Startup from Hell - Product Manager Hemster Employee Review

1.0
24 May 2023
Recommend
CEO approval
Business outlook

Pros

It feels great when you leave the company.

Cons

Hemster does not adequately pay its employees or set them up for success in future roles. During my 3 years at the company I received numerous title changes along with added responsibilities with only one minor pay increase. They set you up to compete with other employees so you cannot turn down additional responsibilities and have no leverage to ask for a pay increase. It was impossible to get support after taking on new responsibilities, countless times I requested support, including once when I asked for Product Management Certification, and they were excited to provide me with a public speaking class. The CEO does not see her employees as people in any way. It is a female led, and majority female run company, but still has all the markers of a toxic work environment, where you are expected to spend over 40 hrs a week doing work without over-time pay, due to under staffing and turnover due to poor management. Individual managers were a hit or miss based on personality, but there was always conflict when the CEO thought the managers were treating their employees with too much humanity. The culture there is toxic in so many ways, everyone is always in fear of being fired for no reason, everyone passes blame along to the next person, and no one is empowered to take responsibility for anything. Highest levels in the company do not understand the basics of tailoring, product management, or people management, and have insanely high expectations of new employees with no training. Everyone there does a good job of misleading new hires, or people interviewing, into thinking these problems are in the past, but I can assure anyone looking, these issues come directly from the top and will not change without a change in CEO. They do not prioritize production/quality and only push for quantity which results in lies to employees, partners, and investors.

Explore other reviews about Hemster

5.0
12 July 2021
Recommend
CEO approval
Business outlook

Pros

So great to work at a company that grows its employees as it scales. Fast track to promotion for individuals willing to take on responsibility and jump out of their comfort zone. Looking forward to more!

Cons

Each employee is as good as their personal standard, successful employees set their own goals alongside expectations from management.

1.0
12 Mar 2026
Anonymous employee
Recommend
CEO approval
Business outlook

Pros

…… lol pros… nothing comes to mind. You would think a paycheck but sometimes we didn’t even get that on time.

Cons

Everything possible you can think of.

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