Struggling Company with Questionable Values - Anonymous employee Playbook Employee Review

2.0
31 Oct 2022
Anonymous employee
Recommend
CEO approval
Business outlook

Pros

- Comprehensive benefits package - Access to Boon Health Coaching - Stipend for continuing education = $1,000/year - Visible Leadership (Keep in mind the company is only 50ish people. So, this is just a “gimme.”) This company is for you if you’re looking for decent benefits, a stable paycheck, and aren’t really concerned about career progression.

Cons

“Embrace the lulaFAM” - My advice? Turn around and run! This is another company struggling to make a profit and consistently disposing of employees when they’re no longer needed. Chronic Instability: - Three company restructures in the past two years, due to constant shifts in priorities. At what point is an 8-year old company no longer a “startup?” - Entire New York team was ousted when the main portfolio client decided it didn’t want to partner with lulafit anymore - When leadership decided the mobile app was no longer a priority, the virtual instructor team and sales team (BDRs and AEs) were all let go - Leadership terminated long-standing relationships with all residential portfolio clients after some employees built strong relationships with these clients. No consistent HR team for 2+ years: - Four different hires to the HR team, including two VPs, all left within two years - Conflict of Interest: The CFO, married to the CEO, has acted as HR for much of the instability Lack of cross-team sense of community (But this is a “family,” right?): - During my time with the company Ops Team members barely got to know other team members. You’re all on your own “island” at different sites. Not great if you like getting to know your coworkers! - Little to no opportunities to get to know members of marketing, tech, account management teams, etc. — This is alarming, considering the company is no more than 50ish people. Little to no opportunities for upward movement / promotion / bonuses in the company: - On-site APMs and PMs are often glorified front desk associates - Some current sites are cutting hours, because there isn’t enough demand = Less training commission than promised for PMs and APMs - Employees who are interested in pursuing other positions are sometimes stifled - No end-of-year bonuses given. Rather, you’re given a “Thanks for the work you do” and a whopping 3% Cost of Living Salary Increase. Suspicious Priorities: - On a monthly all-team meeting, after an employee layoff, the CEO had the audacity to mention that she was upset the layoff would “hurt their DEI numbers.” This came across as inauthentic and kind of concerning that her goal is to make the company just look good on the outside.

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Playbook Response
1y
As our SVP of People, thanks for all your input. There's a lot here so let me focus on responding to your advice to management. I'll respond to your bullets from the top: 1) In the past, one of our previous leaders referred to our team as the "lulafam." For some this did not resonate well so no one says this anymore. 2) I was hired last fall as a SVP of People/HR and agree that we needed someone in this role now to focus on a lot of different areas. I have been making lots of improvements and they seem to be well received so a lot has changed since you were here. 3) We are actively creating opportunities for team members to get to know one another. We have a newly refreshed 'Culture Collective' that is made up of diverse team members across cities and business lines and their sole purpose is to focus on this. They recently launched coffee chats which are opt-in and informal opportunities for our team members to get to know each other and create a stronger sense of belonging. 4) It's true that our Corporate Team members receive unlimited/responsible time off and that our Host Team members receive 3 weeks annually - in addition to company holidays. There are business reasons for this that we're happy to explain to you if you interview with us and have questions. Everyone is welcome to take a mental health day when they need it and we encourage that given our mission is to enable wellbeing in the workplace. 5) I can't comment on this one as I'm not sure what specifically you're referring to but anyone who has exited our team is welcome to get in touch with me (SVP of People for lulafit).

Explore other reviews about Playbook

5.0
28 Oct 2025
Recommend
CEO approval
Business outlook

Pros

I first applied for a role at Playbook last year when it was known as Lulafit but wasn’t selected. A few months later, the team reached back out about a position they felt was a better fit for my skills and they were right. That follow-up alone showed how thoughtful and intentional they are about building their team. The interview process was thorough but very human. Everyone I spoke with was genuinely engaged and clearly aligned with Playbook’s mission. It was refreshing to see how involved the team is in choosing people who truly embody the culture and vision of the company. My advice for anyone applying: once you get to the interview stage, just be yourself. Your authenticity will shine through. Playbook isn’t a typical clock-in, clock-out job. It’s a community of passionate, creative individuals who care deeply about wellbeing and connection. Do your research, trust the process, and if their purpose resonates with you, go for it. It’ll be one of the best career decisions you make!

Cons

I have no cons at the moment. There’s a lot of creativity and collaboration, which is amazing, but it also means you have to be self-motivated and organized to keep up with the pace.

5.0
25 Aug 2025
Recommend
CEO approval
Business outlook

Pros

Lulafit has been a dream. Truly, working for a thoughtful, considerate, caring, female leader is such a breathe of fresh air. It is understood that we are all experts in our field and are treated as such. It is a dynamic and worthwhile environment to be in. I am excited to see my growth and trajectory!

Cons

It’s a job, there will always be things. But by and large I'm generally very happy with my 3 months with the company.

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