From Toxic Positivity to Just Toxicity - Manager BetterUp Employee Review

1.0
May 19, 2023
Recommend
CEO approval
Business Outlook

Pros

- High performing, smart coworkers - Good people who are trying to move the company forward even in the chaotic environment - Mission - Benefits

Cons

- Frenetic, woefully unprepared C-Suite leaders and executives - CEO changes strategy so frequently, nothing can get done - C-Suite tries to get cute with metaphors for the strategy, when what we really need is for them to properly understand the organization and align strategy, change management, and execution to reality - Leaders exhibit our values externally, but are toxic internally. This is a new experience, and shows up amongst leadership and trickles down. Recent example: In a company meeting, one of the founders condescendingly interrupted the CFO. It was demeaning and also insightful because it made it clear that the toxicity we have been experiencing is not only real, it’s coming from the top. - With the frequently changing strategies, people are placed in these new strategic formations with no guidance or clarity, and asked to deliver on half baked nonsensical strategies, then blamed when things do not go smoothly / goals are not met. - Burnout is a way of life. Expect to work more than you have ever worked. The CEO also made this clear in a meeting in December to the entire company. - Promotions: don’t expect one unless you’re part of the good ol boys club. Someone should request that BetterUp publish these numbers - The more tenured employees talk about a company that was fun, collaborative, got stuff done. They say the problem was that people felt they always had to be positive and toxic positivity was the con. Today, it’s just toxic.

Explore other reviews about BetterUp

5.0
Apr 10, 2026
Anonymous employee
Recommend
CEO approval
Business Outlook

Pros

High achieving (but friendly, collaborative) environment, great for driven professionals looking to uplevel their skills and career, flexible work schedule allows me to prioritize school pick ups and personal life, company wide summer and winter breaks every year plus "inner work" days off and volunteer days, career opportunities for advancement (at least in my dept.), You'll work with some of the most capable, driven, kind individuals. I've been here for 3+ years and have no intention to leave, I like the work I do and the team I work with.

Cons

High achieving, high performance culture isn't for everyone (clearly). If you're looking to coast, this is not the place for you. There are pockets in the org with bad managers or poor leaders, and I agree they should be weeded out ASAP because they're clearly bringing down the majority of the org which is filled with decent people who want to do the right thing and do good work. I wish they had a 401k match.

1
5.0
Jun 10, 2026
Recommend
CEO approval
Business Outlook

Pros

Nearly 8 years in, and the work still pulls me forward. What keeps me at BetterUp is that the problems are genuinely hard and genuinely worth solving. I came from engineering, so I'm wired to care about infrastructure, not just features, and this is one of the rare places where you can build something foundational and actually see it move metrics, clear escalations, and unblock a whole go-to-market motion. The mission isn't decorative here. I can feel the thread between the work and the outcome. BetterUp also trusts you to figure things out across lanes. I've written SQL, prototyped with AI tools, facilitated workshops, and co-designed vendor strategy, all as a PM, because the culture doesn't penalize curiosity or reaching into adjacent territory. And honestly, some of my closest friendships came out of this place. The people I work with, on engineering, on cross-functional teams, and in peer mentorship, are people I genuinely learn from and, in some cases, people I can't imagine not having in my life. That combination of meaningful infrastructure work, real trust, and people who challenge you and become your people is not easy to find. The benefits span beyond general work-life-balance, if you're curious about something, there's always an open door to learn and contribute. As a woman in tech, I cherish the fact that our colleagues listen to women, and our insight is taken into account instead of just ignored. It's nice to feel safe at work, able to speak your mind freely.

Cons

If you want a boring job, this is not the place for you.

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