GlobalData's motto should be 'the bare minimum' - ironic seeing as one of their aspirations is to become a world-class company. Pay is well below industry average, with no meaningful benefits and a miserable legal minimum holiday entitlement and even sick pay. The building itself has had a few minor renovations, but is extremely soulless, and much of the equipment is falling apart. Even stationery is hard to come by.
The culture at GlobalData leaves much to be desired. Junior staff are hired and fired (or many have the good sense to leave) every 6 months, in a never-ending cycle which the company never learns from. In the London office, you need a special pass to even access the 8th floor where the CEO and senior management work, which sums up the company's attitude and antiquated hierarchical system.
In sales, senior management will sell you a wolf of wall street dream about 6 figure commission, and trips on the CEO's yacht, and use this as an excuse to treat you like dirt. Unfortunately, it's well known throughout the business that Sales is one big boys' club, which often includes racist, sexist and homophobic language and behaviour. This is not challenged by management, and even encouraged as 'banter'. Reports of this behaviour as well as allegations of drug-taking on the sales floor have reached the ears of HR numerous times. They turn a blind eye, pay lip service to the issue, and back management every time. Previous glassdoor reviews can attest to this being true, which the company scramble to try and get taken down.
As for the CEO, he is clearly an intelligent and resourceful man. However, his downfall will be his lack of appreciation for investing in his employees at a human level. For a self-made billionaire he is very stingey when it comes to anything that does not have a quantifiable monetary return.
Those not in sales or quantifiably bringing in money for the company are treated like second class citizens. The GlobalData analysts are the backbone of the company, and should be treated like its greatest asset. However they are chronically under-resourced, paid a pittance, and their repeated attempts to address issues about unsustainable workload fall on deaf ears. With the revolving door situation of joiners and leavers, resources are constantly wasted on training new starters, and the majority of the workload falls to an unfortunate few.
Communication within the company is terrible, both central channels and between departments. The CEO has to personally review the most minor decisions, which creates bottle necks and long delays in workload. Communication channels are one-way, and employee feedback is only asked for when absolutely necessary, because even asking for feedback raises expectations that the company will take action (God forbid!) and have to spend money on anything above the bare minimum.
It's true that not everyone has a bad experience at GlobalData, but only a select few who work their way up over a decade or more are able to reap the advertised rewards of going on the CEO's yacht etc. Training and development opportunities are hard to come by. Don't count on getting a payrise, promotion or even an annual appraisal at this company.
