They say a picture is worth a thousand words, so just go look at thisisfine.jpg
Employee morale has been collapsing for over a year. Those responsible are not held accountable. Leadership seems insulated and tone-deaf, operating within a self-reinforcing echo chamber.
The challenge of poor morale does not seem to be of much concern to those at the top, who view it as a phase all companies go through. They are satisfied that we benchmark well against others in the notoriously toxic tech industry. The response has been performative - workshops on feedback rather than actually doing anything about the feedback already received.
Advancement depends less on performance than on personal favor. Those in the CEO’s inner circle rise quickly, those outside it stall regardless of merit. Decisions are made on the basis of relationships and feelings more often than the objective needs of the business and merits of those involved.
Resources are funneled toward impressive-sounding new hires in upper management, while existing employees are left to stagnate. Very little upward mobility. Next to no examples of development from within.
The prevailing attitude from leadership is clear: you need us more than we need you. Working here is treated as a privilege, and anyone unhappy is encouraged to leave. This reinforces the culture of keeping mouths shut.
Persistent business challenges are left unaddressed until they escalate into crisis. Difficult but necessary decisions are postponed and then executed poorly, compounding the damage. A widespread reluctance to engage in direct or uncomfortable conversations results in weak management and ineffective practices that persist far too long. When corrective action finally occurs, outcomes tend to be worse because those involved were never given clear feedback about their performance. This pattern extends from top to bottom.
The saying goes that pride cometh before the fall. There has been no shortage of pride, even arrogance, here. For most of the company's history it was deserved. But there's little to be proud of in how this company has been treating the people that helped make it great.
Years of bad decisions are finally catching up. Tough times lie ahead. It's not clear the company is ready for them.
