Get everything in writing - Anonymous employee WithumSmith + Brown Employee Review

Constant Breakdowns in Communication: Throughout my time at this company, there were persistent issues with communication from start to finish. When I initially joined it was as a remote employee, I later found myself being asked to come into the office every week, which posed difficulties given my family and health concerns that were never considered by management. In addition, it is worth noting that despite being asked to go into the office regularly I did not work on any of the same clients as those in that particular office. Clear communication on remote work expectations is crucial. Unfulfilled Promises: Several promises made during the interview and hiring process were never fulfilled, including the type of work, the availability of necessary resources and bonus eligibility. Ensuring that expectations set during the hiring phase align with the actual job is essential for transparency and employee satisfaction. Unexpected On-Call Expectations: One surprising aspect of the job was the requirement to have email on our phones, effectively creating an always on-call environment. This should have been communicated prior to hiring, and the company should consider covering the costs of upgrading phones to meet their standards to avoid unexpected expenses for employees. They did provide a $25 reimbursement per check which would take 1-2 years to actually get reimbursed. Inconsistent Work Assignments: Management's approach to assigning work was inconsistent. On one day, they would emphasize that they are solely responsible for task allocation, but the next day, they expected employees to actively seek out more work. To add to this if you didn’t hit the arbitrary billable hours, you would be reprimanded even though they were aware of how many hours you were scheduled for several weeks in advance. Clear and consistent guidelines are necessary to avoid confusion and frustration among employees. Lack of Clarity and Training: The company lacked adequate training, leaving employees to navigate processes and tools on their own. When questions were asked I would either be ignored or sent in an endless circle of asking the next person in the chain. It's important to provide comprehensive training to ensure that employees are equipped to perform their tasks effectively. Additionally, there should be clear expectations regarding mentorship and coaching roles. Many responses on here mention peer mentors and carer coaches however, the peer mentor I was assigned had less than 1 year experience and the carer coach was dismissive of all issues brought to him. Communication Methods and Documentation: Communication primarily occurred through a messaging system and calls, rather than emails. Certain managers even refused to respond to staff emails, forcing us to rely on phone calls. This method of communication made it difficult to reference past conversations, leading to misunderstandings and allowing management to create false narratives to the detriment of employees.