Pros
4-day week is a big plus. Work with some really good people, and the projects are actually interesting.
Cons
The company promotes itself as employee-owned, but in reality decision-making is still heavily influenced by hierarchy. Junior team members see concerns ignored. Favouritism still exists, especially for those friendly with certain board members. Processes and rules are disregarded because they know they'll get away with it. PDPs feel largely meaningless, as progression often appears to be decided in advance with little opportunity to influence outcomes, regardless of performance. While the business talks about being open and honest, in practice questions around pay, progression, or decision-making are often shut down and labelled as non-negotiable, with an undertone of - if you don't like it leave. Pay rises aren't distributed fairly. Some managers are able to secure stronger increases for their reports, while others receive minimal recognition despite significant contribution. People talk about their increases, and it's obvious this happens. Promotions are often based on popularity too. There is an inconsistent approach to how staff are treated, which goes against the idea of a fair and transparent workplace.