Revolving door. - Anonymous employee XPND Interactive Employee Review

Thank you for your forthright comments and insight regarding the time you spent at EYB. While we discovered these reviews some time ago, I wanted to ensure that we spent the proper amount of time considering each of the points you made. As a team, we have weighed each of them on their merit, analyzed the mistakes we have been responsible for, examined our failures, and addressed possible solutions as appropriate. I feel that, as an organization overall – and as a leader myself – we have all made significant strides. After a period of reflection, I wanted to share my perspective. On this, we agree: the most essential part of a company is its people. And you’re absolutely right: we certainly saw more than our fair share of turnover around the time you left us. At that time, we took stock of the issues we were seeing and gave careful thought as to their cause(s). Unsurprisingly, it all came down to people. We were not ensuring that prospective employees had attitudes that aligned with our vision for the company. We tried to groom, train, and support some employees who were never truly the right fit. That’s not on them. They (and you) will find a better fit elsewhere. But that lack of leadership – that inability to immediately recognize the importance of cultural fit – resulted in us failing our other employees and the integrity of our organization. That is on us. It is on me. Those mistakes really damaged the entire effort and mission of EYB. They put in place hurdles that I would have preferred to avoid. We have learned some hard lessons from that experience. I am troubled by your implication that we have ever had an environment that included retaliation towards anyone, let alone employees. I am actually imploring you to contact me directly – yes, even anonymously – to elaborate on any instances you witnessed of this kind of behavior. It’s not something we tolerate, much less condone. Although it was just one word in your review, it really gave me pause. I don’t want you to think that it was missed. It’s a troubling allusion, one which I’d like to understand better. - With all this said, it’s deeply satisfying to know that our current team does not face the same challenges you faced during your time with us. They have developed secure longevity in their positions, continue to grow and develop their skills, and show an admirable care and commitment to our clients. That is key. As much as I love what we do and find it personally rewarding, I find that they can recharge me. It is a refreshing and intensely fulfilling experience for me to have a team like this. I appreciate the time I spend with them and the exceptional work that they do, day in and day out. As part of my commitment to them and the future of EYB, we have greatly minimized the introductory period we allot to determine whether a new employee is a proper fit. While we will absolutely do our best to select the best possible candidates and provide them with the appropriate tools and support, we will no longer attempt to “force” or inspire a cultural, skillset, or attitude fit where one is unlikely to develop. We want talented and like-minded individuals, and have seen enough in our history to recognize that our organization (and our other employees) will suffer when there isn’t a proper connection of those values. I wish you the best of luck as you move forward in your career elsewhere. Jimmy Clarke CEO