Hegen Reviews

2.1

26% would recommend to a friend

(40 total reviews)
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Yvon Bock

24% approve of CEO

24% positive business outlook

Hegen has an employee rating of 2.1 out of 5 stars, based on 40 company reviews on Glassdoor which indicates that most employees have an average working experience there. The Hegen employee rating is 41% below average for employers within the Retail and wholesale industry (3.5 stars).

Reviews by job title

40 reviews
1.0
26 Nov 2022

Join at Risk

Anonymous employee
Recommend
CEO approval
Business outlook

Pros

- Great product ideas (initially) - Learn a lot - Fun colleagues

Cons

- No real, mature, transparent two way conversation between management & employees; employees do not feel comfortable to be honest. Everything becomes superficial. Eg. pattern of defective products but when raised up, they get offended. - Dealing with the whims of the management (throwing fits, being ignored, passive-aggressive) - Relationship with management is superficial. Love to always claim to be a family but do not behave like it. - No work life balance (no OT pay, leave was not given properly, overworked, expected to work after hours - emails, messages). Expected to work weekends and back to back for two weeks at a time. - High turnover rate (people not treated right, have seen staff being fired and told to leave on same day) - Unrealistic expectations — can get berated if you do not meet them. Expectations are also subjective. Recommend everything to be penned down in black & white via email. - Unclear KPIs, no proper career path (can change job title every appraisal, org chart always changes to suit their needs). KPIs set before going for appraisal / review. - Contract terms are for show, usually to protect management. Read it VERY carefully before signing. Employee benefits (such as Annual Leave) looks reasonable but face a lot of resistance if you actually try to use. - A lot of effort is placed by management to make sure that the image on the outside is upkept - as though putting on a show. Eg. seeding influencers. - Expected to do (extensively) more than what job scope requires - People who actually put in effort are underpaid and overworked. No proper recognition - Not worth to travel for overseas trip.

1.0
6 Mar 2023
Recommend
CEO approval
Business outlook

Pros

- Good place to cruise, if you are looking for stability here is the place for you. - Well stocked pantry. - Staff benefits are awesome for mummies or mummies to be, not so much for non-mothers. - Shuttle bus if you stay NEL.

Cons

- Inconvenient location. - Dramatic environment, gossips are everywhere. - Progression is dependent on the mood of the bosses and whether or not they like you tbh. - Managers are for show, they have no real power or authority. (It’s quite a pity bc some of the managers are really good) - Effort are not appreciated, bosses are petty and will always remember a mistake you make. - OT are quite common, bosses like to reach out after work hours and expects an immediate reply or action. - If you stay long enough, you will get promoted even if you don’t have the right skill set. - Experienced and skilful employees are milked till their very last day. - High turnover rates, at one point 5 managers left? See it for yourself if you intend to join this place. Hopefully you land yourself in the department that is in favour of the bosses. Did I mention it’s a family business down to its very core?

2.0
8 Jan 2024
Recommend
CEO approval
Business outlook

Pros

work buddies made working here so much more tolerable. I must say their feeding bottles are really great despite the toxic work environment.

Cons

I joined the company with immense inspiration drawn from the lady boss's story. The initial narrative was captivating, showcasing a journey of determination and success. However, as time passed, it became apparent that the company's priorities shifted, moving away from community values to a more business-centric approach. The working environment, touted as a 'family,' proved to be anything but. The bosses adopted a management style that often resembled treating staff like children, with instances of surprise scolding creating an uncomfortable atmosphere. Unfortunately, the 'family' work environment they promote is far from reality, as it turned out to be a breeding ground for toxicity. One significant drawback is the lack of consideration for employees who invest considerable effort, including sacrificing weekends for company events. The lady boss's subjective judgments seemed to override any merit-based evaluation. If you don't vibe with her, regardless of your dedication or sacrifices, your tenure might be abruptly terminated. The disconnect between the inspirational story and the actual working culture is disappointing. It's disheartening to witness a shift from a community-focused mindset to a purely business-centric one. The company's success seems to have overshadowed the initial values that made it inspiring. In conclusion, the company's transition from an inspiring narrative to a more business-focused, less community-driven approach has resulted in a working environment that falls short of its promoted 'family' values. The subjective nature of employee evaluations and surprise scoldings contribute to a toxic atmosphere, detracting from the positive aspects that initially drew me to the company.

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Hegen Response
1y
Thank you for your comprehensive review, and we are grateful for your feedback. I wish to address some of the points you made to ensure clarity for all parties. At Hegen, employees are not required to work beyond the hours stipulated in their employment agreements. Any overtime work should only be done in exceptional circumstances (such as national-scale baby fairs) and requires mutual, written agreement from both parties. Local legislation and the stipulations of employment agreements will determine the amount of overtime pay and off-in-lieu granted. As with many organisations that originated as family businesses, Hegen is on a continuous, transformative journey, where balance must be achieved between the legacies of the past and strategic renewals. Changes are inevitable parts of such paths, and we acknowledge that the transition may not always be straightforward or congenial for our employees. At Hegen, it is expected that employees and all stakeholders, regardless of their tenure or position, hold themselves to the highest standards and engage with each other in a respectful manner. All forms of misconducts will be swiftly investigated. Thank you again, and feel welcome to share any additional feedback you may have at hr@hegen.com. All the best to you. - Hegen People Team
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Glassdoor has 44 Hegen reviews submitted anonymously by Hegen employees. Read employee reviews and ratings on Glassdoor to decide if Hegen is right for you.