Used to be a great place — now it’s toxic and political - Product Manager Workday Employee Review

I joined Workday almost 8 years ago when the culture was incredible. People supported each other, helped each other grow, and genuinely enjoyed working together. It was a place where you could make real friends, and the vibe was collaborative and positive. But over the last few years, that’s completely changed. As the company chased higher profits and leadership transitioned from Anil to Carl, the culture was forced into something unrecognizable. Poor communication masked major changes. A senior manager was brought into the product org — someone with little to no product experience, a background in banking and small startups, and no real people management credentials. He came in acting like a consultant: great at talking, but lacking depth. Since then, he’s been promoted multiple times, despite having only one direct report at times, and has completely shifted the culture to fear and control. He tried to dismantle the tight, collaborative relationship between product and engineering, which had always been a key strength. Everyone from the original team is now gone — pushed out or driven to leave — and replaced by people who won’t challenge him. Promotions for others were always just out of reach, with goalposts constantly shifting, while he continued to rise quickly. No career support, no transparency, just toxicity. It’s sad to see what Workday has become: a political environment where performative leadership is rewarded and genuine talent is ignored or squeezed out. Pay is also well below market — something I learned firsthand after leaving.