making a real impact.”
It’s also why he’s stayed. What initially attracted him to Augment has only expanded with time. “Once you’re here, you realize how much freedom you actually have,” he says. “If you’re willing to take ownership, there’s no limit to what you can do.”
At Augment, that ownership is the expectation, not the exception. And for employees like Krabbe, that makes all the difference.
Originally written by Staffing Industry Analysts. Read the original article.
