Due to the global nature, some roles will have to communicate with teams in other countries and, for some reason, the expectation is on the australian staff to fit around the schedules of everybody else, so expect to take very late evening calls
They dictate how you dress and speak. They actually have written guides on the language you are expected to use in conversation and in email, and what you should wear. The language code is honestly extremely alienating and inappropriate as you are expected to speak like a middle-upper class, middle aged white woman, and this of course is extremely difficult for non-natives to adapt to. Even the dress code is unfair - you are expected to wear certain materials and they offer some discounts with local brands, however even with the discounts the clothing is too expensive. To be blunt, all these things are modeled from one of the founders - an aging lady who clearly lives an extremely priveleged life and, as interesting as she is, is sightly snobby and judgemental in a way that she disapproves of peoples speech patterns, ineterests and clothing. They take her personality adn inject this into the business, and you'll see this if you visit a store and pay attention to the way the staff interact wit you. The entire thing is scripted - and very clever and natural feeling script - but a script nonetheless. For a company that claims to value culture and diversity, I find it shocking at just how up itself it is in the whitest, most privileged sense. Not to mention the fact that everyone will wear clothing from other cultures, but will be the first extreme socialist liberals to scream 'cultural appropriation'.
On the same topic of etiquette and codes - theese actually breed an extremely passive aggressive behaviour on occasion. Where you are expected to use certain polite statements in all your email - the receptionists and other staff will send extremely passive aggressive emails using eloquent and flowery language. It's grating and the expectation to pad your emails honestly becomes hampering over time, especially when you simply need to get things done.
They are also painfully indecisive, especially regarding interviews. my manager had 9 interviews before they hired them, and they wanted to do 10 but he declined. Most people go through at least 3-4 interviews and you'll meet 2-3 people in each interview. They also like to promote internally and unfortnately, the balance is in the wrong dorection because they do not train people - only promote them, so you end up with senior people not having a clue how to do things, and have grown within the Aesop bubble so they lack outside ideas and perspectives.
They make a huge profit but don't invest it enough in benefits and training.
The CEO is not based in melbourne. He moved to the UK. Yet Melbourne are the head offices. This means senior staff in core functions have a lack of direction. it also means the CFO is acting as de facto CEO and he isn't a nice person, nor is he well liked. Other senior leaders are also vying for the CEO spot, such as senior leaders who sit next to the CEO in London, and others around the global business.
Peole act like children sometimes and leadership lack a firm hand to put these things in line. In fact, sometimes it's the leaders themselves having petty squabbles or just generally throwing childish tantrums. It comes from a place of passion, but really it's quite pathetic.
