The work you are given, the team dynamics and the quality of the employees depend largely on which team you sit in. I came accross a large number of underqualified, low performing employees all accross the organization who are valued simply because they stay 9-5 at work and never challange anything, especially management. It feels like one can only progress if he/she is bringing coffees, being nice to the right people. Careeer progression is not based on merit.
In teams such as HR it is very important to demonstrate that you are doing work and to “volunteer” to work on projects even if the work adds no value whatsoever. It is all about quantity over quality. There is high employee turnover, no processes and no respect for deadlines. Some employees come at 8am and leave at 6-7pm to demonstrate they work late but spend half the day drafting baby shower lists and arranging furniture deliveries. The environment is quite toxic and not worth your time or energy for long.
The only good thing is that as it is such a mess one is given so much work that in two months one can do 1 year worth of work, still sticking to the 9-5 routine. This could be a very good opportunity to learn and grow and prepare for a better job in a better company.
It is a slightly slower pace in Finance where the team is quite established with good segregation of duties. There are a few employees who have been there forever and have good understanding of the business. Most employees seem to be respectful of management and seem to feel quite comfortable. However there is also a large number of employees who seem to have low engagement and satisfaction and a few “favourites” who are chosen as such not because of merit.
It feels like one is not trusted to do the work and is constantly micromanaged. Some managers are really not fit to do the work and have no idea how to manage people and are extremely immature.
It seems to be a big problem if one goes on maternity leave as there is no support unpon returning.
I also really disliked how comfortable people felt at work, i.e walking around without shoes, trying on and modeling clothes they have ordered online, drafting baby shower lists and ordering furniture during office hours. I find it extremely unprofessional especially having in mind that nobody really stays in the office beyond 6-6:30pm which leaves plenty of time to deal with personal stuff out of office hours.
It could be a good place for someone who is happy with balancing between doing the bare minimum and being nice to the “right people”. It is not a good place for someone who works hard and constantly strives to grow as such people are usually perceived as a threat and eliminated.
