My Eye-Opening Experience at Sunnystep - Marketing Manager Sunnystep Employee Review

Dear Marketing Manager, I hope this message finds you well. I am reaching out as part of the new HR team at Sunnystep to address your recent experience with us and to apologize for any unpleasantness you encountered. We deeply regret that your time with us did not meet your expectations, and I want to provide a clear account of the situation and the steps we have taken to address the issues. During your tenure, your bonus was tied to the returns on advertising spending (ROAS) from Facebook and Google, as specified in your contract. It was later discovered that the ROAS reports you provided included figures from Shopee and Lazada, which typically have much higher ROAS due to organic sales. And you did not provide a breakdown of the figures based on different channels. The inclusion of these figures would have helped you achieve your bonus targets, rather than falling short by a large extent based on Facebook and Google ROAS alone. When we clarified that the bonus was only tied to Facebook and Google ROAS, you shared there was a verbal agreement with HR about including Shopee and Lazada in your bonus calculation, which was different from what was specified in your contract. Our HR team has stated that no such conversation has ever taken place. While we normally would have provided a second chance as there is a possibility of misunderstanding or miscommunication, we were in the process of establishing a new cultural standard at that time. Additionally, there were complaints from multiple colleagues regarding inappropriate jokes made by you in the office which we have conducted a thorough investigation as well. Given these factors and the higher expectations for managerial roles than individual contributors, we decided not to pass your probation. And we understand and acknowledge your disappointment regarding this decision. Reflections on What We Could Have Done Better: 1. Contract and Communication: We should have ensured that all agreements and communications were clearly documented to avoid any disputes. 2. Management Availability: Your manager’s frequent travel during your onboarding may have impacted the support and guidance you received. We recognize the need for improved work management and support during the onboarding process. Steps Taken to Address These Issues: 1. Enhanced Onboarding Program: We have developed a comprehensive one-week onboarding program that includes detailed introductions to our brand, products, and company standards. This program is designed to provide new hires with clarity and a framework for success, including clear expectations for professional conduct. 2. Performance Management Program: We now have a clearly defined and enforced performance management program that includes OKRs and regular alignment meetings. This ensures clarity on performance KPIs and helps prevent any future disputes. 3. Structured Improvement Plans: We have introduced structured performance improvement plans to support employees needing additional training or development. We now provide professional guidance and regular check-ins to address behavior or performance issues effectively. 4. Regular Support Conversations: We conduct regular one-on-one meetings to understand and address the needs of our staff, ensuring they receive appropriate support and guidance. 5. More robust internal communication: we have regular team meetings to clearly address and elaborate on any company decision to seek alignment and avoid misinformation. We genuinely appreciate your contributions and efforts during your time with us. We are very sorry that your experience was not as positive as we would have hoped. We acknowledge our role in this and are committed to continuously improving our work environment for everyone. There were a lot of things we could have done better. We take your feedback very seriously, though some of the points in your review seem biased and exaggerated. That said, we understand and respect how you felt. Thank you for your time with Sunnystep. We wish you all the best in your future endeavors and hope you achieve your career goals in marketing, including running your own successful e-commerce website. If we can be of any help in the future, don't hesitate to reach out. Best regards, Sunnystep HR Team