The wren way isn't the way anymore - Software Developer Wren Kitchens Employee Review

1.0
Jul 3, 2023
Recommend
CEO approval
Business outlook

Pros

• You will meet some like minded techy people. • Some cool technologies to work with. • Great for new Devs who need experience and training but once the initial stages are done, leave as soon as possible.

Cons

• Under paid developers, they claim it's web development but in reality it's a custom engine development. • Poor senior management, Most of the management above TDM don't seems to know what is happening within the Dev teams or the company itself. • Asking about wages is very taboo and can feel like career suicide sometimes. • Devs are not treated with any respect from senior management, Senior BAs and operations management team. • No support after the first couple of months. • Knowledge sharing about the codebase is none existent and when asking about certain parts of the code base you will most likely be ignored or told they can't be bothered to explain. • It seems to be a bi-annual thing of large numbers of developers leaving due to the poor paid and treatment. • Very old processes and thinking from upper management. • Getting new hardware is extremely hard even when current hardware struggles with the code base and all other required applications needed for development. • No progression within the company whatsoever. You be shown a progression plan but not be able to access it nor will it be reviewed during the year. • The company when I started was great, plenty to love and enjoy. Within the last couple of years this is no longer. The main reason seems to be the new operations teams, especially focusing heavily on KPIs when the stats don't show the full pictures of the Dev teams. As well as this when the previous head of IT was forced out and replaced the whole IT department got changed for the worst and everything went downhill quickly. • You will be asked to take on a lot more responsibilities (Which ideally should be a job within itself) that will impact your work and management of your time whilst still being underpaid. • Currently morale is very low within the teams. • You will be told you're easily replaceable. • You will be put on an improvement plan for no reason due to the operation management team failing to do their as described when first formed. • Confidentiality is none existinent within the company as everything said during confidential meetings will be discussed with almost the only teams behind your back. • Very toxic work culture. • Very thing you do is tracked and monitored. Time logging has to accurate to the minute or you will be put on a performance plan for being a minute under or over. • Any input about new technologies, new approaches to the development or design will be ignored and not encouraging but upper management due to being seen as having no monetary gain.

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Wren Kitchens Response
2y
Thank you for taking the time to share your feedback about your experience working at Wren Kitchens. We appreciate hearing from our employees, even when the feedback is challenging. At Wren Kitchens, we strive to create a collaborative and supportive environment for our employees, including our development teams. We value the opportunity to work with talented individuals like yourself and understand the importance of fair compensation and recognition for their contributions. We understand the significance of effective management within our organisation. We encourage our management team to maintain open lines of communication with their respective teams, fostering a culture of transparency and trust. We also believe in providing opportunities for growth and development. We are committed to providing a clear path for advancement and regularly reviewing these plans to support our employees' professional growth. We encourage you to reach out to us at letstalk@wrenkitchens.com to provide more specific details or suggestions on how we can improve the work culture within our organisation. Thank you, Wren Kitchens

Explore other reviews about Wren Kitchens

5.0
Mar 12, 2026
Recommend
CEO approval
Business outlook

Pros

I’ve been with Wren Kitchens for about a year now, and my experience has been nothing but positive. The company continues to grow and expand, which creates great opportunities to learn new things and develop professionally. The environment is very collaborative and supportive. There’s a great balance of autonomy in your role while still having the support of teammates and management when needed. My manager has been especially great at providing coaching, guidance, and encouragement that has helped me continue to grow in my role. The benefits are also very competitive, and I really appreciate that there are multiple options available so you can choose the plans that best suit your lifestyle and needs. The PTO offering is competitive as well, which makes it easier to maintain a healthy work-life balance. Overall, it’s been a rewarding experience working for a company that values development, teamwork, and continued growth.

Cons

None that I can think of!

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Wren Kitchens Response
3mo
Hello, thank you for taking the time to leave such a thorough and thoughtful review of your experience with Wren! It's so great to hear that your time with the company has been so positive and that you've found the environment supportive and full of opportunities to grow. We're also pleased to hear that the benefits and PTO offerings have helped to support a healthy work-life balance. It's especially encouraging to hear that the support and coaching from your management team have helped you develop in your role. Thank you again for your feedback and for being part of the Wren team, we wish you success in your role!
4.0
Jan 20, 2026
Recommend
CEO approval
Business outlook

Pros

Strong opportunity to learn and retain role-specific knowledge. Hands on experience with Salesforce (CRM). Encouraged to troubleshoot and resolve issues independently without over reliance on support. Coworkers are consistently helpful and collaborative within departments. Team culture is supportive and driven to help each other succeed. Customer service processes within the call center are generally well structured. Company provides the necessary tools and supplies to do the job.

Cons

Role requires constant attention to detail, which can be mentally taxing. In some cases, answers for client inquiries require escalation, delaying resolution. Cross department communication and processes outside of the call center can be unclear or inconsistent. Certain policies add extra steps that slow down issue resolution for customers. Pay is acceptable but could be more competitive for the level of responsibility. Fixed schedule (9:00–5:30) offers limited flexibility.

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Wren Kitchens Response
5mo
Hello, thank you for taking the time to share such a comprehensive and thoughtful review of your experience with us. It really helps us deeply understand how our teams feel and understand where improvements may need to be considered. We're really pleased to hear that you've found the team culture supportive, the training and tools effective and that you've had the opportunity to build strong role-specific knowledge and experience. We also appreciate your honest and constructive feedback regarding workload, attention to detail, escalation processes, cross-department communication, flexibility, and compensation. These are important considerations, and insights like yours help inform ongoing discussions around how we can streamline processes, improve clarity between teams, and continue to support our frontline colleagues. If you have any further feedback, suggestions or would like to explain your experience in further detail please don't hesitate to contact us at LetsTalk@Wrenkitchens.com. Thank you again for your openness and engagement. We appreciate your contribution and are glad to have you as part of the Wren team.
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