Failing Start-up: Steer Clear - Anonymous employee Happy Money Employee Review

1.0
2 Mar 2016
Anonymous employee
Recommend
CEO approval
Business outlook

Pros

The only pro left at the company are the people. All of the other pros are no longer pros. When I first started at Payoff, some of the great perks at the time were unlimited PTO, meals 3 times a week, full health coverage, and stock options if you stay long enough to vest.

Cons

Over the course of a year, the CEO has driven this company into the ground, and just last Monday there was a huge layoff. It's unfortunate because everybody working here believes in the mission and left good jobs and other opportunities to make this dream a reality. It's hard to even know where to begin, because there are so many things that are wrong with the leadership. First, our CEO could never decide on which direction he wanted to take the company. Before we could even focus and perfect the loan product, we had 5 other "directions" that we were headed in. Every few months we were changing our direction, constantly stopping and starting projects. During that time, money was being frivolously spent in order to follow all of these new directions that our CEO wanted to go, only to have the projects eventually shut down and money go down the drain. As employees we've preached transparency to the world and our customers, but internally that's the last thing we've received from our leadership. Our CEO has led the company to believe that everything will be ok financially and that we have this opportunity here, and this other one over there. Only for there to be a huge layoff and all of our meals cut. People with families that they have to support, left without a job because there was no honesty, when we've been asking for it. We've literally been told to "get on the boat or get off" in terms of being all in for the mission and the company. There's been no consequences for our leadership, and it's only been the "little" people that have been working hard that had to lose their jobs. I'm sure the whole leadership team is still receiving their 6 figure paychecks. Our CEO has surrounded himself by "yes" men, and when people tell him that we can't afford something, he still green lights it because he wants it. He's moved out those around him that pushback. More importantly, people in management and leadership positions have never either done their job before or have never managed people before. And no there's nothing in place to help them learn how to manage people, so there's a constant lack of communication. They say that they value a work/life balance, but there's an unspoken expectation that you stay until 6-7p, work through lunch, and that accrued PTO also includes your sick days. I loved the company when I first began, and I still love all the people I work with and that's why I come into work everyday. It's just really hard to see people being taken for granted by our leadership. The values that we say we stand for aren't being practiced within the company. Over the year the unlimited PTO has been cut, we no longer have any meals and I don't think the stock options will ever be worth anything. There's no reason why they should be hiring, and if you're looking to join the company, just know that you might not be there for long.

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5.0
22 May 2025
Recommend
CEO approval
Business outlook

Pros

- Amazing Benefits - Intentional Culture that isn't all fluff - Great People - Strong Supportive Leadership - Strong DEI Commitment

Cons

- Too Many Idea's, Slow Execution - Lots of Sr Leadership Changes

1
4.0
13 Jan 2026
Recommend
CEO approval
Business outlook

Pros

Great place to work. Friendly team. Decent product

Cons

Conflicting goals, and shifting priorities. SO MANY LAYOFFs that negatively impacted company culture, it became a game of survival until you're inevitably let go. They got rid of the training department, and let teams manage their own training. Process improvement became impossible with so much red tape, and so little transparency.

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