I write this hoping it will reach individuals considering investing in a career with Highgate. I am a recently former employee of the company- not terminated or disgruntled, and was not personally wronged in the circumstances at hand, but witnessed many individuals in my organization treated in an unprofessional, unkind, and truly disappointing way. This company claims to put people first, but puts people absolutely last.
They expect individuals to jump through hundreds of meaningless hoops and work with red tape that brings no value to the experience of working with the company, not even from a risk management or legally protective angle. The added work with seemingly no benefit is asinine, and reflects a distrust from senior leadership in those they hire to work on-property.
The company will ask you to do dishonest things. They will turn a blind eye to issues of equal employment, harassment, and other workplace abuse. Multiple times, things crossing into the threshold of illegality were reported and ignored.
The individuals in executive leadership with the company are the laughingstock of the industry. The CPO is embarrassing and completely misses the point. The CEO prioritizes his status and reputation (as an industry celebrity, not a good leader) over all.
Employees are not valued, not listened to, and not trusted to complete their work without unreasonable levels of oversight and unnecessary obstacles.
The company and senior leaders are dishonest, withholding information and sharing opposing expectations, updates, and policies based on their own preferences- not communicated standards. They are out of touch, with a “state of the company” call occurring for the wealthy shareholders/principals to brag on their expansions and earnings, with no credit given to the teams doing the vast work to give them that victory.
Career opportunities are there, if you’re willing to agree to comply with all of the company’s demands, many of which I found to be unreasonable and unjust, sometimes illegal.
This is not a company for people who love hospitality. It’s a company for those who love rules (that only apply when the wind blows to the north or someone decides to enforce them to the fullest of their ability), for those who want to advance in a cutthroat environment- often being required to compromise their morals and values to do so, and for those who are willing to do the heavy lifting so executive level leaders above property can take credit for their hard work.
