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Breakdown
140 employees rated this employer with an average of 3.3 points on a scale from 1 to 5.
Appsfactory GmbH Reviews
Appsfactory
GmbH
140 reviews from employees
Multiple Review
Not great, not terrible
EmployeeWorked in IT at Appsfactory in Leipzig, Sachsen at the time of review and has submitted multiple reviews for this employer. (Employees are allowed to review once per year.)
What I like about the employer
Depending on the project, it's not that bad overall, but not really positive either.
- Codebase is great on most projects
- Most peers are nice and fun
- German courses at a certain school can be paid by the company (but the new rules make it harder to apply for it)
- If you are lucky, there are some cool projects to work on
- Still a lot of international folks in the dev department
What I dislike about the employer
- Using the crisis as an excuse, it feels like the company tries to save money on everything they can: no more money for team events, downgrade from Slack to Google Chat, no licenses for the software you actually need in your work. It all comes down as an understanding that things are getting worse
- Random single-day firing of people, so I always had a feeling I could be next
- Return to office policy did no good in my opinion: most of the meetings are online anyway, as we're working from different cities, managers aren't there a lot of time anyway, and lunches are not paid or even subsidised by the company, so it's just a waste of time and money for the employees
- Noticeable border between non-German developers and everybody else
Suggestions for improvement
If you want to save money on something, save it by making the office smaller and returning to work from home policy
Working atmosphere
It got much worse during the last years
Work-Life Balance
Introduction of office days made it much worse
Salary/Benefits
Salary will be good only if you managed to negotiate it from the beginning. Almost no bonuses apart from the sport subscription and a bike lease
Environmental and social responsibility
Not much apart from sorting garbage
Working conditions
If you like working from the office, it'll be good, but it can also be noisy during the office days
Communication
The communication between peers is usually very good, but gets worse the higher you go
Equality
Almost no women, non-whites or LGBTQ-people in managing roles
Interesting tasks
Heavily depends on the project, but I'm lucky to have them
Image
Career/Professional development
Collegiality
Interaction with older colleagues
Leadership behavior
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Toxic and manipulative
Former EmployeeDid no longer work at APPSfactory GmbH in Leipzig, Sachsen at the time of review.
Working atmosphere
I have never worked in such a manipulative and toxic environment. It hurts so much to be “seen” only when it suits the leadership (read: when you can deliver something qualitative but you are paid less for it). To be seen as an object, do the job, and get fired when not needed anymore, with the most ridiculous reasons given. This is a working environment that continuously reminds you why your anxiety, fears, and sleepless nights exist.
Work-Life Balance
Due to a lack of projects, sometimes you are put on “bench” and forced to do learnings that don't match your interests. These learning are technical and often require learning time on the weekends, which is problematic if you have a family and kids.
Salary/Benefits
As I mentioned, foreigners are doing the job for less money.
Collegiality
This is maybe the only bright point here but it still depends a lot on the project and how it has been managed. International people are coming together to achieve a goal. That's it.
Communication
Extremely non-transparent. You learn about things after the decision is already made. No space for open, constructive talks.
Equality
Only one woman is in a leadership position, which is a disaster for a company that has more than 400 employees
Image
Career/Professional development
Environmental and social responsibility
Interaction with older colleagues
Leadership behavior
Working conditions
Interesting tasks
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do yourself a favor by applying at other companies
EmployeeWorked in Marketing / Product management at Appsfactory in Leipzig, Sachsen at the time of review.
Working atmosphere
you never know, whether surveillance is here for security or for spying
Image
a lot of talking, and "values", which not even top management lives by.
Environmental and social responsibility
a lot of certificates, but no actions
Leadership behavior
really surprising and intransparent. One day we get told, that there is no money for raises (even though job security is declared as a main objective) - and on other days we are told, that we are buying a new office. Also instead of giving the people the raises, they deserve, we employ new people and pay them even more with way less experience.
