My Annus Horribillis In Rawdon - Anonymous employee EMIS Group Employee Review

1.0
14 Jul 2017
Anonymous employee
Recommend
CEO approval
Business outlook

Pros

I got paid every month.

Cons

A lack of industry standard tools and development practices. An ageing code base and out of date technologies. A ‘roll your own’ culture exists. Want to use a industry standard ORM mapping tool, Entity Framework, nHibernate? No need when you can use a flawed in house implementation, Want to use a industry standard IOC container, such as windsor, ninject etc? No, guess what? They have their own, again, flawed version of one. Want to use an industry standard static analysis tool on your code? No, guess what? You’ve guessed it, they have developed their own flawed version. Seeing the pattern? This is happening because of one person responsible for single-handedly producing these in house abominations is empire building and stifling any chance of growth or improvement with the quality of the code or product. Architects and team leaders who have risen from the ranks of junior support staff, to tester, to developer and then to team leaders or architects within a stupidly short space of time. This has resulted in senior members of staff who know nothing other than the “EMIS way” of doing things and lack the experience and exposure to good industry practice and architecture. These people form cliques and protect each others positions though underhand and questionable practices. When raised to management, these clandestine practices were simple swept under the carpet or ignored. I quickly realised, like others before and after me, it was a case of tow this lad’s line in deviant design or leave. Staying would have resulted in constant exposure to bad design and practice and a deterioration in my mental health, quite ironic when working for a healthcare solutions company. Seriously, don’t work for this company, unless you’re about to be repossessed or lose everything you have. Even then, think twice about it, you deserve better Mind you, you’d be lucky to be offered a job as most of the work is now being outsourced to India. Not quite sure that will improve quality of the product.

Explore other reviews about EMIS Group

1.0
13 Apr 2026
Recommend
CEO approval
Business outlook

Pros

The frontline support teams are dedicated, hardworking, and genuinely committed to supporting GP practices. Many colleagues consistently go above and beyond despite difficult working conditions, and there is a strong sense of teamwork among frontline staff.

Cons

As a former EMIS employee now working within Optum, I have been increasingly disheartened by how the organisation appears to be operating. From Director level through Heads of Operational Support to Team Leads, there seems to be a significant gap in leadership capability and accountability. The overall culture often feels unhealthy, with many staff feeling that customer needs do not always receive the priority they deserve. Frontline support teams work extremely hard to support GP practices, but their efforts are frequently hindered by outdated systems, slow innovation, and operational processes that feel inefficient. This creates frustration for staff and makes it harder to deliver the level of service that GP practices expect. Mental health and staff wellbeing are often referenced in communications, but many employees feel that meaningful support is lacking in practice. There is a perception among some staff that concerns about bullying, harassment, or inappropriate behaviour are not always addressed as thoroughly or transparently as they should be. This contributes to an environment where staff morale can suffer. Leadership visibility is limited, and many staff report feeling disconnected from senior management. Heads of Operational Support are sometimes perceived as lacking the management presence or engagement needed to support teams effectively. When concerns are raised, employees may feel dismissed or told that certain matters fall outside their remit, which discourages open dialogue and transparency. There are also concerns among staff regarding operational governance and oversight. Some employees feel that processes around change management and incident handling are inconsistent, and that lessons learned from operational failures are not always communicated clearly. This can create uncertainty and reduce confidence in internal processes. More broadly, there is a perception that financial performance is heavily prioritised, sometimes at the expense of service quality or staff wellbeing. Some staff feel uncomfortable with decisions that appear to place commercial considerations ahead of the needs of GP practices and the wider NHS. At a time when primary care services are under immense strain, it is disheartening to feel that the organisation does not always demonstrate the level of transparency, accountability, and responsibility that many staff believe is necessary when supporting NHS services. Overall, the environment has become increasingly challenging, with many staff feeling demoralised, undervalued, and unsupported. While frontline teams continue to work tirelessly to support GP practices, the culture created by leadership decisions is widely perceived as contributing to stress, frustration, and declining morale.

1
2.0
16 Mar 2026
Recommend
CEO approval
Business outlook

Pros

Good team, hybrid working with 2 days a week in the office and 3 days at home. Decent benefits as they are in the health tech industry

Cons

Bad management. Slow progression Toxic work culture. People being passive aggressive and not telling problems to your face

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