GSG’s brand as an employer - Anonymous employee atolls Employee Review

4.0
7 Nov 2023
Anonymous employee
Recommend
CEO approval
Business outlook

Pros

I joined GSG during COVID times. I went to pick up my laptop and never went back again until 2 years later. Despite of this, I always felt connected and close to the team. Phonecalls with cameras made me feel super welcome and nice to see the faces of the people that I work with. Still to date, this is something that helps us all stay connected across the world. My direct Manager has supported me from day 1. Thanks to this I have always felt empowered and supported. She supports me in my right decisions, and more importantly in my mistakes. She has taught me to be more decisive and it is something that has helped me a lot as a profesional in such a fast changing group. Additionally, whenever I contact any other team (commercial, product, people and culture, MDs) everyone is ALWAYS available and happy to support me in anything that I might need. Overall, I really like the culture of GSG and wherever I go or whomever I talk to I have experienced that we all live our GSG values. Flexibility is also one of the main advantages of working in GSG. It has helped me alot personally so I can visit my family for longer stays not just 1 week and it is something that I know we all value.

Cons

Not cons per-se, perhaps growth opportunities ;-) Corporate benefits: subsidy for public transportation, VSOPs, subsidy for gym, budget for personal development, additional paid maternity/paternity leave. I know this means budget, but it is definitely something that makes other companies more attractive. Legal department: since there is a Legal Counsel in GSG, it is fair to say that we all appreciate her expertise and knowledge. Nevertheless, her leadership style does not contribute to the team spirit within finance. For example: speaking mostly German in a team full of international people, making arrogant comments putting herself in a higher position, among others. Perhaps some leadership course would help her adjust to our international organization?

avatar
atolls Response
2y
Hello!! We wanted to take a moment to express our heartfelt gratitude for your valuable feedback. Joining GSG during the challenging times of COVID presented unique hurdles for everyone, and we are genuinely delighted to hear that you felt connected and supported by the team and your manager right from the beginning. This underscores the kind of management approach we aim for – one that is supportive and fosters strong connections. Your positive experience with phone calls, even through screens, creating a welcoming atmosphere is music to our ears. Seeing the faces of the people you work with, even at a distance, reflects our commitment to being stronger together and upholding our values. We're equally thrilled to hear that you resonate with the culture at GSG, experiencing our values not just within the team but wherever the GSG community extends. Our commitment to flexibility is a key advantage we cherish, and it's heartening to know that it's making a positive impact on your work experience. Career growth is a top priority for us, and we appreciate your patience as our team of Learning and Development (L&D) and Comp&Ben experts actively review our promotion processes. The launch of a new internal hiring framework in 2023 aims to provide enhanced visibility into the diverse career and growth opportunities within GSG. Regarding benefits, we hear you, and we're on it! Making our benefits more attractive is a priority, and the new vacation policy with a higher amount of days and an extra day for your birthday is just the beginning. As well as offering a variety of local benefits. :) We're committed to continuously enhancing our offerings to make GSG an even more rewarding place to work. In a less positive tone, we are truly sorry to learn about your negative experience with a specific colleague. This is not the standard we expect, and we appreciate you bringing it to our attention. Your advice on training is invaluable, and we are on it! Our Learning & Development team is working on a new program to support our people managers with the key knowledge they would need to succeed in their roles, is expected to be launched in Q1 2024. Thank you once again for sharing your thoughts. Your insights guide our ongoing efforts to make GSG an even better place to work. BR, Karla Blanco.

Explore other reviews about atolls

5.0
6 Dec 2024
Recommend
CEO approval
Business outlook

Pros

Atolls has an incredibly caring management team. They do not shy away from motivating their teams to work hard and achieve lofty goals, but they offer ample support, frequent pulse checks, and actively encourage a healthy work-life balance, motivating employees to maximize their work hours. If you're looking for a workplace devoid of toxicity and who supports your overall career aspirations, this is the place.

Cons

The work here can become rather repetitive. While you have an incredibly large array of client sites to work with, most of your day-to-day duties will look the same. There are still plenty of opportunities for you to take on new projects and mix things up, but your core schedule is very similar day to day.

avatar
atolls Response
1y
Hi, Thank you for sharing your experience as a freelancer with Atolls over the past six years. It’s heartening to hear that you’ve felt supported by our management team and appreciated the motivation, pulse checks, and encouragement for maintaining a healthy work-life balance. Creating a positive and supportive environment, even for our freelance team members, is something we strive for every day. We understand that the nature of the work can sometimes feel repetitive, despite the variety of client sites. While there are opportunities to take on new projects, we recognize the importance of keeping daily tasks engaging and will continue exploring ways to enhance the freelance experience. At Atolls, we believe in #StrongerTogether, fostering a culture where every team member, whether full-time or freelance, feels valued and supported in their professional journey. Thank you again for your contributions, and if you’d like to share more, please reach out to our Talent Attraction and Engagement team at tae.team@joingsg.com. Your P&C Team.
5.0
10 Oct 2024
Recommend
CEO approval
Business outlook

Pros

I have sincere confidence and respect in leadership - Gerhard, in particular, is smart, charismatic, deliberate and compassionate. It's easy to believe in him and his vision because he seems very sincere. I've found this to generally trickle down throughout the organization. While not necessarily true of all leaders I've had during the course of my tenure at the company, my current direct manager is pragmatic while still managing business goals, and has respect for a healthy work/life balance. The company leans into a policy of being open, honest and direct. I generally find leadership to be quite transparent - if you're paying attention, you'll know the temperature of the business at any given time, and have a sense of where the company is heading. There are no big secrets (or if there are, they've done such a good at hiding them I'm oblivious). This is one of the rare companies where the people I come into regular contact are good people, supportive of one another, and genuinely working towards common success.

Cons

Look, no company is perfect. Atolls/GSG can sometimes move too slow. And sometimes it can seem to underinvest in what seem like key initiatives. But I believe that leadership is generally self-aware, open to input, and looks to improve in areas of underperformance where it is reasonable and makes sense. Comp is generally aligned to market averages. There are certainly companies that pay more - but will you find the same environment? I'm unsure on career opportunities. It seems like employees in some geos may be better positioned for growth then others.

avatar
atolls Response
1y
Hi, Thank you for sharing your detailed feedback and for your long-term commitment to Atolls. It’s wonderful to hear that you have confidence in our leadership, and that you appreciate the transparency and collaborative spirit within the company. Building trust and a healthy, balanced work environment are essential to us, and it’s gratifying to know that these values resonate with you. We understand your concerns around areas for improvement, such as the pace of change, investment in key initiatives, and career growth opportunities. As part of our commitment to continuous improvement, we’re actively enhancing our internal growth framework, with specific efforts to increase career mobility across all regions. Additionally, our 2024 initiatives include a refined job architecture and performance review process, designed to make career pathways and development opportunities more transparent and accessible across the organization. At Atolls, our #MoveLearnChange value reflects our commitment to adapting, learning, and growing based on the feedback we receive. We truly appreciate your insights, which help us shape a better experience for everyone. Thank you once again, and please feel free to reach out to our Talent Attraction and Engagement team at tae.team@atolls.com if you’d like to discuss any of these areas further. Your P&C Team
See reviews by: Helpful|Rating|Date|All