1) No recognition for employees who over perform. Compensation payout based on team goals, even though individuals owned their own accounts. This lead to decreased motivation and poor work ethic. In addition, as individual performance was not recognized it eliminated potential for promotions.
2) No transparency. Often times, initiatives were rolled out with little to no warning/reasoning/explanation. In addition, our objectives were constantly changing and the reporting was very limited. Not only were decisions being made very hastily, but there was no data to back those decisions up.
3) Management- those in management positions had no management experience or training, they were simply in the company at the right time to move up.
4) Disconnect between Houzz mission statement "we are a family" and reality of working for this company. When I had a serious medical issue that resulted in my being out of work, I was required to use my PTO. When I returned to the office that same week (out of necessity as I had no PTO to spare) my manager did not check in with me to see how I was doing or to make sure that I was able to work without issue (i.e. being able to type with a broken wrist). I heard so many similar stories from coworkers. It felt to me that Houzz had a lack of basic humanity - requiring employees to come in when they were sick, had sick family members, or other things going on in their lives. To tout that the company is a "family" and then treat your employees like a cog in the wheel felt incredibly hypocritical.
5) To follow up on that point- Houzz had no sick time. This means employees were coming in sick and spreading all sorts of illnesses throughout the office because they could/would not dip into their PTO. As a result, everyone was always sick.
6) The music being blasted on the office wide speakers was distracting, and often inappropriate. Having music constantly blasting did not create a productive work environment.
7) Layoffs- Houzz has had mass layoffs over the last year. Job security is limited. Because goals were based on team performance, high performing individuals who had been with the company for years were not spared.
