Toxic organization, rebranded for the worst with constant change, no stability, high turnover and work overload. - Anonymous employee EMPIST Employee Review

There are many negative qualities about the organization that make you wonder how they exist or keep, not only their employees, but the customers as well. The organization has various internal issues. These issues have been dissected so many ways without any proper and permanent resolutions by management. The efforts, diligence, and time that employees invest is not reciprocated by the company. Employee efforts are constantly overlooked by management. The company can care less about employees unless an employee is favored. The company provides medical/dental/vision insurances, and a retirement investment option because “it is the thing to do”. At the end of the day, it feels that certain benefits are provided as a necessity rather than organically investing in the well-being of employees. In the past, the organization was transparent in how much it contributed to your insurance costs. Now, you are simply informed that the company contributes. The insurance costs have increased each year, especially for 2020, that is ultimately reflected in your take home pay being significantly less. One should look into opting into their spouse’s insurance or leaving the organization for one that covers more of your costs and invests IN YOU. The morale has been and is extremely low throughout the Chicago office. You will never see anyone excited about their work. You’re under constant deadlines and pressure and all you care about is for 5pm to come quickly and for the weekend to last forever. How would you feel if your CEO stated he encourages and believes in doing “more with less”? You constantly witness employees completing the work of two or three individuals with no incentive nor appreciation by management. It is expected of you to work without any proper recognition unless you are favored. On regular occasions, the employees bear witness to some sort of favoritism. If you do the work of two or three individuals for a long duration (a year or two), you will gain some respect from management and will be labeled as “loyal”. Anything less will be regarded as the employee having a subpar work ethic. There was more turnover in the last three years than promotions (about 5 to 1) at the Chicago offices. There are very few Chicago employees that have been around longer than 5-6 years. Since the organization has been around for almost 20 years, this makes you question where everyone is. It is hinted that working more than 40 hours a week makes you stand out. That implies that management does not respect employee work life-balance. When you have personal obligations frequently and need to alter your work arrangements, you’re under scrutiny by the people above on what is happening; whether you’re interviewing or abusing the situation. This organization only provides 6 paid holidays. The unlimited PTO is a means to not pay out former employees their vacation time when separating from the company. The unlimited PTO has the fine print of being enforced properly depending on who you are at the company, whether you are liked, and who your manager is. There is no set remote work program but some employees with families abuse this regularly at the manager’s discretion. The Chicago office was expanded recently, so it would be a waste to see it empty is how it is perceived. No matter who you converse with at the organization, each individual obtains different explanations about the company policies, principles, and vision. At times, it feels like the managers do not even know the company policies. Confusion is spread across the board. You will never find anyone on the same page because the organization lacks a proper HR department. All the insurance, retirement information, and company policies are carried out by management because there is no Human Resource Administrator. The company will not hire a Human Resources Administrator. The company does not invest in the proper resources or tools that you need to complete your work. The computers in the office frequently break, are on the older side, and are recycled by former employees. For a technical firm, the company does not invest in adequate technological tools and resources for employees to perform their day-to-day responsibilities. Even the conference rooms struggle to project laptops to the TV’s wirelessly. Instead, the company focuses more on innovations to offer to the market, such as a ticketing system. The apple computers freeze, update randomly, or simply stop functioning in the middle of projects and tasks which is frustrating and discouraging. It also seems like the internal tech team does not know how to fix the iMac’s in the office as the same concerns repeat for everyone with an iMac. For individual birthdays, pastries would be provided by the company. Then, pastries were provided on a monthly basis for all birthdays of the month. Now, there are no pastries at all. In the past, fruit was delivered to the office every two weeks for about three months then stopped without notice. The modern kitchen does not even have enough paper towels sometimes and teammates end up bringing towels from the restrooms from down the hall. Quite embarrassing to say the least. Would it hurt to throw a celebratory pizza party with all the stellar work the employees try to provide to clients for the business? Sadly, it feels like that may be too much to ask for. The company should take advice from Richard Branson who states, “Take care of your employees and they will take care of your business. It is as simple as that”. It is dispiriting to hear about career paths constantly when you never see anyone transition to new roles. Career paths are discussed but mentoring one to get promoted almost never happens. Some get promoted when others leave the company. Instead, employees’ workloads are increased by taking on the work of other employees who have departed. Management has asked employees to leave Glassdoor reviews, many of which are fabricated to demonstrate a top-notch organization. If the organization was stellar in the eyes of the employee, employees would write positive reviews voluntarily rather than being suggested to do so. Management lacks providing proper performance reviews and raises. Salaries are not of market value after discussing with fellow team members. This is not surprising since necessities are not provided within the office. It is frustrating to see customers and projects leave your desk because clients do not believe in our services to grow their businesses. Lately, it feels like the company is spiraling. When a position vacates by someone leaving the company, that role is not backfilled. Other employees watch live sports, Netflix shows, etc. on their monitors, literally sleep on the job, and some employees even apply for external jobs in clear view. It is extremely difficult to comprehend how management can sell us on the company being profitable and in good standing when accounts and employees are dropping throughout the year. Overall, you walk away feeling cheated, perplexed, and sick to your stomach. Robin Hood took from the rich and gave to the poor. Metaphorically, it feels like the organization grows their pockets deep while leaving the employees with nothing and nothing invested in YOU; the blood, sweat, and tears of the organization. Definitely think twice when contemplating applying to work here. There is nothing available here that you can’t get elsewhere ten times better. Internal issues are presented to the employees as stemming from the bottom. In reality, the organization’s lack of stability is caused by issues from the management level. If you end up taking a position here, use this review as a guideline. Pay attention to red flags such as employee departures, negative reviews of the company, the curb appeal of perks such as a game room with happy hour Fridays and food trucks on the street as a selling point during the interview, and lack of mentorships to build your skillset into other roles. If you want that college atmosphere, then apply here. Until then, fake it until you make it to a respectable organization that has your best interests versus only focusing on their own pockets and survival. Expect a standard reply to this review from management.