Looks Promising on Paper — A Nightmare in Reality - Product Owner Finkraft Employee Review

I hardly know where to begin. My experience at this organization was nothing short of disillusioning. What appears to be a legitimate company is, in truth, a tightly held family-run operation masquerading as a professional enterprise. Employees here are not treated as professionals but rather as overqualified, underappreciated laborers, expected to operate beyond standard work hours in the name of “productivity.” My journey began with an interview conducted solely by the co-founder, who didn’t pose a single technical question. Among the few candidates interviewed, I was the only one who joined, driven by hope, ambition, and a belief that I could grow with a rising company. Unfortunately, that hope quickly eroded. On my very first day, without any onboarding or knowledge transfer, I was given an assignment at noon with a 4 PM deadline. The lack of structure was shocking. One of my former colleagues told me that the founder once asked him to complete a product assignment without compensation or a clear understanding of the product itself unprofessional and unethical. No laptops were provided to employees. Instead, we were expected to use personal devices, and at one point, were even asked to contribute toward purchasing our work equipment. Each day was unpredictable, filled with unproductive drama and hostile behavior. Founders frequently shouted at team members without allowing them to explain their perspectives. Tensions escalated to the point that police once had to intervene at the office. Employees were treated with overt disrespect, and any expression of concern was dismissed or met with retaliation. Positive reviews of this company are misleading at best and coerced at worst. I witnessed people being pressured to write favorable testimonials. One of the more ridiculous claims in a review was that only “lazy” individuals post negative feedback. In reality, it’s the more experienced professionals who are unwilling to tolerate such a toxic environment. The company fails even in its basic responsibilities—final settlements (FnF) were denied to employees who left mid-month. Those who received their pay and exited promptly were, in my opinion, the wisest. Meetings were chaotic. What should have been strategic discussions often devolved into full-blown arguments. PIPs were handed out arbitrarily, without cause or guidance. At one point, a senior employee took photos of a colleague’s laptop screen while they were away from their desk, just to report their activity. The founders regularly called each other during meetings, only to mute themselves and silently monitor discussions instead of engaging transparently or addressing concerns directly. This behavior reflected a deep lack of trust and professionalism. In one particularly demeaning incident, the co-founder threw an employee’s footwear outside simply because it wasn’t placed correctly on the shoe rack. The employee had to commute home barefoot, a humiliating act that underscores the company’s disregard for basic human respect. The hypocrisy within leadership is astounding. While the founders routinely strolled into the office post 12 PM, employees were expected to clock in sharply at 9:30 AM—and never leave by the scheduled end time of 6:30 PM. Meetings were constantly delayed, and new tasks were routinely assigned in the late evening, prolonging the workday without consideration for personal time. This isn't a workplace, it’s a system built to exploit educated professionals under the guise of opportunity. It fosters mental stress, demolishes morale, and leaves behind disenchanted, burned-out individuals. If your well-being, dignity, and career growth matter to you, I strongly urge you to reconsider joining this organization.