Stock option grants are broken - Software Engineer Wise Employee Review

3.0
Nov 15, 2022
Recommend
CEO approval
Business outlook

Pros

- A mission that matters - Opportunity to make an impact - Flexible hours - Can work from home - Good work-life balance - Fun colleagues - 5 weeks of paid time off (including the "me" days) - 16 weeks of maternity and paternity leave - Annual company party in June in Estonia (Summer Days)

Cons

- You might not get the stock options you've been promised. The stock option process is that your manager has 10 days at the beginning of the quarter to start the stock option grant process and get it approved by specific people. If anyone doesn't approve it for any reason (sick, off, forgot), you don't get your stock grant and need to wait for the next quarter. The number of the stock options in your grant depends on the stock price of the previous quarter. The stock price has doubled in the past 3 months, so employees who didn't get their stock options grant approved in time last month will get half the number of the stock options they were promised, in addition to not receiving stock options this quarter. Because of this, a fair number of people lost dozens of thousands of dollars. When this happens, no one will let you know that you're not getting your stock options. If you ask, the company will let you know that this is the company policy and that they have planned to change the way stock option grants work. It's been one year that the stock option grants are supposed to change in 2 quarters. It's still supposed to change in 2 quarters. - Each team gets the same budget for the pay increases (percentage-wise) and the team impact and performance doesn't matter. - A lot of smart people left. There are more and more employees who don't care about making an impact. - There are more and more dumb company policies and it's getting harder to challenge them but most people don't care. It's a bit like what you would see in a bank.

Explore other reviews about Wise

5.0
Mar 12, 2026
Recommend
CEO approval
Business outlook

Pros

flexible review pay lots of feedback

Cons

repetitive long hours can be frustrating no sponsorship for visa

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Wise Response
2mo
Thank you for taking the time to write a review. We’re pleased to hear that you appreciate the flexibility, benefits and culture. We hope you continue enjoying your experience at Wise.
3.0
Feb 25, 2026
Recommend
CEO approval
Business outlook

Pros

Mission-Driven Work: Wise’s mission of "money without borders" aligned perfectly with my personal values. I was genuinely excited to go to work every day, tackle challenges, and track our progress toward that goal. Exceptional Peer Group: The hiring bar is high; you’ll work with smart, diverse, and genuinely interesting people from all backgrounds. Cutting-Edge Product: Working on the Wise Platform is a great technical experience. As an Implementation Manager, you get excellent visibility and access to the Product and Engineering teams. Top-Tier Documentation: Internal enablement and documentation are highly organized, making it easy to self-serve and find answers quickly.

Cons

Lack of Transparency in Management: I received no negative feedback during my probation period, only to be placed on a PIP two weeks after it ended. The feedback loop is non-existent; instead of real-time coaching, minor oversights are "saved up" to justify disciplinary action. Poor Feedback Quality: The PIP I received felt AI-generated, filled with corporate jargon and lacking substantive examples of performance failure. It felt like a formality rather than a genuine attempt at development. Toxic Management Culture: There is a palpable sense of micromanagement and "back-stabbing" within certain leadership circles. The environment shifted from collaborative to manipulative, with a noticeable lack of directness and honesty. Growth Hurdles: The Sales team appears to be struggling to close deals, which impacts the overall momentum of the department.

8
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Wise Response
2mo
Thank you for taking the time to write a review. You raised a number of concerns and I hope you were able to discuss these before you left. If you’d be comfortable to share more details, we’d really appreciate it. Please drop us an email at employerbrand@wise.com.
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