All the reviews you read here are true - late hours, unimaginable stress, a totally unsupportive management system if you're unhappy and aren't willing to play the "game".
The department managers’ review from June 2014 does less to increase confidence than to prove the point that all the other reviews are making. To say that (by implication), the members of staff that worked for this company are in some way unwilling to work or don't want to put in the hours to be rewarded is absolutely ridiculous. I have NEVER worked in such an unprofessional environment and managers should be ashamed of how they approach unhappy staff members. My average working week was between 60-80 hours with no lunch breaks. I had lost count of the number of times I was told I was too slow, or not being proactive enough, not being efficient enough, not being smart enough. I have always worked hard for what I have, I will not let a DM on this website try to take that away and dismiss my opinion. Your point 7, “be a part of something bigger” is just some of the propagandist jargon you’ll hear to try to motivate you out of a virtual depression. What you’ll be doing is selling your soul for minimal compensation whilst others in your team will reap the benefits – DM, don’t kid yourself.
THERE IS A REASON YOUR TURNOVER IS SO HIGH!!! Do you think that after all the rigorous testing and interviewing by varied members of management that the candidates you eventually decide to employ are just lazy and unreasonable?? Don't insult our intelligence. That means only one of two things. Either your methods of interview are extremely misguided (proving a severe lack in your management skills) or you are in denial about the true nature of the working environment you are providing (proving a severe lack in your management skills) and I promise you, it's the latter. The fact that this DM is saying he/she doesn't understand the negativity on this site or the complaints about workload is case and point.
You can tell yourself that negativity here is due to inexperience in the company or that their reviews are old but this is coming from someone who worked over a year in your company and recently so you can’t just brush me away as someone who is out of touch with what your company is trying to achieve. I’ve lived it and I know. In addition, the fact that these reviews scope such an extended period of time should be a lesson to you because you are clearly not taking the initiative and learning from bad experiences – something you repeatedly tell your PMs to do – maybe you should follow your own instruction and take RESPONSIBILITY.
Note to the management: Please note the WTR (Working Time Regulations), Management of Health & Safety at Work Regulations 1999, Health & Safety at Work Act 1974 - you have a duty of care and you are avoiding it and ultimately, breaking the law.
I truly hope that the office I left recently gets better and that the management wake up out of this "blame the PM" culture they have at the moment. YOU as the management have ultimate responsibility for how your PMs perform – if you need to be told that then you should not be in the position of management you are in. Your company will not grow to its full potential if you keep losing the best and most experienced in your team because of poor working conditions and unprofessional behaviour – it isn’t an unwillingness to work to the best of our ability or a lazy attitude. Sort yourselves out.