Working conditions
work hard, don't complain and NEVER ask for raises
Communication
intransparent
Salary/Benefits
too little for the amount of effort that is expected
Equality
Product managers and Product Team Leads get payed an unreasonable lot more, than developers, even though they promise unrealistic features to clients and are usually the biggest impediments for an efficient working day.
Interesting tasks
some years ago yes, but nowadays, we are only reaching for the low hanging fruits.
Work-Life Balance
Career/Professional development
Interaction with older colleagues
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This company is a joke
EmployeeWorked in Research / Development at APPSfactory GmbH in Leipzig, Sachsen at the time of review.
Working atmosphere
My colleagues are mostly wonderful people from different parts of the world.
Work-Life Balance
Okayish but if there is some burning deadline you have to forget about your life and concentrate on work.
Environmental and social responsibility
They take advantage of the fact that the majority of their workforce comes from abroad and is heavily dependent on this company.
Career/Professional development
No Karriere/Weiterbildung is possible. This is just a dead-end company.
Collegiality
My colleagues are mostly wonderful people from different parts of the world.
Leadership behavior
The management feels very random, decisions are not thought-trough. No discussions are possible. People are fired for random reasons.
Working conditions
It's just a body-shop company. They get cheap work-force and sell it to their clients.
Communication
This company is simply non-transparent. Lying management and HR.
Salary/Benefits
It's nearly impossible to get a salary raise.
Equality
Depends on your skin color, knowledge of german language and how personally close to management you are.
Interesting tasks
Depends on your project. But mostly... just no
Interaction with older colleagues
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a worker that complains is a worker that should leave, or as we say: "grow or go"
ManagerWorked in Executive leadership at Appsfactory in Leipzig, Sachsen at the time of review.
What I like about the employer
everything except management
What I dislike about the employer
methods and decisions of CEO and Director of HR, too much micromanagement.
Suggestions for improvement
be more transparent and talk to the people in your company
Working atmosphere
stressful, unthankful and only project managers get appreciated and get bonuses. everyone else just has to do his/her job
Image
Investing more money in image, than in their staff
Environmental and social responsibility
too short sighted and disrespectful.
Leadership behavior
disgusting. managers and project managers don't ask, they just demand.
Communication
instransparent. they always blame the bad economy or our workers, but never themselves
Salary/Benefits
bad salary and no chance to increase it, because the internal statistics are wrong. management is trying to measure progress, but the
Equality
everyone gets treated equally bad, except for managers. after some years of experience, I noticed that the goal isn't to have top talent, but only top managers and cheap work force.
So if you are a developer, you will get treated as bad as everyone else, who isn't a stakeholder
Interesting tasks
there were interesting projects, some years ago, but nowadays there is either no time, no budget or unrealistic demands for projects
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Company undergoing many change processes- positive and negative
Worked at APPSfactory GmbH in Leipzig, Sachsen at the time of review.
What I like about the employer
Appsfactory is an up-and-coming company that is mastering the challenges of growth. A lot is being done to become more professional. New jobs are being created – not enough, but they exist for now. Young talent is being promoted and opportunities for further development are also being sought for senior positions. Risks are quickly identified and responded to. Appsfactory is doing a lot right. I like that there is an office policy. I find it much more efficient when you can talk to people on site and don't have to constantly wait for chat messages to be answered.
What I dislike about the employer
Some managers are resistant to criticism. People are increasingly leaving the same departments, and the blame is being placed on several parties, but no one ever questions themselves. This is a shame, as it means a lot of potential is being lost.
Management communication could also be improved slightly. A lot is shared in all-hands meetings, but projects are kept secret for too long, even though the office grapevine has long been aware of them, which creates unnecessary distance between management and employees. I do feel that management always strives to keep all employees well informed, but sometimes they go about it in a somewhat clumsy manner.
