Unfortunately, my experience with Altex Romania was a negative one from the very beginning. During the recruitment process for the Product Manager role, I was met with a disrespectful attitude from the HR representative. Any attempt to negotiate the salary offer — justified by the benefits I had with my previous employer — was met with inappropriate comments such as: "If you don’t like the offer, no one is forcing you. There are others waiting in line."
Although I accepted the offer due to being in a delicate situation at the time, things did not improve afterward. Several benefits that were promised during initial discussions, such as private medical insurance, turned out to be insignificant discounts instead. Additionally, the working conditions were below expectations: the company doesn't provide basic amenities like coffee, and in some departments, employees had to buy coffee machines out of their own pockets — from Altex.
The work environment is unfortunately toxic: the organizational culture encourages excessive surveillance, constant control over employees, and a lack of flexibility. Managers strictly monitor arrival times, departures, and breaks, regardless of actual workload. The focus is on physical presence in the office rather than results.
I also noticed a low level of professionalism and competence, particularly among some store employees, and internal communication is poor.