Used to be a great place, now a complete mess. - Middle Management Ableton Employee Review

2.0
Jul 25, 2024
Recommend
CEO approval
Business Outlook

Pros

Possibility to work from home at all times is a major plus (at least this is the case in Product Development), unlike other companies that forced employees to return to the office after Covid. Really nice colleagues overall with a shared passion for music. Competent Works Council that constantly fights for employee rights with great results.

Cons

Extremely limited career paths, frozen salaries since early 2023, very low pay compared to most tech companies. Positions of power are often held by incompetent people who are solely chosen through favouritism. I've seen entire units collapse due to terrible staffing choices made by the board, despite them being warned by dozens of employee about the implications of such decisions. Double standards at their finest -> Engineers, Designers and Product Owners go through rigorous, systematic evaluation using progression schemes and other formal tools of evaluation while managers get promoted randomly without any evaluation of their work and their impact on employee satisfaction. Incompetent management board who stubbornly refuse to listen to employee feedback and their customers' wishes. They won't take responsibility for their mistakes, despite the complete mess they caused by aggressively growing the company within the first year of Covid and investing in risky projects that have yielded nothing but losses. Employees who choose to speak up and criticise the board's decisions and leadership style are punished either by being laid off or denied career options. Ableton has fallen behind competition but no actions are taken to introduce fresh blood to the board; instead, board members seem to be holding on to their positions like old-school politicians who refuse to give up their chairs when the entire ship is sinking.

Explore other reviews about Ableton

5.0
Jun 5, 2025
Recommend
CEO approval
Business Outlook

Pros

-Creative and engaging workplace, both remote and in office -Respectful and caring coworkers -Cohesive team that is dedicated and collaborative -Occasional events to share passion for music tech with local communities -Management that listens and responds with sincerity -Amazing benefits

Cons

-Limited to no upward mobility

2.0
Sep 20, 2024
Anonymous employee
Recommend
CEO approval
Business Outlook

Pros

Excellent product, excellent colleagues - both best in the industry. The work can be enjoyable, and there is cultural cache to the brand which carries a lot of value when networking. Working on cool music stuff is rewarding (for a while) and creates a sense of pride.

Cons

The company has a unique culture that may not be for everyone, with a distinct leadership style and management structure. At times, there seems to be a misalignment in priorities between different departments, such as product development and commerce, as well as sales and marketing. The leadership team tends to maintain a consistent approach to decision-making, which some might view as resistant to more diverse perspectives. While the company strives for excellence and the employees often deliver outstanding work, compensation may not always reflect industry-leading standards, especially in light of inflation over the past few years. Although the company offers competitive benefits, some employees may feel that compensation has not kept pace with the increased cost of living. The leadership encourages a sense of gratitude for the opportunities and benefits provided, though the current economic climate and competitive job market have created a challenging environment for employees seeking more equitable compensation.

3
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