Pros
Talented colleagues who are collaborative and capable
Global exposure and opportunity to work with people from different markets
Could be a great company if there were a revamp of leadership
Cons
This company misleads candidates with false promises. I was explicitly told by the recruiter that I would receive a guaranteed bonus, and my contract confirmed the amount with no mention of prorating or retention. Once employed, I only received a fraction of it because they claimed bonuses are prorated and 25 percent is held back as a retainer. My manager admitted this was misleading and agreed the contract supported me. But when I escalated, the head of people dismissed it and refused to take responsibility. In the US, this is illegal. The Amsterdam office didn’t care that they were breaking the contract.
The people function is large but automated and unhelpful. A career framework has been “in progress” for years with no results. Promotions are based on favoritism. Some leaders openly make sexist remarks and berate employees, yet these men continue to be promoted and gain more authority.
Constant layoffs are another issue. The head of people refuses to call them layoffs, but that’s exactly what they are. Instead of being transparent and doing them all at once, they drag them out over months. People just disappear with no communication, leaving everyone else on edge.
Amsterdam positions itself as the “twin brother” office, but in reality it dictates what other regions can and cannot do, even when it goes against cultural norms or legal standards. They don’t care and make no effort to understand.
There are smart people here, but many are already planning their exit. Bonuses are misleading, career growth is nonexistent, and the culture is arrogant, dismissive, and not inclusive.