To preface, I have been at Houzz for 5 years, and have experienced extensive time working on different revenue channels and with plenty of teams at the company. In these 5 years, I’ve learned that the same frustrations and problems run company wide, no matter what team you’re on, and it is because it all starts at the top with the CEO. Some blame gets improperly placed on middle management, because employees don’t realize that middle management’s hands are tied, as it is the CEO who is not willing to make the needed changes.
The “needed changes” I’m referring to are anything ranging from proper salaries (most teams are ridiculously underpaid, but people take jobs to pay their dues or get experience in a new role, and later realize that they won’t be rewarded with a raise, and then leave)….to leadership problems (lots of managers are completely checked out, take advantage of the seniority by coming in late and leaving early, and don’t support their teams) ...to company strategy changing literally every quarter. The ever changing strategy is probably the most frustrating, as teams will have their comp plans, tasks, and work load constantly change. You’re also put in an awkward position with the home professionals, vendors, sellers, etc. you work with, because you hard sell them on the growth and opportunity of a strategy, and then look like a fool when that strategy is no longer in play after a few months. Job security also becomes a worry as you constantly wonder if your job is relevant in the next strategy. Several teams have gone through huge layoffs (almost 200 people total in the past year) due to strategies changing. More and more people, especially those who have been there 3, 4, 5 years or more, have finally reached their limits and left.
My advice to any experienced, worthy professional who is considering working at Houzz at the company's current stage, is to look elsewhere. First of all, Houzz is incredibly cheap, and you likely won’t get what you could get at another tech company. So many of those veterans who have left, have been getting significant salary increases to do the same job they have been doing at Houzz. Most open executive or senior level positions have been unsuccessfully filled for almost a year, most likely because the offers are so terrible and can’t compete. The standard excuse upper management communicates is that they cannot find someone who fits with the “Houzz culture”. Just so you know, the “Houzz culture” that is so often referred to, is basically being willing to be taken advantage of. Sometimes Houzz will miraculously score a great outside senior hire, because they promise them growth and opportunity. Those people quickly experience regret once they realize how empty that promise is, and how the executives are in over their head and don’t know how to make the right calls. Not only that, but they’ll realize how much they’ll be micromanaged. The smallest, most ridiculous things require approval from the CEO. Literally, there was one point where requests for business cards needed to be approved by the CEO. Also…PSA: Houzz has a strict NO working from home policy. They supposedly are looking into starting a policy (after years of extensive employee complaints…and yes, I really mean years because that’s how much it takes for the CEO to give in to what employees want) but the policy is going to start out as 2 work from home days a QUARTER. If you’re not an entry level applicant, chances are, Houzz won’t be the best place for you long term.
Aside from the poor business aspects of the company, it’s important to know that the company is a total fraud when it comes to personal company values they pretend to be in line with. Different publications have praised the CEO for being an immigrant and female CEO, and therefore an advocate for women in business, diversity, etc. That image couldn’t be more of a joke.
On the women in business aspect, aside from the CEO, there are no women on the board of directors. There are only a couple women holding VP titles. International is even worse where there was only 1 female country director among the 7 male country directors for many years. The pay discrepancies between men and women are so sad and embarrassing...there has been knowledge about some male employees earning more than their female managers. Worst of all, one of their main former male executives remained at his position for over 5 YEARS, despite his long and well known reputation of sexual indiscretions in the workplace throughout his entire tenure. I recommend any doubters to ask former and current Houzzers about this. Where there is that much smoke, there is probably a forest fire…and to me, the CEO is a total disgrace for allowing it to continue for so long.
In regards to diversity or inclusion, the company makes little to no effort to celebrate or support those things. Black history month was never acknowledged in past years…this year, they last minute acknowledged it on the very last day of the month. Pride month is also not really celebrated. Last year, they gave out shirts with a rainbow colored Houzz logo, but never outwardly associated it with pride. Sorry, but if you’re gonna support something, support it all the way. It’s so crazy to see so many companies and CEOs take public stands against the different human rights issues going on today by making public donations or supporting on social media. Houzz and their CEO on the other hand, remain silent. They try to run with the other tech companies who actually take REAL stands for or against political issues, but realistically, they choose to remain silent because they are more concerned with their image and money. The “we are a family” core value is constantly mocked by everyone at the company.
