Good but overrated - Software Engineer Block Employee Review

4.0
Jan 14, 2017
Recommend
CEO approval
Business outlook

Pros

As a developer specifically, great engineering culture, they actually care about things like testing their code that many startups only give lip service to. Still has a startup-like atmosphere for a pretty old company. Some nice fringe benefits, health/dental/vision 100% lots of cheap-to-free food

Cons

Low salaries for a public company, equity compensation for me was equal to about 1 year salary but vesting over 4 years, even including the 25% premium it’s still low for the SF bay area. Required engineers to be on-call, at least on my team, but did not properly compensate. I have never worked anywhere that required engineers to be on-call unless it was shortly after a launch maybe they would be expected to fix their code if it failed catastrophically but not like this. Has only 1/2 a CEO. In an extremely low margin competitive business with no solid plan for turning a profit. it’s the worst kept secret of both Square and Twitter, everyone seems to know it except him and the respective boards. Jack needs to try with one or he will fail with both in my opinion.

Explore other reviews about Block

5.0
Jun 28, 2026
Recommend
CEO approval
Business outlook

Pros

Strong eng. culture, although that was partly in decline. Great coworkers.

Cons

Wants to feels like a startup, but functions like big corp.

5.0
Sep 26, 2015
Recommend
CEO approval
Business outlook

Pros

Lots of benefits. Gym, free food, showers, Close to transit Good food Good software practices Is this twenty words yet

Cons

I would say that there aren't any cons really. I'm just trying to fill this space with 20 words

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