The title sums it up: merging three elements in the worst possible way. Communication has been terrible from the start. Perks that represented 10-15% of annual compensation were cut, alongside drastic changes to work flexibility and PTO policies.
Adding insult to injury, employees were told they "might be overcompensated," which shows how much people are valued.
After a year since the merger was announced, there’s still a lack of clarity and many unresolved issues. One of the most shocking examples is the misalignment of seniority levels across the three companies. This has left employees in awkward situations: some individuals with limited resources or leadership experience are tasked with leading teams, while others with higher expertise and qualifications are stuck with few opportunities to grow.
The merger has also created a fractured organization with three distinct cultures, policies, and ways of working. Instead of bringing teams together, it has fostered chaos and division. Collaboration is practically nonexistent, with friction and attrition between groups becoming the norm.
Managers are left to lead demotivated teams without any influence over the broader situation.
The metaphor of "water, oxygen, and the machine" is fitting: independently, they work fine, but together, they accelerate breakdowns.