Big company aspirations, small company mindset - Manager Sage Employee Review

2.0
23 Mar 2026
Recommend
CEO approval
Business outlook

Pros

Some really great co-workers Competitive benefits

Cons

Some really terrible leadership Regressive return to office practices (seemingly not applied to Snr Leaders) Huge bet on the AI hype train & all the productivity gain pressure & expectations Regular redundancies Very little progression opportunities Nearly 5 years in, as an acquisition, rather than a hire, I feel Sage is getting worse. It's quite cult-like with no real upwards feedback loops & an intolerance of independent thinking. A lot of politics and cliques to navigate, that make progress slow for the majority (there's a few "special" teams of course). Recently it's become clear that there's only 2 centres of gravity in the UK, London & Newcastle, so bad luck if you're working in another office. Also, a huge crack down on attending the office, with increasingly draconian policies on lack of attendance. Depending on your manager, you could be in for a hard time (no pay rise, no bonus, dismissal) if you don't comply.

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Sage Response
2mo
Thank you for taking the time to share such a detailed and candid review. We appreciate the honesty of your feedback, and your comments have been noted and will be shared internally for thoughtful and thorough review. Fairness, transparency, and consistency underpin our recruitment and progression practices at Sage. Progression is based on merit, and while building a strong professional network can support visibility of skills and experience, internal moves must be earned through capability, performance, and alignment with role requirements. We’re also committed to providing a consistent experience across our office locations. Your feedback regarding differences between hubs is important, and we’d encourage you to share any specific concerns with our Places team so they can be reviewed and addressed appropriately. Decisions around restructuring are never taken lightly. We recognise the impact these changes can have on colleagues, but they are made to ensure we remain aligned with our strategic priorities and continue to meet our commitments to customers, colleagues, and other stakeholders. Regarding AI, our intention is for it to be a supportive tool—one that enhances productivity, accelerates outcomes, and enables innovation, rather than replacing meaningful work. We understand that change can feel challenging, particularly when it happens at pace, and we’re committed to supporting colleagues through periods of transition with transparency and care. We also recognise the importance of open feedback loops and psychological safety, especially during transformation. If you’d like to discuss any of the points you’ve raised in more depth, we encourage you to reach out to our Colleague Relations team for a confidential conversation. Thank you again for speaking openly. Feedback like this plays an important role in helping us reflect, learn, and continue to improve.

Explore other reviews about Sage

5.0
5 Jun 2026
Recommend
CEO approval
Business outlook

Pros

They will work with you and teach you everything you need to know and help you as long as you help yourself and meet kpi but they help you meet it

Cons

No cons to add at this time

3.0
15 Apr 2026
Recommend
CEO approval
Business outlook

Pros

-Pay’s decent -Benefits are solid -The Sage Foundation feels like proper philanthropy -Some genuinely nice people -If you’re happy treating work as just a payslip and don’t mind things being a bit dull, Sage is actually quite a comfortable place to be. That stability is a real perk

Cons

-Far too many layers of middle management and general bureaucracy -The Ai push is getting a bit daft -Not especially innovative, so the work can feel quite uninspiring. I’m grateful to be employed, but if you’re after something more interesting, Sage will probably disappoint. That said, some people prefer it that way, fair enough -The office / hybrid requirements feel a bit pointless -Sage doesn’t tend to do layoffs, which is good, but it does mean there are quite a few people where you’re not entirely sure what they do. A lot of meetings, essentially. Even the positives come with trade-offs

4
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Sage Response
1mo
Thank you for taking the time to share your thoughtful and balanced review. We’re pleased to hear that you value your compensation and benefits, as well as the work our Foundation do, among the areas you’ve highlighted. We also recognise the points you’ve raised around bureaucracy, innovation, and the pace and focus of change. Different people are motivated by different things at work, and it’s helpful to hear honest perspectives on how our structure, processes, and priorities can impact day‑to‑day experience and engagement. Feedback like yours helps inform ongoing conversations as we continue to evolve our ways of working, use technology more meaningfully, and improve the products and experiences we create for our customers. If you’re open to sharing further insight, we encourage you to do so through our Always Listening survey. Thank you again for your openness and for being part of Sage.
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