It was good for a while. Then it got worse and worse. - Applications Specialist Protolabs Employee Review

2.0
Jan 19, 2026
Recommend
CEO approval
Business outlook

Pros

Great pay. The team I was on was great. (miss you guys) Working form home was perfect while it lasted.

Cons

Just really disappointing over the last two years. Management made terrible unnecessary changes. Forcing us back in the office was the start of the negative trend. For non-reasons like "culture" and "cohesion". When I inquired about going to other department meetings to get detailed information from huddles I was met with a question as to why? I responded with: "To get detailed information, meet the people I work with, build culture, etc". I never got a response to this... So we were effectively forced back in the office to sit, work, and have zero in-person meetings or collaborations with other teams. Personally I don't see how that improved "culture" and "cohesion"... No-one is happy about this. Team morale was at an all-time low last I was there. We were being treated really poorly by management at the end of 2025. We referred to work as "middle school". Wondering when the next micro-manager rules would be forced on us next. Or who would be written-up first for "being on their phone too long"... Applied to several other internal positions with no luck. Despite Sales saying we've hit record high numbers more people have been let go after I was. The Google AI overview says it's from restructuring. The job was extremely strict on mistakes. It was like walking a tight-rope in fear everyday. The main reason for this is the disciplinary system was not updated with 2.0. If you like management breathing down your neck everyday, no freedoms or culture, and praying you didn't make any mistakes then this is the job for you.

Explore other reviews about Protolabs

5.0
May 5, 2026
Recommend
CEO approval
Business outlook

Pros

Great culture and feel. Best job in my career so far

Cons

The pay could be a bit more competitive

1.0
Mar 31, 2026
Anonymous employee
Recommend
CEO approval
Business outlook

Pros

Used to be great company with great culture and flexibility

Cons

New CEO Surresh has come in and completely destroyed the company culture that made Protolabs a great place to work at and was often awarded as such. Every meeting is coated in anxiety and the impending doom of layoffs despite record profits. In January a RTO was announced and there has been no flexibility and a straight up refusal to provide ADA accommodations to disabled employees by the HR department. They have taken away the flexibility that they used to provide to working parents that allowed them to work in office after/before their kids go to school despite not paying a living wage that would allow them to afford additional childcare. They have also chosen to make it even more difficult for employees to even receive a meets standards on their reviews as a cruel attempt to ensure they don’t have to give reasonable raises (which are rarely above 3% as is and they don’t provide market adjustments.) It’s unrecognizable from the company it used to be. They underpay, overwork, and expect the world of their employees while refusing to treat them with respect.

6
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