- Let's start with Remote's supposed values. I'd probably cry if I weren't laughing right now, but they're corporate level of a straight up _ _ _. Not only are they not followed by anyone except probably the beginner ICs, even bringing up explicit proof of them not being followed to senior management yields 0 results.
- Speaking of management, I'm not sure what they do at the company. First off, their primary job requirement should be to manage their reports' performance + well-being.
Honest to god I think that people from outside the company would be a better judge regarding internal performance. They're completely blind to anything except average performers that are loud enough. Sometimes, even yelling about obvious stuff gets you nowhere.
Well-being? Forget about it. You'll just hear the usual 'that's growth' - no it's not, growth can be bearable. This is leadership incompetence, end of story. You don't listen to feedback, end of story. Do you seriously think that all of your employees never worked at a high growth startup previously?
- Speaking of past experience, I feel like we've included the 'past positions verification check' at the end of the hiring cycle due to the absolutely insane amount of people with borderline _ _ _ _ _ _ resumes that ended up working at Remote. This probably applies to most verticals and most seniority levels.
I've never in my life seen so much supposed newbies that could literally do their director's job better. I have no idea how they landed their jobs, but I honestly applaud them for it, it's a skill. So many vague, unfit and dubious backgrounds sold as 'diversity'.
- The fact that Remote is a startup is being used as an excuse to not work on any constructive feedback or criticism, yet is also used as an excuse for all the wrong things we're currently working towards. 'We're a startup, we learn as we grow'... You're full of yourself is what you are, and so is anyone thinking that no one's opinion but theirs is worth considering.
- Nothing's being communicated to a n y o n e except Directors and above until it's about to launch. I'm talking about changes with huge implications for everyone involved, I'm talking about internal processes (z e r o transparency and well played sessions acting as 1:1s, designed to keep you quiet, so you'd maybe forget about your issues because they'll surely not be worked on).
- Money spent on e n a b l e m e n t meanwhile no one's e n A B L E to do _ _ _ _. I don't want to be rude, but sometimes it felt as if the operational efficiency of Remote at 900+ people is about the same as when it was at 150. There are roles that everyone's unsure of in terms of why they're there. Typing up one deck or page a month, that no one will even take a look at? Leaving one comment after days that could've been the other person's 5 minute search? A company full of specialist that specialize in what exactly?
- I'm seriously thinking that Remote is blissfully oblivious when it comes to the amount of people with one foot out of the door... Everyone I spoke to is considering quitting due to the above reason, it's only a matter of time before they disclose it.
- Besides the above reasons, there's also the problem of personal growth at Remote. It's non-existent. You either got here early enough when the promotions were being done randomly or you're stuck with the new bureaucracy. This is painful to watch because not only would the people that got promoted initially n e v e r get the promotion now, those same people are still being promoted further, and the vicious circle and grasp of incompetency deepens.
- Remote probably wasn't ever true about its mission, and the only reason it's being enabled by top tier VCs (same as its competitors), is because it's about to bring a new form of quasi equality to employees worldwide. In reality, Remote isn't even bringing equity to anyone.
Most of the company is probably being paid the bottom threshold salary, which is likely around or below the costs that they'd have to pay for either way (in order to rent an office, pay for the electricity, internet costs etc.). This is of course mentally ingrained so the employees would work their _ _ _ _ _off and be thankful for the 'chance'.
- If people only knew about everyone's salaries - this is why, of course, salaries aren't public or transparent. But this is common practice, don't speak about your salary to anyone else, because we know we've done something wrong and it'll create a _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ if it ever gets out. God forbid we fix this, because then we'll truly be nondiscriminatory, and not just _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ so we'd share it on LinkedIn, our blog or wherever else.
Hope that the above is helpful to all the future candidates thinking about working at Remote, previous hires as a validation of their reasons to quit, and current employees, as a testament of the current state of the company, so you'd carefully reconsider whether it applies to your team as well.
Remote was great back in the day and I hope for its sake that it'll get there again.
