Toxic culture and terrible upper management - Software Developer Cerence AI Employee Review

2.0
Jan 14, 2025
Recommend
CEO approval
Business Outlook

Pros

Colleagues were great as were benefits and vacation days. Location is excellent

Cons

Poor Communication: There was a significant lack of communication between departments, which often led to confusion and delays. Important updates were frequently missed, and feedback from employees was not adequately addressed by management. Lack of Career Development: Despite the company's size and potential, there was very little emphasis on career growth. Training programs were limited, and opportunities for professional development were few and far between. Employees felt like there was no clear path for advancement. Work-Life Balance: The work culture, at times, demanded long hours and excessive workloads, which made it difficult to maintain a healthy work-life balance. This was particularly challenging for those with family obligations or personal commitments. Management Issues: Leadership at Cerence particularly in my department, seemed disconnected from the team. There was little guidance or support from supervisors, and constructive feedback was often lacking. Some managers also showed little empathy toward employees' concerns or struggles - Human Resources was not any better. Toxic Work Culture: There were instances of office politics, lack of recognition for hard work, and favoritism that created a less than ideal work environment. This led to a demoralizing atmosphere for many employees. Forcing employees back to the office. Terrible site leader in Montreal but I believe he is no longer there so that's a plus for those still there. They think that a foosball / Ping-Pong table make the company culture - they are looking at the wrong things. Lay-offs, turnover of CEOs and who knows how many CFOs not very reassuring.

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Cerence AI Response
1y
Thank you for taking the time to share your feedback. We’re glad to hear you appreciated your colleagues, benefits, and our great location. At the same time, we recognize the concerns you’ve raised and take them seriously. Communication, career development, and work-life balance are key priorities for us as we continue evolving our culture. We’ve introduced more structured ways to connect teams and gather feedback, including engagement touchpoints, internal demo platforms, and manager trainings. Additionally, we’re expanding career development opportunities with LinkedIn Learning resources and upskilling initiatives to support professional growth. We know there’s always room to improve, and we remain committed to creating a more collaborative, transparent, and empowering workplace for everyone. Thank you again for your input.

Explore other reviews about Cerence AI

5.0
Jul 21, 2023
Anonymous intern
Recommend
CEO approval
Business Outlook

Pros

It's a good learning experience

Cons

I haven't found anything yet

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Cerence AI Response
2y
Thank you for leaving a review! Our global internship opportunities are a great opportunity to learn from and work with an incredibly innovative and fun team around the world. We're happy to hear you've found your experience valuable and are lucky to have you with us.
3.0
Apr 6, 2026
Anonymous employee
Recommend
CEO approval
Business Outlook

Pros

Overall, I enjoyed my experience at Cerence. I learned a lot, grew significantly, and met many great people from around the world.

Cons

The number of reorganizations and layoffs took a huge toll on the company culture and morale. The company's vision and strategy was hard to pin down as well, which made my job more challenging in a less than ideal way. It was also frustrating that the tuition reimbursement advertised upon signing was actually dependent on department budgets and discretion, so I never had the chance to use it.

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Cerence AI Response
2mo
Thank you for taking the time to share your experience at Cerence. We’re glad to hear that your time here supported your growth, learning, and connections with colleagues around the world—those relationships and development opportunities are things we value deeply. We also recognize how challenging periods of organizational change can be for morale and culture. Your feedback about clarity of vision and strategy is heard, and it’s an area we continue working to strengthen through more consistent communication. Feedback like this helps inform improvements and we value your perspective and wish you continued success in the next chapter of your career.
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