Profit-First, People-Last - Anonymous employee Carnegie Dartlet Employee Review

This company markets itself as a step up from higher education: better pay, better opportunities, better quality of life. In reality, it no longer delivers on any of those promises. What was once a people-centered organization has become relentlessly profit-driven, and employees are paying the price. The expectation is simple: produce more, take on more, and figure it out… regardless of whether the workload is sustainable. The company relies heavily on high achievers who care deeply about their work, their peers, and their clients. That dedication is not supported — it’s exploited. People stretch themselves thin to do right by others, often at the expense of their own well-being, because they know the alternative is letting teammates or clients down. Leadership seems comfortable with this dynamic, because the work continues to get done. Workloads consistently exceed what can reasonably be handled in a standard workweek, yet there is little effort to address capacity in a meaningful way. Employees are told to maintain balance, but are given no realistic path to do so. The result is widespread burnout. Compensation only adds to the frustration. Pay is below market, inequitable across teams, and far from the “upgrade” from higher education that is often promised during recruitment and hiring. Transparency is limited, and growth opportunities feel inconsistent at best. At the same time, the organization continues to sell and commit to work that delivery teams are not set up to execute effectively. This not only puts additional strain on employees, but also erodes client trust and makes it increasingly difficult to stand behind the work being done. Perhaps most concerning is the gap between messaging and reality. The company continues to position itself as “people-first,” but the lived experience for many employees tells a very different story.