A Masterclass in How to Lose Great Employees. - FDE Software Engineer Labelbox Employee Review

1.0
Jul 21, 2026
Recommend
CEO approval
Business Outlook

Pros

- The ICs are the only reason this company still functions. They're incredibly smart, hardworking, and supportive. - You'll build great relationships because everyone is fighting through the same dysfunction together. - Compensation is above market, and the work can be technically interesting. - If you're interested in AI data, there are much better companies in this space that offer the same opportunities without the chaos.

Cons

- Think twice before joining. This company is one of the most poorly run organizations I've worked for. - Leadership prioritizes optics and revenue (which does not exist) over employees, execution, and long-term success. - Work-life balance is nonexistent. Nobody tells you to work nights or weekends/public holidays, but the workload makes it impossible not to. - You're expected to stay online after hours, respond on Slack constantly, and somehow keep up with an unrealistic amount of work. - FDEs are treated like disposable labor. You're expected to be an engineer, TPM, solutions architect, customer success manager, and on-call firefighter all at the same time. - FDEs are expected to compensate for poor planning, understaffing, and management failures while receiving little recognition for keeping projects alive. - The director of the Human Data business is either sleeping and/or on zyn. - The MDs contribute very little beyond status updates, escalations, and adding pressure. They rarely remove blockers or make teams more effective. They create unnecessary stress and chaos running around like headless-chickens. - Most managers disappear until a project starts failing. Then they suddenly appear demanding impossible timelines and asking teams to cut corners just so revenue can be recognized that month. - Alignerr and Human Data are severely understaffed. Employees routinely do the work of two or three people because leadership refuses to hire appropriately. - The Director of Human Data/Alignerr oversaw an organization defined by constant firefighting, poor communication, and reactive decision-making instead of operational excellence. - There is almost no transparency from leadership. The people generating revenue and keeping customers happy are given virtually no visibility into the company's direction or future. - Questions about the company's long-term plans or fundraising were routinely ignored or brushed aside, leaving employees completely in the dark. - Promotions, titles, and organizational decisions feel arbitrary and disconnected from reality. - There is effectively no job security. I personally saw employees laid off after only a month at the company. - If you're joining on a work visa, don't assume you'll be treated any differently. Employees were let go regardless of immigration status, often with little warning. - Loyalty is not rewarded. Employees are viewed as short-term resources that can be replaced the moment leadership decides to reduce costs.

Explore other reviews about Labelbox

5.0
Jun 9, 2026
Recommend
CEO approval
Business Outlook

Pros

Great culture, fun environment, always feel good about showing up to work.

Cons

Nothing was significantly bothersome here.

1.0
Jul 11, 2026
Recommend
CEO approval
Business Outlook

Pros

The people you work with day to day. Some of the best folks I have ever met in my life. Genuinely smart, talented and driven. Legitimately the only thing that makes working there tolerable.

Cons

Where do I begin: 1) Management has no idea what they’re doing. Individuals in leadership positions have no idea what’s going on day to day and have really unrealistic expectations. 2) The culture is do what you’re told or get bad mouthed by individuals with some degree of power to the senior leadership. 3) They somehow attract amazing talent and have no idea on how to retain them. 10 people that have been absolutely essential in growth of the company’s revenue have left in the last 3 months and they have hired 1 replacement so far! the expectation is people who remain will pick up the remaining work. 4) No forward momentum or growth from research. The company is reactive as opposed to proactive. No ideation and investment in ideas that could lead to business growth. How is the division meant to succeed? 5) Middle management exists at its finest and its both a resource and a money sink. If everyone on the team can see it, its hard to understand why the senior leadership cannot.

3
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