FlexManage Reviews

When I spoke to people outside of PLA (and inside) as I decided to leave, the consensus of competitors and collaborators alike is that the company's reputation has been squandered. What was once a strong player in the MSP field has been reduced to being a cheap break-fix firm loaded down with low-skills contractors and level one generalists. It isn't the company's fault exactly, not entirely: the former CEO made the mistake of going for venture capital, and was thrown out by the ruthless, gutless private equity firm that now dictates PLA's every move. Case in point: The CEO installed whose only job was to gut the executive committee and departments seen as superfluous (a process which actually managed to miss the most critical failures department-wise: sales and accounting). Now, PLA is a shell of its former self. There is no career path for any employee anymore as the remaining management is too overworked and road-weary to give time to such things, and the board of directors would never actually pay for training or certification anyway. There are very few familiar faces, as most of the talent has been poached away by other organizations, leaving only senior employees with a sense of loyalty that will hurt them in the end, and all of the space left by them is being filled by very low level contractors. The work is terrible when it exists at all. Most departments are far below 50% billable, yet employees routinely get nasty emails demanding that employees act as their own sales force and find work to keep themselves fully utilized. When you are billing, it's for work that either has nothing to do with your skillset or is insultingly below your abilities. The culture is simply oppressive, as nobody speaks, has fun, or socializes, as everyone is too beaten down by seeing their company crumble before their eyes. I have no idea of Lee Hovermale will make a difference or not. He's at least started to communicate with employees, but the fact that people are still leaving fake Glassdoor reviews is not a good sign. I wish him good luck but I'm not going to miss the uncertainty, bad work and lousy hours.

First of, let's get this out. Apparently PLA is asking their current employees to submit positive reviews on Glassdoor to balance the negative reviews written by outgoing employees. Look at the 5 star reviews from June. Oddly they all came in within 2-3 days time. The stress of working at PLA is unparalleled. Projects are estimated and contracts are written by a group that doesn't take any ownership during execution. Teams are left to their own devices to figure out how to bring these underestimated projects home. Unrealistic deadlines, unrealistic expectations of budget and scope leaves the PMs to clean up the mess. And when the client is not satisfied, blame the team for not doing the work properly or not doing enough. Billability and utilization are words that are used everyday. Leadership doesn't discuss the fact that the projects were underestimated to begin with but expect the teams to magically deliver the projects profitably. Leadership is completely disconnected from reality. There's an inner circle of people who has the say when it comes to developing a strategy. Company policies are designed by a few people close to the CEO. Rest of the pack are left overworked with no pay hikes, bonuses or job opportunities. How do they accomplish that? By bringing the employee's morale and confidence in check. When you are criticized for every little thing you do while throwing you in to extraordinarily messy circumstances obviously you will begin to question your capability and try to fit in. With employees leaving in droves, the company's reputation is out in the market. PLA struggles to hire even junior developers which is taking an average of 3-4 months. 2014 bonuses - CEO Alan had promised that he WILL pay out bonuses for 2014 and he did. Thank you Alan. On an average employees were paid out anywhere from $350 to $750. Take taxes out, you are left with money for a weekend dinner. Talk about insult to injury.