Pros
A couple of kind and professional colleagues who genuinely care and try to help (e.g., administrative staff, accounting team members) • HR is approachable and respectful • The two higher-level VPs (above department-level leadership) are professional, polite, and seem genuinely supportive • Opportunity to gain some exposure to multifamily real estate
Cons
• Manager of Administration lacks leadership skills and creates a toxic, sorority-style environment. It often felt like she was trying to relive her college sorority days—favoring certain staff, promoting cliques, and treating the workplace like a social hierarchy rather than a professional setting. If you’re not part of the inner circle, expect coldness, passive aggression, and dismissiveness. • Unpredictable and condescending communication: Feedback is rarely constructive. Attempts to ask questions or clarify are frequently met with irritation, interruptions, or comments like “let me finish.” Rather than a place to learn and grow, it feels like you’re constantly being monitored and corrected. • Micromanagement and insecurity: Leadership focuses more on control than development. Files are unnecessarily locked, and decisions are made based on status rather than merit. There’s little to no trust extended to employees not in the favored group. • Raises are minimal and demotivating: Annual raises are typically only 0.5% to 1%, regardless of effort, performance, or inflation. It feels more like a formality than actual recognition. • Feedback culture is non-existent: You’re told, “If there’s something you need to know, I’ll tell you,”—a phrase that even appears in official performance reviews. Evaluations offer little direction, and communication is often one-sided. • Unprofessional upper management: The VP of Administration holds a title with little meaningful leadership responsibility. One example: being tasked with picking up the owner’s personal mail—something that raises questions about how seriously the executive role is treated. • Blatant favoritism: A colleague once completely missed an entire workday after a night of reckless behavior and blamed it on a dead phone. Instead of consequences, they were welcomed back and eventually given more responsibility. Anyone else would have faced disciplinary action or termination. This kind of double standard seriously affects morale. • Lack of growth opportunities: Talented employees with industry experience and natural leadership abilities are often overlooked in favor of those who are simply part of the inner circle or willing to go along with poor management practices.