A downright toxic work environment - Anonymous employee PayPal Employee Review

1.0
11 Jan 2014
Anonymous employee
Recommend
CEO approval
Business outlook

Pros

Flexible schedules Working with some of the best talent in the industry

Cons

Top down management style (explained below) What the new senior management has been doing as part of a drive to redesign the company is to eliminate certain units, redesign some and grow a chosen few. The method of implementation however has not been to layoff employees, but it has been to create a very hostile work environment in specific groups and departments to encourage attrition. And in some cases where individuals do not leave in a few months - as a last resort, some employees get specifically targeted at each level where in a situation would be created for them that pushes them to leave. They would find themselves in a situation where a new construct requires a different skill set. Or their existing jobs may suddenly require them to work in a different location owing to a new drive in which every member of a single functional unit is to be sitting in the same office. Hence they would either end up in a situation in which they may be fired by finding some excuses for poor performance, or they get fed up and leave on their own if they act first. What is also unfortunate is in such a environment, nepotism, racism and favoritism tends be very rampant as everyone tries to save their own skin

Explore other reviews about PayPal

5.0
15 May 2026
Anonymous employee
Recommend
CEO approval
Business outlook

Pros

Good company to work for, good work life balance

Cons

They should have more developers than other titles.

2.0
13 Apr 2026
Recommend
CEO approval
Business outlook

Pros

PayPal has a lot of potential. It has two very strong brands in PayPal and Venmo with significant awareness and user bases that other companies envy. There are pockets of teams that are really pushing the envelop to reimagine what PayPal and Venmo could be—especially the Venmo team—and to move with speed given the company must stay focused and not waste time with Apple Pay, Shop Pay, and so many other competitors nipping at PayPal's heels and aggressively taking market share.

Cons

While some teams are pushing to self-disrupt and are moving fast, too many teams—and I'd argue the majority of the company–are living off of PayPal's laurels from the late 2010s through the pandemic. The culture and mindset have to change for the company to remain competitive. Otherwise, they are the Titanic and they're sinking slowly. The former CEO who only last 2 years tried diversifying the company's revenue, planning for the future. But the board and its former chairman (now new CEO) felt he wasn't moving fast enough to stabilize and marketshare. Instead, the board hired the former chairman who made computers and printers at HP—another sinking ship—to lead the oldest fintech company. The loss of confidence in the leadership team and the strategy are only accelerating.

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