Decline in Culture, Transparency, and Growth After Acquisition - Anonymous Employee 2X Employee Review

I joined StraightArrow Corporation prior to its full acquisition by 2X. During the earlier period, company culture was one of its strongest assets — communication was open, client feedback was valued, and growth opportunities felt transparent. After the acquisition was finalized, I personally experienced significant changes in culture and structure. There appeared to be large-scale hiring followed by periods where employees were underutilized, which eventually led to layoffs. From my perspective, workforce planning and client acquisition efforts did not seem aligned, creating instability within teams. I also observed increasing tension between regional teams, particularly between Kuala Lumpur and Manila, which affected collaboration and morale. Concerns around favoritism in promotions and performance evaluations became common discussions among employees. Some high-performing team members were categorized as low performers without what felt like clear or consistent justification, impacting trust in leadership decisions. Career progression felt less transparent compared to the earlier structure. Merit increases and promotions appeared inconsistent, and communication around advancement criteria was limited. Cost-cutting measures were noticeable in employee-facing initiatives. While some company events were still organized, they felt scaled down compared to previous years. Benefits and perks that were once offered to employees outside Luzon were no longer available. Work-life balance was also a challenge. Overtime work was common, particularly when managing client expectations, and clearer boundaries might have helped reduce burnout. Overall, the environment shifted from one that felt collaborative and growth-oriented to one that felt uncertain and high-pressure. For me personally, the stress outweighed the compensation. Footnote: This was rewritten since my previous attempts were being removed.