Toxic company politics - Software Engineer Block Employee Review

2.0
Apr 22, 2016
Recommend
CEO approval
Business Outlook

Pros

Food is pretty good. There are definitely some very talented engineers. In several ways, engineering practices are top notch. Work/life balance is good.

Cons

Office politics are extremely pervasive in Square. I've known coworkers fired over personal disagreements. If you don't drink the kool-aid, you're gone. Management refuses to admit mistakes. The communications team seems to focus on placating employees, not telling an inspiring narrative to the rest of the world. Generally, projects move at a glacial pace unless management happens to fancy your project this quarter. The next quarter your headcount could be gone. I saw projects take two years that should have taken 3-6 months. Compensation is unimpressive. I think there's more of an effort recently to improve it, but for many employees like myself it's too little too late. For as many great engineers as there are, there are equally as many really poor engineers. Square grew far too quickly, and its talent suffered as a result. In general, engineering makes little investment in the future. Technical debt is extremely high with no plan on how to pay it down.

Explore other reviews about Block

5.0
Jun 23, 2026
Anonymous employee
Recommend
CEO approval
Business Outlook

Pros

Great team culture, product, leadership, and customer centricity

Cons

Not really a con, but folks need to be able to move and pivot quickly

5.0
Sep 26, 2015
Recommend
CEO approval
Business Outlook

Pros

Lots of benefits. Gym, free food, showers, Close to transit Good food Good software practices Is this twenty words yet

Cons

I would say that there aren't any cons really. I'm just trying to fill this space with 20 words

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