Notpla Reviews

Management: Fire-happy CEO’s make for no job stability. You could be thinking you’re doing really well on Monday and by the end of the week you’re told to pack your bags because they’ve decided they don’t like you, and then pretend to the rest of the team it was a mutual decision. The two co founders need to take a step back from wanting absolute power and allow room for the talented people they hire to actually have a say in how the job gets done. There could be potential if they just act as CEOs and not meddle in everyone’s work where they have no expertise, but I’m not confident it’ll happen before investors start realising there’s been no real progress for a few years and pull out. Management have been known to write positive reviews here, so take that as you will. Micro-management and belittling culture with no real direction. Those who dare to share an opinion in the best interests of the company that is taken badly due to it a. costing money to fix or b. Hurting the founders ego will be promptly removed from the company. Managers have been known to cut potentially dangerous corners to save costs. Pay: As close to minimum wage as they can get away with while dangling career progression and promotions just out of reach. Don’t be fooled by them having a great idea for the planet, they’re seen a potential to make a lot of cash on the backs of young and underpaid talent. Flexibility: Claims of flexible working are just not true. Well, they are for your first week and then they’ll slowly guilt you into unpaid overtime in uncomfortable conditions because it’s cheaper to rent an office that’s essentially a greenhouse in the summer and igloo in the winter than invest in the comfort of your employees. Sustainability: The cherry on the top, the company markets themselves as making plastic disappear while creating piles and piles of plastic waste.

The youth of the team is also a negative, as there is a lack of expertise in most areas of the business and retention of talent is an issue. Notpla tends to hire young people who will be able to adapt to what the company wants, rather than trust in experience. There are too many competing projects going on which leads to slow progression and competition for resources and attention from senior staff. The technical challenges faced by all of Notpla's projects are huge, and they need more resource on the technical side to make the products viable. The office is overcrowded with people, materials and equipment and is sometimes dangerous and quite dirty. Facilities for staff to eat lunch are not good and the building has no insulation so temperature regulation is poor outside the main office room. The lack of direction leads to many projects or collaborations which seem like a waste of time and often don't have a clear sustainability advantage. These projects tend to disrupt long term development work and affect morale. Working hours 9-6 is not competitive.