ALPLA Reviews

I wasn’t planning to write a review because I wanted to move on from this chapter and the stress it caused me. However, I feel it’s important to speak up so that no one else has to go through a similar experience without proper support. Sharing this is my way of helping protect others from what I went through, especially since this seemed to be a recurring pattern. Looking back, there were signs from my very first day, but I may have overlooked them or chosen not to acknowledge them at the time. Frequent negative conversations about other employees contributed to a tense and uncomfortable atmosphere. It was difficult, because you want to trust your management team, and when you hear negative comments about almost everyone around you, it inevitably shapes your perception. In hindsight, I regret allowing that to influence me. By the time I reached my final days with the company, the sense of isolation and fear that had developed felt deeply unhealthy and highlighted how wrong the environment had become for me. Micromanagement is a significant issue within the company. In my experience, management closely monitored even the smallest details, including fonts, colour schemes, and specific working methods. Over time, it felt less like guidance and more like an ingrained part of the culture. It even reached the point where I needed permission before responding to internal emails, which reinforced the sense of excessive control. As time went on, I realised that the negative comments, swearing, and tense atmosphere were affecting both my well-being and the overall work environment. I chose not to participate in this behaviour, but I felt let down not only by my manager, but also by those who allowed it to continue, as I had hoped to work in a safe and respectful workplace. The lack of effective communication from management became very apparent. Verbal interactions were often confrontational, and written communications could feel aggressive and intimidating, which created ongoing stress. Before joining ALPLA, I didn’t fully appreciate the value of a positive team and healthy work environment over salary alone. My time there made me realise how critical this is. While it was a difficult experience, it also served as an important lesson. I want to stress that the environment I encountered is not normal and is not acceptable, so prospective employees should be cautious and carefully consider whether this role is the right fit. I am grateful to my colleagues who showed me what a respectful and supportive workplace should look like, because the environment at ALPLA was far from it. The experience pushed me to leave as quickly as possible, and I would strongly caution anyone against joining under similar circumstances. The culture was toxic enough that even now, I sometimes wake from bad dreams about being back there a stark reminder of how damaging a poor work environment can be.

Warm working environment in summer