A company that is the antithesis of their mission and vision statement - Anonymous employee WORK180 Employee Review

1.0
Aug 30, 2020
Anonymous employee
Recommend
CEO approval
Business outlook

Pros

A stringent hiring practise (which involves a 4-stage process closing out with final interview with the CEOs who meet and approve every hire) translated to a team of high calibre and high performing colleagues. The only positive thing to come of my time at WORK180 was the relationships I developed with my colleagues (and the support system they became).

Cons

The continuous gaslighting and bullying I endured (which escalated during covid lockdowns, when ironically, more and not less compassion would have been welcomed), was ultimately my reason for resigning. I would love to say this was a personal experience only I was subjected to, however, sadly most (if not all) ex-employees experienced similar. Others who have left negative reviews here are not “disgruntled staff” looking to sling arrows as the recent review would have you believe, but rather are ethical professionals who know their value and worth and could no longer tolerate being subjected to a lack of psychological safety, verbal abuse and discrimination and feel a moral obligation to forewarn prospective candidates what they can expect. The CEOs use the excuse of being a “start-up” (soon approaching its 6th year in operation) as justification for overworking employees and not implementing proper role design or supportive infrastructure. The heavy workload, combined with toxic behaviour of the CEOs, is what directly attributes to an attrition (staff turnover) rate of 90% in the past 12mths. To put this into perspective, a turnover of 25% would be considered high in a start-up. The CEOs lack strategic direction and a plan of how to adequately scale. Any request from employees to view a business/strategic plan to assist in developing and measuring departmental and individual success by were not provided in any detail. Work/life balance does not exist. As you can see from the CEO Gemma’s review on 30 Aug, the rhetoric is that everyone should work hard and long and if they don’t they are simply a “poor hire” who can’t manage their time or work productively.

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WORK180 Response
5y
The first point I’d like to address here is the accusation that I posted a review on the 30 Aug talking about poor hires. I do not condone that review point, and can imagine it may have been hurtful to read if believed it was perhaps aimed personally. The comment about a 90% turnover in the past 12 months is not factual. Our turnover has been 30% including involuntary and voluntary turnover (albeit this is still higher than we would like- the startup average is 25%). Regarding calling ourselves a startup, yes we have been in operation for close to 6 years however, for the first 2 years there were only 2 of us. Then when we raised capital in 2018, we grew very quickly and absolutely had growing pains in terms of not having the processes all worked through yet. This is what is meant when being referred to as a startup and we are very proud of the team for helping us define these processes as we go. For some, they thrive in a start-up environment. For others, it’s a big cultural shift and it’s not an environment for them. In my view, this is OK. We are all different, we can’t expect everyone to love or thrive in the rollercoaster that is start-up life. Here’s an article that outlines the differences between working in a startup vs corporate: https://talentspace.io/career-questions/startup-vs-established-company Our recent employee engagement survey (we use Culture Amp) shows a different narrative to what has been written above. In every area, we scored significantly higher than the Australian and UK averages. Examples include: > Work-life balance: 9% above the Australian average and 6% above the UK average > Feedback and recognition: 19% above the Australian average and 20% above the UK average > Leadership: 14% above average across both regions > Collaboration and Communication: 11% above average across both regions > Alignment and involvement: 6% above the UK average and 5% above the Australian average To add to this, WORK180 now operates on a 9 day fortnight on full pay. We believe that working hard during the week, means that people should be rewarded with a 3 day weekend twice a month. This was implemented in July 2020.

Explore other reviews about WORK180

5.0
Sep 17, 2024
Recommend
CEO approval
Business outlook

Pros

Innovative and Dynamic Environment: I am part of a team that’s pushing boundaries and exploring new ways to drive gender, equity, inclusivity and innovation. Flexible Work Arrangements: 9-day fortnights and being fully remote, means I have a great work-life balance and can work from anywhere. Daily Client Interaction: I am a people person so I love engaging with clients regularly. Supportive Team: There is an impressive onboarding process and continuous support from team members. A very inclusive work culture, I have felt integrated and valued from day one. Leadership: Working with an exceptional Chief of Staff and a CEO who is committed to improvement and open to suggestions. Transparency and Communication: Regular town halls and "ask anything" sessions demonstrate a commitment to open communication, ensuring that everyone is informed and can contribute. Focus on DEI: Being in the DEI space means my work contributes to creating fairer, more inclusive workplaces, which can be highly rewarding.

Cons

These are things that some people find challenging but where I thrive. It depends on who you are and what you are searching for. I LOVE that everyday is different in my role. I LOVE that I can be challenged on how to use resources in a growing team, it is what I have always been used to. It means that everyone has a great attitude to get it done! If you aren't used to working remotely that can be hard, but WORK180 does an amazing job of keeping us all connected.

3
5.0
Sep 9, 2024
Recommend
CEO approval
Business outlook

Pros

I have been working at WORK180 for two years and it’s been one of the best companies I have worked for. I have an incredibly supportive manager and fantastic talented teams where we use the latest methodology for continuous product development. The flexible working and trust I am given to get my job done I have never experienced anywhere else. Being a completely remote company allows me to have a great work-life balance that is respected and leadership also demonstrates work-life balance which I found is rare. Engagement surveys and monthly pulse check-ins are valuable and action is taken, as well I have a growth plan that I designed with my manager. There are a lot of opportunities to learn and grow. Another positive is I loved the task given during the interview process as it made me value the company more - especially as everyone goes through the some process making it a fair and unbiased process. It is rare to work for a company where everyone in the business is a high performer. I feel my ideas are asked for and valued by management regularly.

Cons

The DEI space is sometimes difficult and as a company trying to make a difference it's sometimes taxing on yourself and others, especially with trolls and hate online.

4
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