The HR team is often mentioned here. I think there is a lot of criticism that is not always entirely justified. I feel that they consider us employees to be important and that they do try to support us as best they can. But it is definitely true that there is a glass wall between them and their colleagues.
I can't remember a time when an HR colleague actively joined us for lunch. Of course, everyone can do whatever they want in their own break, but we always sit together in a mixed group at lunchtime, so why do they separate themselves from us? I think they try to appear very professional, but that makes them seem cold and unapproachable as a department. That's very sad, because when you do have contact with individuals, they are very supportive and friendly.
Work-Life Balance
As a ‘normal’ developer, designer or QA employee, this can be easily arranged. For everyone else, the following applies: More work, less life.
Career/Professional development
Further training must be sought by the employee themselves, otherwise nothing will happen. In principle, this is a fair system, but it disadvantages employees for whom there are not much professional opportunities on the market.
Salary/Benefits
Salary depends heavily on the department. From a personal feeling I would say developers have a market-specific salary, while administrative staff earn below the local average. Salary increases are weighed more carefully, which is a positive development, as underperformers are no longer rewarded for poor performance.
However, salary increases are capped at a percentage, which only widens the salary gap between higher and lower earners and does not show appreciation for lower earners.
Environmental and social responsibility
No special attention is paid to it, but we aren't wastefully either.
Collegiality
Recruitment is extremely well tailored to human needs. You can rely on these colleagues. But there are a few exceptions who want to elbow their way into the limelight.
Interaction with older colleagues
No distinction is made based on a colleague's age. Everyone is treated equally.
Leadership behavior
We have good leaders but they are very busy.
Working conditions
Sometimes very large rooms where colleagues do not leave for meetings, which keeps the noise level high. Otherwise, the facilities are excellent
Equality
There are only four women in leadership positions. With 450 employees, this is almost embarrassing. Salary differences are also noticeable but are ignored by the management team.
Working atmosphere
Image
Communication
Interesting tasks
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Nice place to work with long term visions
EmployeeWorked in IT at APPSfactory GmbH in Leipzig, Sachsen at the time of review.
What I like about the employer
Follow tech on the edge. Eager to learn more. #WeGetItDone.
What I dislike about the employer
Sometimes old and messy project handovers from other companies, but hey, they are not Appsfactory
Suggestions for improvement
Maybe more interesting and long term projects
Working atmosphere
Image
Work-Life Balance
Career/Professional development
Salary/Benefits
Environmental and social responsibility
Collegiality
Interaction with older colleagues
Leadership behavior
Working conditions
Communication
Equality
Interesting tasks
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Employer Comment
Isabel DivivierDirector People & Culture
Dear Appsfactorian,
Thanks a lot for your positive review - looking forward to many more successful projects with you!
Best regards
Isabel
more appearance than reality
Former EmployeeDid no longer work at Appsfactory in Leipzig, Sachsen at the time of review.
What I dislike about the employer
My evaluation is repeatedly challenged with the threat of a lawyer, although everything is true.
The HR team also speaks badly about you after your dismissal. That is slander.
Working atmosphere
It is always claimed that teamwork and cohesion are very important ... this is not the case
Collegiality
not present ... among the teams perhaps, but not at all beyond that.
People & Culture in particular think they are something better and that they are the most important department
Communication
is also supposedly very important, but is not put into practice. People are more likely to talk to others about a topic or issues than to the person it concerns
Image
Work-Life Balance
Environmental and social responsibility
Career/Professional development
Leadership behavior
Working conditions
Salary/Benefits
Interesting tasks
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From Excellent to Disappointing
ManagerWorked in Production at APPSfactory GmbH in Leipzig, Sachsen at the time of review.
Suggestions for improvement
2-3 years ago, this was an excellent company to work for. The culture was positive, and there was a strong sense of teamwork. Unfortunately, the company has changed significantly. Cost-cutting measures seem to be prioritized over employee well-being and long-term investment.
