If you want to read something about religion stuff others are talking in their review? hmm, most of it are true.
But, you still able to climb up the rank, even though you are not christian (it helps), just that you need to have a good image/words from manager in front of COO, it can be skill or good words spread around. End of the day it is all about favoritism. If COO likes you, your appraisal will be smooth. Doesn't matter if you are good at your job, your team mates like you, your juniors respect you. If COO begins to not like you, start looking for another job instead of arguing with him. It's a waste of time.
Agile methodology is practiced in the each project differently, but believe me, that is not agile.
Agile is to constantly review what has gone wrong, and what can they do better next time. But it changed into water-gile as in Waterfall-Agile blend, they use KanBan, they use everything you need to see when you are talking agile, but, new task can always add in current sprint without removing any.
Good luck with your WaAgile. Many industry experts have called it a failure but the smart people here like to make thing hard for no reason.
Company will hire a lot of newbie every years, in the meantime, senior level are leaving one by one. Oh, I mean Senior Programmer those with skills. There are still a few damn good coders in the company, maybe that is why the high turnover rate of coders did not yet ring a bell to management as everything is still looks good as long as more money is being made year on year.
Version control is just something happen only on the paper, as it did not benefit to PS work or project timelines.
Company will not spend money/time on things did not benefit to project timelines or employee satisfaction.
A quote by COO himself, "If you want to work on the agreed working hours (9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.), you can choose to switch to Helpdesk position from current position. You will be working from 8:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. as that is the company customer support operating time. But you should only expect a basic salary increament and basic bonus will be granted in yearly performance review. If you still looking forward to be working from agreed working hours with no OT, I can issue the command today, right now." So guys, just continue working. The longer you work everyday, the chances you getting good image in front COO which indirectly lead to your good bonus. Sing praise about him, talk nice things about him even though they are false, and he will reward you.
Last but not least, work life "Integration", a great concept is being pushed by Management. Please share your reviews if anyone else is allowed to bring their kids to the work which is work-life integration, other than C level themselves.
Family is the most important thing in life, I believe management also sharing this same view. They have no consideration for others time and life, as family will became much more important than work. All your employee should have their personal time back, other than giving it to the OT which caused by bad project timeline management.