Great people and interesting work - held back by poor leadership
Arbeitsatmosphäre
The work atmosphere used to be very good. People were generally motivated, engaged and eager to build cool things together. Unfortunately, much of that spirit has disappeared over time, largely due to a perceived lack of appreciation, recognition and compensation for good work and extra effort. There is also a noticeable lack of feedback, encouragement, and motivation from leads and managers, which makes it increasingly difficult for people to stay engaged.
There are still many great people who genuinely care and try to keep the positive spirit alive. They are the ones keeping things moving and holding the sinking ship together despite the current challenges.
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Work-Life-Balance
This depends on the department, but overall, the work-life balance is good. Working hours are generally flexible, and there is a healthy level of respect for personal time and boundaries. Compared to other aspects of the company, this is definitely one of the stronger points.
Karriere/Weiterbildung
On the one hand, there are plenty of opportunities to learn and gain valuable experience, especially through interesting projects and industry domain. On the other hand, career progression within the company is quite limited. There are few opportunities to move into more senior positions or transition into different roles, making it difficult to build a clear career path internally.
If you want to take the next step in your career, you will likely have to look outside the company.
Gehalt/Benefits
There has been a salary increase freeze, which is particularly problematic given that salaries are already relatively low compared to the market. There is currently little to no adjustment to compensate for inflation, increased responsibilities or strong performance, making it difficult to feel that good work and additional effort are being adequately recognised or rewarded.
Umwelt-/Sozialbewusstsein
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Kollegenzusammenhalt
As mentioned, the remaining strong and supportive colleagues are what keep the team spirit alive. Despite the challenges and shortcomings from above, people continue to support each other, collaborate, and create an environment that can still function. A big part of what makes working here bearable is the people themselves.
Cheers to them!!
Umgang mit älteren Kollegen
Collaboration is generally smooth, largely thanks to the great and supportive colleagues. People are willing to help each other and work together effectively.
However, things can become much more difficult when dealing with heads or higher management. At that level, discussions become political, which often makes it difficult to get things done or feel genuinely empowered to make progress.
Vorgesetztenverhalten
This is genuinely the weakest point of the whole company. Some leads and managers appear to have been placed in leadership positions despite lacking essential people management skills, particularly when it comes to empathy, employee development, communication and providing meaningful feedback.
What makes this even more challenging is that, in some cases, there is also a lack of domain expertise. This can just add a 99th problem to my already existing 98.
There are also instances where leadership behaviour is toxic, negatively affecting the working environment and undermining the positive culture that many colleagues are actively trying to maintain.
Of coarse, there are good leads, but this is the overall picture unfortunately.
Arbeitsbedingungen
The overall work conditions are great. The flexibility, working environment, and general setup provide a solid foundation.
Kommunikation
Communication within teams and squads can be very efficient, and there are many colleagues who are genuinely excellent communicators. At this level, information is usually shared openly and collaboration works well.
The problems start when it comes to communication from management. It often lacks transparency, with important context and information not being shared openly. There is also a perception that management mainly communicates what reflects positively on them, while avoiding or downplaying less favorable topics.
Gleichberechtigung
The company genuinely supports equality and inclusion, and it is something that is reflected in everyday work life rather than just being a statement on paper. Overall, this has been a really positive experience and is definitely one of the company’s strengths.
Interessante Aufgaben
You get the opportunity to work in a genuinely interesting industry and on a variety of exciting projects, tools, and related topics. There is a lot to learn, and the domain itself provides plenty of interesting challenges.
Definitely one of the highlights of working here.