A Masterclass in Mismanagement - Anonymous employee Malaberg Employee Review

1.0
26 Sept 2025
Anonymous employee
Recommend
CEO approval
Business outlook

Pros

The office is in a nice part of town, easy to get to and surrounded by good lunch spots. That’s honestly the only positive I can think of.

Cons

- Recognition is practically non-existent. You can work hard, deliver results, and still feel completely invisible. - The culture is tough—lots of micromanagement, unclear expectations, and constant stress. Office politics are everywhere. - There’s no real path for growth. Development feels random, and promotions are not based on performance. - Work-life balance? Not here. - Most of the work feels disconnected from anything meaningful. It’s hard to stay motivated when tasks seem pointless. - Communication is poor. Decisions are made without warning, and you often find out after the fact. - Processes are so tangled that even straightforward tasks like integrating Shopify, which should take weeks at most, end up dragging on for over half a year. The lack of clear ownership, constant shifting priorities, and endless back-and-forth make even the simplest initiatives feel like climbing a mountain blindfolded. It’s not just inefficient, it’s demoralising. - Turnover is a huge issue. In just a few months, more than 20 people left, including high performers who were well-paid and comfortable. Those who stayed mostly did so because the job market is tough and it's difficult to find a new position. - Decisions are made on the fly, with no HR involvement. One of the most shocking moments was when a senior retention employee who had been performing well for nearly two years, shared she needed surgery, and was let go a few days later under the excuse of a “team restructure” that never actually happened. Everyone was stunned. - Leadership keeps changing direction every few months. After a big restructuring presentation, nothing changed. It just added more confusion and chaos. Sending over my resignation letter was one of the best decisions I’ve made. It genuinely changed my life. The clarity, peace, and sense of self I’ve gained since leaving have been nothing short of transformative. Looking back, I realise I should have made this move much earlier, but I’m happy I finally did.

Explore other reviews about Malaberg

5.0
18 Aug 2023
Recommend
CEO approval
Business outlook

Pros

You are provided with a substantial amount of agency right from the outset. This enables you to explore your own ideas, exercise control, and take on responsibilities. Consequently, this results in a workload that may not be suitable for everyone, but the rewards are immensely satisfying. This experience has propelled my skills well beyond my initial expectations. The Managing Director (MD) upholds high standards, but he takes time to arrange 1-on-1 informal meetings for each of his employees to provide support. Further support is given by VP and fellow analysts. Furthermore, a clear progression path exists that can fast-track you to positions that might not be easily attainable in other companies. The company places a strong emphasis on valuing its employees and recognizes and rewards those who demonstrate hard work and genuine passion for their roles.

Cons

Not able to work remotely

2
1.0
9 June 2026
Recommend
CEO approval
Business outlook

Pros

Some genuinely friendly, supportive, and talented colleagues. Opportunities to learn quickly.

Cons

Employees are asked to write fake 5 star reviews to cover up the many, many bad ones. I would strongly caution anyone considering a role here. The work involves marketing products that lack robust scientific support, primarily to elderly customers, by preying on their fears of aging and health problems. The advertising relies on sensationalist, clickbait-style tactics that are both misleading and unethical. There is a pervasive culture of fear around job security. When an unexpected meeting with management or the founders appears on your calendar, the immediate assumption is that you are about to be fired. This is because staff turnover is exceptionally high, with employees frequently being terminated without genuine reason. This creates a constant cycle of firing and rehiring, resulting in projects and accounts regularly changing hands. Large-scale 'restructurings' are common, followed by company-wide meetings announcing major strategic changes, only for those changes to be reversed weeks later. The result is an environment of confusion, instability, and uncertainty. Many members of management are inexperienced, having been promoted into leadership roles without prior managerial experience. The company's toxic culture stems from the founders, who lack any empathy or people skills and foster a culture of fear. There is a strong culture of blame and internal politics. Public criticism in Slack channels and being ridiculed or shouted at during meetings over minor mistakes is commonplace. Managers are not aligned on their expectations so it is impossible to please them all, leading to confusion over priorities and leaving employees vulnerable to criticism regardless of their performance. Overall, Malaberg is a stressful and toxic place to work. If you value stability and your mental wellbeing, look elsewhere.

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