Toxic and unprofessional work environment. Favoritism is common, leading to inconsistencies in management and decision-making.
Employees in non-exempt roles are often misclassified as salaried workers, which results in excessive unpaid overtime. This is misleadingly framed as a “benefit,” but in reality, employees often work significantly more hours than they would if paid hourly.
There is no structured HR department and no formal workplace training. Compliance with labor laws and workplace safety regulations is minimal, making this a liability risk. Safety policies are either nonexistent or ignored, with a lack of standard procedures for things like Lockout/Tagout. Acquiring proper PPE was often difficult, and in some cases, employees were discouraged or even ridiculed for requesting it.
The workplace culture fosters hostility, with frequent unprofessional behavior, including inappropriate comments about female colleagues. Employee relations often escalate into harassment or even threats.
PTO is minimal, with sick time and vacation time unfairly combined into a single pool. There is a desperate need for a comprehensive employment contract and a detailed employee handbook.