Pros
When I began there, I learned new technologies, and we had to go into the office twice a week and could choose our days. Things were pretty laid back for a while and I liked my team/manager. It was low stress, but there was learning, growth, and productivity. Then when they mandated the Tuesday-Thursday Return to Office, it seemed less about collaboration and more about control, given micromanagement on all levels flew threw the roof (to be continued in my cons).
Cons
* Lack of Growth and Poor Compensation: Promotions are non-existent. Despite my manager's discussions about career pathways, it was all talk. I've been gone for nearly a year, and no one from my former team has received a promotion. Imagine being in a junior-level role for three years, repeatedly told you'd advance by meeting certain criteria, only for it never to happen. This lack of upward mobility is compounded by minimal raises on top of already low salaries (a point already well-covered in other reviews). As a consolation prize for the lack of professional development and fair compensation, the company offers token gestures like pizza parties, "lunch and learns" with subpar catering, a yearly "somerfest" with carnival games in the parking lot, and occasional free ice cream from a truck. It's disheartening that these are presented as substitutes for genuine career investment. * Excessive Micromanagement: The micromanagement here is pervasive and trickles down from the top. As a clear example, even for a brief doctor's appointment during my mandatory unpaid lunch hour (which extends the workday to nine hours), my manager required me to send a Teams message before and immediately upon my return to the office, fearing I might be a few minutes late due to traffic. While I don't solely blame my direct manager, as this level of control was not present when I initially joined, it became a company-wide shift that negatively impacted everyone. * Restrictive and Worsening PTO Policy: The PTO policy is already very restrictive, forcing employees to choose between Christmas Eve or the Friday after Thanksgiving. I've heard it has worsened since I left; employees now have to use a half-day of PTO if they work from home on one of the mandatory Tuesday-Thursday in-office days, a policy that wasn't in place during my tenure. * Job Elimination During Medical Leave: A week after I commenced medical leave, my position was eliminated due to a "reorganization." While I was initially caught off guard, I felt incredibly relieved, as I dreaded the mere thought of returning to that place. It felt as though my manager, recognizing my unhappiness, did me a favor. My health and happiness greatly improved this year as a result of leaving SHI.
