The biggest issue was leadership and communication. Expectations and responsibilities changed frequently, and employees were often left without clear direction or transparency. The company was also extremely goal-driven, with weekly, monthly, and quarterly goals expected from everyone. While having goals can be helpful, the constant focus on tracking and meeting goals often felt like unnecessary pressure and added stress to daily work.
They often emphasized being a meritocracy, where hard work and performance would be recognized and rewarded. However, that did not always align with the employee experience. Many employees felt that dedication and results did not consistently lead to recognition, growth opportunities, or increased compensation.
Major decisions were made with little explanation, which created a lot of uncertainty and hurt morale.
The company experienced a massive company wide layoff that impacted over half of the overall staff. Employees were let go immediately with little to no explanation, including some who had dedicated 5+ years to the company. The way the layoffs were handled left many employees feeling undervalued and disposable.
The pay is very low compared to the expectations of the role, and the starting salary is difficult to live on in today’s economy. Raises and opportunities for meaningful compensation growth were extremely limited.
Employees were also expected to participate in company-wide book chats that often felt unrelated to daily responsibilities and took time away from actual work. There was also an expectation to be available outside of normal working hours, which negatively impacted work-life balance.
During my 3.5 years with the company, I saw over 15 employees either quit or be abruptly let go. The turnover rate is alarmingly high.
