Disappointing Middle Management and Toxic Team Culture
Pros
• I really liked the flexibility and work anywhere program.
Cons
• Middle management plays favorites, creating inequity in opportunities • Expectations are unclear and constantly shifting • Culture feels performative—more about appearances than authenticity or safety • Feedback isn’t always welcomed unless it fits the narrative • I was explicitly discouraged from applying to internal roles, which was demoralizing and limiting • When I left, benefits were changing ie unlimited PTO and week of rest • Had 3 different managers in 2 years, leading to inconsistent feedback, shifting priorities, and lack of long-term support. • A former manager told me I was tracking well for a strong performance review, only to later put me on a PIP without clear warning—felt blindsided and misled. • Performance review process felt arbitrary and inequitable: I completed 7 out of 9 quarterly goals and received no recognition, while a coworker who completed none still received praise and rewards • I felt imposter syndrome the entire time—not because of my ability, but because of how the system made me feel invisible and undervalued. I’ve mentioned to my manager and no actions were taken to assist.
