* Financial instability and/or irresponsibility. This is the 2nd time widespread layoffs were done due to "market conditions" and uncertainty. Every time it is regular employees that are let go instead of company decision makers that do not plan appropriately. Not only that, at least be honest about the state of the company - they publicly announced in a company all-hands only one month prior that we did not run the same financial risks that other tech companies did and had more than enough runway for the near future. We also proceeded to have a lavish in-person all-hands at a 5 star hotel to talk about how great we were doing only to have many of our colleagues laid off only 3 weeks later.
* Compensation is not up to par. We've lost some talented colleagues due to offers that were hard to refuse due to the difference. Not only that, the stock compensation is one of the worst I've seen in a startup. Four year cliff vesting is not enough incentive for people to stay especially for the amount of stock they get and I can count on one hand who stayed long enough for it to vest. This needs to improve or we will continue to lose key talents with a wealth of experience. It is sad but the reality is working hard here mostly rewards you with more work. You will grow and learn a lot but as soon as an opportunity comes knocking it will be hard to refuse. It is also demotivating to consistently lose teammates you loved working with.
* There is a culture of over promising. If anyone has worked here long enough you definitely had a moment where you thought to yourself "I don't think we're quite there yet..." when an exec talks about how far your project is or when you are given a deadline much shorter than it should be.