Working atmosphere
Image
Work-Life Balance
Career/Professional development
Salary/Benefits
Environmental and social responsibility
Collegiality
Interaction with older colleagues
Leadership behavior
Working conditions
Communication
Equality
Interesting tasks
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Unfaire Bezahlung, keine Transparenz, Manipulation und Druck von "oben"
EmployeeWorked at Appsfactory in Leipzig, Sachsen at the time of review.
What I dislike about the employer
Kosteinsparungen = Keine Teamevents oder Kostenerstattungen für Mitarbeitende aber Teamleads und CEOs fahren für einen Workshop mehrere Tage zusammen in ein schönes Hotel außerhalb von Deutschland und lassen es sich gut gehen.. ? Wie erklärt man das?
Suggestions for improvement
Transparenz und Ehrlichkeit! In allen Bereichen. Mitarbeitenden Vertrauen gegenüber bringen und sie nicht mit Micromanagement und Präsenzpflichten versuchen zu kontrollieren. Feedback ernst nehmen, Menschen ernst nehmen. Wenn man keine angenehme Arbeitsumgebung / keinen sinnvollen Arbeitsalltag / keine angenehme Kultur schafft, wo die Menschen freiwillig ins Büro kommen und es Sinn für Sie ergibt, sollte man darüber nachdenken ob das Problem nicht woanders als an den „bösen“ Mitarbeitenden liegt. Viele erfolgreiche Global Player und sogar unser Partner EdenSpiekermann sind kulturell deutlich besser aufgestellt und müssen ihre Mitarbeiter zu nichts zwingen und man fühlt sich dort wohler.
Working atmosphere
eher altmodische, kalte unfreundliche Büros.
Image
Ich würde Appsfactory aktuell nicht weiterempfehlen.
Work-Life Balance
Da man gezwungen wird 2 Tage pro Woche ins Büro zu kommen, egal ob es arbeitstechnisch Sinn macht ( ich sitze mit mehreren Kolleg*innen im Büro und alle telefonieren gleichzeitig mit anderen, man rennt von einer Meetingsbox - wenn sie frei ist - zur nächsten .... ) nicht besonders gut und es gibt auch keine Ausnahmen, man wird hier mehr oder weniger wie eine Nummer behandelt (eine von vielen eben)
Career/Professional development
es gibt ein internes Weiterbildungsbudget was aber auch langsam gestoppt wird da überall kosten eingespart werden
Leadership behavior
Leider in einigen Fällen absolut unprofessionell, ein Vorgesetzter in einer zentralen / universalen Position hat in der Vergangenheit wiederholt massiv Druck ausgeübt, micromanaged und versucht Kolleg*innen gegeneinander auszuspielen.
Direkte Teamleads hingegen absolut Vorbildlich und toll.
Working conditions
leider sehr laut in Großraumbüros da man relativ eng aufeinander hockt und viele Personen gleichzeitig in Meetings stecken, die Meetingräume sind furchtbar isoliert, wenn man hybride Meetigs hält hört man die Stimmen als remote Person kaum, es hallt sehr stark (wurde bereits negativ von Kunden angemerkt) egal in welcher Location ist in allen gleich schlimm.
Salary/Benefits
es wird versucht (arbeitsrechtlich nicht erlaubt) verboten intern über Gehälter zu sprechen, wenn man es dann mal tut merkt man große Unterschiede in gleichen Positionen bzw einige extrem unterbezahlt und trotz mehrfachem Anmerken von Mitarbeitenden ist auch nicht geplant transparenter mit dem Thema umzugehen (zB Gehaltsmatrix).
Man bekommt auch keine Gehaltserhöhungen aktuell - nur Zuzahlungen wie das DE Ticket (nach langem Anfrageprozess)
Equality
mehr Männer in Führungspositionen
Interesting tasks
mal mehr mal weniger
Environmental and social responsibility
Collegiality
Communication
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