11y
A couple of Gigwalk folks saw this, and we wanted to respond to the comments. Some of the "pros" are actually a con, so we will respond to those too...
Pros
- Food/Kitchen - we bring in lunch on Wednesday, and try to keep healthy options in the kitchen. Recently we transitioned vendors, and our selection was less than optimal for a week or two.
- Elevator - Yep, the elevator was down for two days in June, and we are on the fourth floor. Most folks were able to able tough it out. Sorry for the inconvenience!
- Paychecks on time - We use TriNet for pay and benefits. Generally no issues here.
- High ratings on Feb 25 - Interesting observation, so asked around and looked into it. Turns out that three employees (not managers) felt that reviews from 2014 were not representative when they were trying to recruit their friends to work here. So on the same day they all sat down and wrote reviews. The timing is odd, but the sentiments expressed were genuine.
Cons
- Clueless management - business doubled YOY, and we have a number of happy customers and partners, so we are doing something right. :) Humility is a good thing, though - we should never assume that we know everything.
- Toxic work environment - we would just suggest that you call a current employee and ask. You might get a different opinion...
- High turnover - we try to add staff carefully, but sometimes things just don't work out. In the case of the exec mentioned, they actually left after eleven days (not three weeks). After talking it over, we mutually agreed that it was not a good fit, and they left the same day.
- Work hours - No excuses here. Startups are hard. We work hard, and we get stuff done. However, we also understand the need for time off for vacation, and caring for kids, parents, sick relatives, and other life stuff. If you want a gratifying job with a high growth startup, join us! If you want a 35hr work week, look elsewhere.
- Bad internal communication - We are pretty open about things. In Eng, self-directed sprint planning is bi-weekly, following a 2-4qtr product roadmap. Other teams also meet bi-weekly. The CEO sends out a "weekly update" every weekend addressing issues in the company overall. Every 6-8wks, following board meetings, the CEO and exec team share our progress against financial and strategic objectives. We have a bi-annual offsite every six months attended by all employees. Communication is GOOD; lots and lots of meetings is BAD - we try to strike a balance.
- Focus - the company follows an annual operating plan, with clear objectives for Sales, Marketing, Ops, and Prod/Eng. All of these are reviewed on a regular basis with all employees. That being said, startups need to be agile, and objectives can change.
- Lack of respect for employees - call a friend who works here, or any current employee, and see what they say!
Individual opinions will vary, but we think we have a good thing going. If you are interested in working at Gigwalk, contact us at careers@gigwalk.com.
