Great team and modern equipment, but a problematic leadership culture
Gut am Arbeitgeber finde ich
The team is excellent. The cohesion and collaboration among colleagues are the best thing about working here. The office equipment is modern and high quality, and it's a pleasant environment to work in.
Schlecht am Arbeitgeber finde ich
Leadership behavior is the biggest weakness. There is pronounced micromanagement and little trust in employees' work. Communication is unclear, and decisions take a very long time to be made.
The double standards set by management themselves are especially frustrating:
The team must be punctual and on site in the office, and remote work is not allowed. The founders, however, work from home whenever they like, and are themselves only in the office from about midday to 6 pm.
Employees are not supposed to schedule private appointments during working hours, while the founders handle private appointments during working hours.
Being sick is unwelcome for the team. When the founders are sick, it is either not communicated at all or only very late in the day. Employees who call in sick, on the other hand, are sometimes ignored.
On top of that, vacation planning is not handled equally for everyone. Requests submitted well in advance are approved for some people but not for others.
Verbesserungsvorschläge
More trust and personal responsibility instead of control, clear and timely decisions and communication, and a real feedback culture in which criticism is received objectively and nobody has to fear reactions. Also binding rules that apply equally to everyone regarding presence, working hours, remote work, vacation and sick leave, including for founders. Contractually agreed flexible working hours should actually be allowed to be used, meetings should not be scheduled shortly before the end of the workday, and a vacation confirmation should be reliable. Regular team events and more attractive benefits would further improve the company's appeal as an employer.
Arbeitsatmosphäre
Very good within the team, but weighed down by the leadership culture.
Image
The external image does not match the internal leadership culture.
Work-Life-Balance
Regarding working hours, there is a contradiction with the contract: flexible working hours are agreed in the contract, but in practice everyone is expected to work until early evening every day, including Fridays. Anyone who leaves earlier, for example at 5 pm, has to raise it beforehand and justify it. Meetings are frequently scheduled as late as 5 pm. I got the impression that there is little understanding that employees have a private life.
Karriere/Weiterbildung
Promotions and opportunities to advance do exist. However, professional development is hardly supported: there are no regular training sessions or budget for further education.
Gehalt/Benefits
Only a benefits platform, team events are rare.
Umwelt-/Sozialbewusstsein
Environmental and social responsibility play little visible role in daily work. There are individual approaches, such as vegan catering at events, but no recognizable overall concept. Equal treatment of employees is not consistently practiced.
Kollegenzusammenhalt
Outstanding team, great collaboration.
Umgang mit älteren Kollegen
There are no older colleagues
Vorgesetztenverhalten
Micromanagement, little trust, criticism is not accepted. Criticism and suggestions for improvement are not accepted. Management often reacts to feedback by taking offense, sometimes even in team meetings in front of everyone, and on occasion voices were raised. Instead of engaging with the substance of the criticism, the victim role is often taken. As a result, hardly anyone on the team dares to raise problems. Employees are also talked about behind their backs, which I found unprofessional.
Arbeitsbedingungen
Modern, high-quality office equipment. Deduction for no remote work.
Kommunikation
Unclear, decisions are made very late or not at all.
Gleichberechtigung
Rules don't apply equally to everyone, favoritism toward certain people.
Interessante Aufgaben
The company's product is exciting and motivating. The tasks themselves are varied, but creative freedom is limited by a high degree of control.