Disorganized, Stressful, and Poorly Managed - Software Engineer Monalee Employee Review

1.0
May 22, 2025
Recommend
CEO approval
Business outlook

Pros

The tech stack was modern (Next.js, etc.), and some projects had potential. Remote flexibility, but that quickly became a negative due to unreasonable availability expectations.

Cons

Red Flag: The company has a suspicious number of 5-star reviews on Glassdoor — many posted in clustered timeframes, not reflecting reality. Zero Structure: There were no clear definitions of tasks, no documentation, and no project management system. Tasks were shared verbally or in scattered Google Docs. Unrealistic Expectations: I was frequently assigned full sprint-level work with same-day deadlines—often dropped on me in the afternoon. Poor Planning: The CTO and CEO imposed arbitrary deadlines that would change rapidly. Sprint planning was non-existent. Toxic Culture: Leadership constantly joked about AI replacing developers and bragged about how little they saw their families because of work. It created a demoralizing environment. Workload was intense, and there was an unspoken expectation to always be online Company seems to prefer hiring overseas devs due to their willingness to work longer and stay available, which felt exploitative at times Lack of Support: I was expected to figure everything out myself. During onboarding, I received no codebase overview, and important access was withheld. When I asked questions, I was often met with attitude from senior developers. No Feedback Loop: Despite asking repeatedly for feedback, I was given none. Tasks would go unreviewed until the deadline, then criticized—sometimes for things implemented based on senior dev decisions. Role Misalignment: Although I was hired as a full stack dev, I was relegated to repetitive, unreviewed DocuSign contract work. More impactful work was either poorly planned or given to others. Overwork Without Recognition: I covered for both senior devs during a major release without acknowledgment. No matter how much I delivered, my contributions were dismissed. Work-Life Balance Was a Joke: I was denied time off on national holidays for tasks that weren’t even urgent. Expectations to be available 24/7 were constant, despite not receiving tasks during that time. Mental Health Impact: The stress, lack of communication, and absence of feedback led to burnout.

Explore other reviews about Monalee

5.0
Jan 24, 2025
Recommend
CEO approval
Business outlook

Pros

Great Salary, Commission structure and Bonus. 10+ Leads per day! Great Morale. Opportunities for advancement in management. Room for growth.

Cons

Being a start up it has its challenges. Install time lines can take long but timelines are shortening. No retirement packages however, they do offer stock options.

5.0
Oct 2, 2024
Recommend
CEO approval
Business outlook

Pros

Working here has been an incredible experience. The executive leadership team is highly involved, always willing to roll up their sleeves and get into the trenches alongside us. They’re extremely responsive to feedback and constantly open to implementing changes or new technologies to improve processes and enhance the customer & and employee experience. Innovation is at the core of what we do, and leadership fully supports personal growth and development. Every teammate is exceptionally helpful—there's a strong culture of collaboration, and everyone is willing to pitch in and assist whenever needed. We celebrate our wins together as one cohesive unit, fostering a strong sense of team accomplishment. Equally important, we aren’t afraid to dive deep into our losses, analyzing what went wrong and how we can improve moving forward. This balance between celebrating success and learning from challenges is what truly drives our growth and continuous improvement.

Cons

We are a highly organized and mindful startup. We work hard, and the hours can be long. Our teams are small and lean, and the volume of work is high. While some may view this as a challenge, I see it as an opportunity. The fast pace and high demands have helped me grow into a stronger leader, teaching me invaluable problem-solving skills and resourcefulness that I might not have gained in a more established company.

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Monalee Response
1y
We appreciate your feedback and appreciate having you on the team!
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