Toxic work environment - Anonymous employee 21.co Employee Review

2.0
Dec 6, 2022
Anonymous employee
Recommend
CEO approval
Business outlook

Pros

- They've hired talented, capable people across the org - Very international team (though a clear lack of women in the Tech and Ops orgs) - The Research team is outstanding

Cons

I’ve had some time to reflect on my tenure at 21co since I left. Never in my career—and I’ve worked at a number of companies—have I experienced such a toxic and hostile work environment. There are a few reasons why: 1. The culture the founders created is rooted in fear. They fire high performing employees so frequently and without any context, that we should be desensitized to it by now but it still shocks us every time. To management, everyone is disposable. 2. The exec leadership exclusive club has total and full control over all business decisions. When things go wrong, instead of accepting responsibility for the decisions they've made, they scapegoat various teams (usually Engineering). 3. There is zero transparency in fundraising, layoffs, restructurings, firings, etc. It should really make you wonder why this company only has three board members (two of which are the founders), no advisors, no CFO, and a large majority of the company equity is owned by the founders' families.

Explore other reviews about 21.co

5.0
Feb 6, 2025
Recommend
CEO approval
Business outlook

Pros

Great company culture all around

Cons

Great company overall, no cons

1.0
Mar 2, 2024
Recommend
CEO approval
Business outlook

Pros

maybe salary, but be careful if you take this job - you will be looking for another job in about 6 months to a year when they lay you off whenever they feel like.

Cons

Wow, too many to count. Terrible CTO - he is a talker not doer. 2 founders with big egos and they try to seem friendly but they are terrible people who act like spoiled brats. So many people worked for them and everyone who disagreed were laid off. the company has not grown, which is a shame, for the opportunity they had. Do not work for them - you will be laid off. this is a dead end job.

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