Startup companies - Deputy Head of Department Scorpio Electric Employee Review

Some colleagues are friendly and supportive. Decent exposure to certain projects if you're just starting your career.

Extremely low pay compared to industry standards. No annual increment despite performance. No performance bonus, and stock bonus schemes are misleading. Management has a history of arbitrary pay cuts and sudden retrenchments with minimal notice with no severance package. Morale is low due to lack of transparency, appreciation, or career growth opportunities. Feels like employees are used and discarded when convenient.

A notable advantage is the flexibility in working hours. Although the official start time is 9 am, many employees tend to arrive between 10:30 and 11 am. With top management often absent, there is minimal supervision. This lack of strict structure also means that employees can typically leave by 5 pm. Additionally, some employees take lengthy lunch breaks, occasionally stretching up to three hours, without facing any consequences. While this might be seen as a perk, it also points to the absence of structure and accountability within the organization.

The office environment is highly unproductive, with many employees seeming disengaged and spending more time chatting than contributing to the company’s goals. Product development is constantly delayed, primarily due to the company’s poor reputation for paying employees and its strained supplier relationships. Management is seldom present, and when they are, their decision-making is inconsistent and indecisive, which only adds to the company’s difficulties. The engineering team lacks cohesion, consisting of a mix of fresh graduates and older staff members who often appear out of sync and unclear about their roles. Compensation is extremely low, with no bonuses and ongoing pay cuts that have persisted for more than six months as the company struggles to secure funding. There is no focus on employee welfare—no benefits, perks, or efforts to create a supportive work culture. To make matters worse, the office itself is in poor condition, with issues like mold on the walls, a rat infestation, and broken air conditioning. Despite these issues, top management insists on maintaining the current situation, justifying it with cheap rent while neglecting necessary improvements. Employees are still required to report to the office every day, even though senior management is rarely present. Overall, the lack of direction, poor working conditions, and lack of incentives make this company one I would not recommend to anyone.