Do your research before accepting a role. Reality is opposite to the perception. - Anonymous employee Sonder Employee Review

2.0
7 Apr 2023
Anonymous employee
Recommend
CEO approval
Business outlook

Pros

Good product helping people in need.

Cons

Too many things going wrong in the last six months. People disappearing abruptly without proper reasons. Everyone has been told to work longer hours and sending emails at late hours is considered normal. The culture of fear is spreading fast and wide across the business. Do deep research before accepting a role at Sonder. Things look green from outside, but the reality is very different. Employee engagement has gone down significantly.

avatar
Sonder Response
3y
Thank you for taking the time to share your feedback. We appreciate your concerns and want to address them transparently. Regarding late hour emails, we understand that this practice may not align with everyone's preferences. As a hybrid business, we strive to accommodate different work styles and personal lifestyles. While some employees choose to work during unconventional hours that suit their needs, we acknowledge that sending emails late at night should not be considered the norm. We appreciate your perspective on this matter. That said, we will continue to enable and encourage asynchronous work to enable the team to work at a time and place that suits them. Change can be challenging, and we are continuously learning and adapting to meet the needs of our employees. As part of our commitment to improvement, we conduct regular anonymous employee surveys to gather feedback and assess the overall sentiment within Sonder. We will ensure that we focus on change management feedback in our upcoming survey, as we recognise that there is always room for improvement. Each team is unique, and we understand that a one-size-fits-all approach may not be suitable for every situation. We encourage you to reach out to our People & Culture team to discuss your concerns further and provide any additional feedback. We value open conversations and are committed to rebuilding trust and fostering a positive work culture. Furthermore, we have been actively investing in the recruitment of a Chief People Officer. This role will strengthen our focus on employee engagement, wellbeing, and fostering a supportive work environment. We have appointed an Interim Head of P&C while we take the time to get the right candidate for the CPO role. Once again, thank you for your feedback, and we encourage you to engage in a confidential conversation with our People & Culture team. We are committed to addressing your concerns and working together to improve the employee experience at Sonder. I encourage you to contact me directly with more specific feedback so that I can address your concerns. Peter Burnheim - Co-founder and COO

Explore other reviews about Sonder

1.0
2 July 2026
Recommend
CEO approval
Business outlook

Pros

Best smoke and mirrors I've witnessed.

Cons

The place is collapsing from the inside out, Greed and a real boys club at the top. Complaints both inside and out get buried sidelined and ignored

4
5.0
25 May 2026
Recommend
CEO approval
Business outlook

Pros

-Getting to positively impact people’s lives every day and support upcoming clinicians on their journey is incredibly rewarding. Watching team members grow in confidence, develop professionally, and thrive both at work and in their personal lives is one of the best parts of the role. -The management and People & Culture teams; special shout out to Anna, Jenny, and Sarah are genuinely supportive. They always make time to check in, discuss workloads, listen to concerns, and actively implement changes to improve the staff experience. -Our executive leader, Nathan H, is approachable, personable, and incredibly knowledgeable. We are very fortunate to have such strong leadership within the business. -Being in management, it’s amazing to see the level of care and passion everyone has for the team. There is a strong focus on people-first leadership and creating a genuinely positive workplace culture. -Sonder does a fantastic job of hiring the right people for the right roles. The team is made up of caring, capable, and values-driven people who truly want to make a difference. -I genuinely believe we are living our vision of helping others be at their best. It feels like everyone is on the journey together, working toward a meaningful purpose. -Every person I’ve interacted with has been welcoming, kind, and supportive. There is a strong sense of teamwork and collaboration across the organisation. -The company strongly aligns with my personal values, which makes the work feel meaningful and fulfilling. I genuinely enjoy coming to work. It has been incredible to see the growth within the team, including opportunities for people to move into other areas of the business. We also have an amazing framework that recognises and rewards people who are not only achieving their goals but exceeding them. Something that is honestly rare in this industry, especially from my experience of more than 20 years leading teams in similar environments. -We have amazing benefits such as a welfare fund, weekly team lunches, free food and snacks, coffee days, and a learning fund. Sonder truly cares about helping not only its customers and members, but also its workforce, to be at their best. I can see the amazing work we are doing, the progress we are making, and I’m proud to be part of this journey with the wider Sonder family.

Cons

-We are constantly working on workplace culture, which is an important part of my role. Supporting people to be at their best takes time, particularly for those who may have been with the organisation longer and whose goals or career aspirations may no longer align with the direction of the business. -As a growing business, there are still processes and systems being refined, which is completely normal in an evolving organisation. At times, this can create periods of rapid change or increased workloads while improvements are being implemented. That said, we are all on the journey together, and the positive changes that have occurred since I started less than a year ago have been incredible to witness. -It would be beneficial to continue strengthening proactive workforce planning and creating more buffer within teams, rather than recruiting reactively during busy periods. However, the company places a strong emphasis on finding the right people, which understandably takes time. -Growth can occasionally mean priorities shift quickly, but it also creates opportunities for staff to contribute ideas, influence processes, and help shape something meaningful. -As the company continues to evolve, some teams are still building consistency within workflows and structures. However, leadership is actively focused on continuous improvement and creating better outcomes for both staff and members.

See reviews by: Helpful|Rating|Date|All