The biggest drawback of working with this company is the disconnect between leadership and the contractors who actually perform the work. Throughout my time with the company, I often felt that decisions were made with little consideration for the impact they would have on assistants and account managers.
The company promotes values such as transparency, support for working parents, and an open-door policy. Unfortunately, my experience did not reflect those values. When concerns were raised regarding leadership decisions, feedback was often met with resistance rather than meaningful discussion. Employees and contractors who questioned policies frequently felt dismissed, and opportunities for open dialogue seemed limited.
One of the most concerning issues involved changes to contractor compensation. The agreement I signed stated:
"The Contractor will receive 60% of the total fees collected from clients for services rendered, while 40% will be retained by Squared Away Partners, LLC as an administrative fee."
For years, this was understood and applied as contractors receiving 60% of the total client plan value. More recently, leadership reinterpreted this language to mean payment based only on hours used by the client rather than the total fees collected. This represented a significant change in compensation and created confusion and frustration among contractors who had relied on the original structure.
The communication surrounding these changes further contributed to instability. Contractors were left fielding questions from clients while trying to understand policy changes themselves. Rather than creating confidence, the process left many people uncertain about their role, compensation, and future with the company.
While there are some talented people within the organization who genuinely care about clients and contractors, I believe leadership decisions have negatively impacted company culture, trust, and long-term growth. Prospective contractors should carefully review compensation terms, ask detailed questions about pay structure, and ensure they fully understand how compensation is calculated before joining.
