As the company scaled, the culture shifted significantly. Expectations and workloads increased, but support at the lower levels did not keep pace. Additionally, compensation is notably lower than industry competitors, with annual raises typically capped around 2-3% - if they occur at all. This combination of high pressure and low reward led to a culture of micromanagement where creativity was often stifled in favor of unattainable standards. Many of the design, writing and other staff suffered from creative fatigue due to an excessive amount of edits and constant hovering. Instead of being encouraged to innovate, creative minds were squashed by a process (or lack of a process) where nothing felt good enough, leading to a sharp decline in morale.
The most concerning shift, however, was the toxicity in mid to upper management. I witnessed (and experienced) managers speaking disparagingly about employees to their peers, which devastated trust. Why would I want to perform for somebody that is just going to trash me behind closed doors? This high stress environment eventually became unsustainable, affecting both professional performance and personal well being. From my understanding, these issues are still happening today based on accounts from former colleagues who remain in touch with current staff.
It is very disappointing. The company has the potential to be as great as they claim, but the current environment says otherwise. They will pitch you on a lot of 'perks,' but no perk could make me want to return. Since leaving, I have found a new love for work again in an environment where I am actually appreciated and heard. I sat on making this review for a long time, but I suppose it could be beneficial for anyone looking at Pennymac for a future career so you know what to expect if you do choose to go down this road.