Layoffs 2021 - Senior Software Developer BECU Employee Review

1.0
Oct 13, 2021
Recommend
CEO approval
Business outlook

Pros

None I can think of at the moment, but I just accepted an offer at another organization.

Cons

Facts: 1) There were several all hands meeting after the layoff, but I am still hearing the Executive Leadership didn't answer all the fundamental questions. 2) Management still didn't disclose how and why those decisions were made. 3) They demoted several experienced employees. Some of the position that are impacted includes(Developers, QA, BA, TA...etc) 4) They demoted the few "Black" experienced workers and promoted the "white" workers. They also gave more money to those they decided to promote. 5) The executive leadership changed BECU core values overnight. 6) The executive leadership should have "Own It" to "Do the right thing" As a result, I have sent a note to all my family and friends to stop banking at BECU. Questions : 1) who demotes a developer who had 15+ years experience from industry leading organizations. 2) who layoffs people and tell them they don't have the right skill or lack competency 3) did you know a lot of people are morally impacted with this decision 4) what are you going to do about it?

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BECU Response
4y
The recent changes to the BECU Tech division were made after a thorough and extensive process, and involved difficult decisions. As we have communicated to employees, the reorganization was a critical and necessary step for BECU as we strive to meet the ever-evolving needs of our members and the credit union. Our values are at the heart of BECU and guided how we communicated the recent changes and we continue to provide opportunities for employees to address questions directly with leaders. Our goals remain to treat all employees with respect and dignity throughout the reorganization. We are committed to continuing to recruit and develop a diverse workforce across BECU, and ensuring we are best able to serve our members in support of our purpose.

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5.0
Mar 18, 2026
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Pros

Self manage, managers don’t micro manage. Remote work. Great benefits. Good culture. Competitive pay.

Cons

There can be lots of changes when you’re hired.

1
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BECU Response
3mo
Thank you for sharing your feedback. It’s great to hear that you value the autonomy in your role, the trust from managers, and the flexibility of remote work. It’s also encouraging to see benefits, culture, and pay recognized as positives — those are important parts of the overall experience. We also understand your point about the pace of change, especially early on. Starting a new role can already be an adjustment, and navigating changes at the same time can add complexity. While change is often part of growth and improvement, your perspective is a helpful reminder of the importance of clear communication and support during those transitions. Thank you again for taking the time to share your experience.
1.0
May 19, 2026
Recommend
CEO approval
Business outlook

Pros

There are many employees who care about the mission, values, each other, and members.

Cons

Within the Technology organization, there is growing concern regarding the consistency and transparency of hiring and promotion practices following the 2023 CTO transition. Over a relatively short period, the composition of senior leadership changed significantly, with a large percentage of new hires and promotions appearing to originate from overlapping professional networks, referral pipelines, or ethnic background. There is perception that advancement opportunities increasingly favored candidates connected to existing leadership circles, raising concerns about whether hiring standards and evaluation processes are being applied consistently across Tech. As these leadership changes cascaded through reporting structures, teams became increasingly homogeneous in background and prior affiliations. This contributed to employee concerns about reduced diversity, diminished internal mobility, and the potential for affinity bias in hiring and promotion decisions. The resulting leadership composition also became noticeably less diverse over time, which contributed to perceptions of affinity bias and employees outside the dominant leadership network can appear sidelined in promotions, influence, and career growth opportunities, contributing to a perception of favoritism and inconsistent standards. As leadership composition became noticeably less diverse, the corresponding teams become less diverse as well.

2
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BECU Response
1mo
Thank you for taking the time to share your feedback. We appreciate your recognition of the many employees who remain deeply committed to our mission, values, members, and one another. Those connections are an important part of what makes the organization special. We also understand the concerns you've raised regarding hiring, promotion practices, and career growth opportunities within Technology. Perceptions of fairness, transparency, and equal opportunity can have a significant impact on trust and engagement. When employees question whether processes are being applied consistently, it’s important that those concerns are heard and thoughtfully considered. We will ensure this feedback is shared. Your advice around transparency, accountability, and independent review is noted. Building confidence in hiring and advancement processes requires ongoing attention and a commitment to ensuring employees feel opportunities are accessible, merit-based, and clearly communicated. Thank you again for sharing your perspective. Feedback like yours helps inform important conversations about culture, trust, and employee experience.
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