So much wasted potential
Gut am Arbeitgeber finde ich
Initially, the employer had the charm of a cosy, family atmosphere. Its roots as a small, family-owned business fostered an environment where agility, flexibility and personalised approaches were not only valued but actively encouraged by the management team. Unfortunately, after the change of the current CEOs, this valued attitude has disappeared, leaving a void in the corporate culture. The company value 'Appreciated' has sadly become an empty phrase.
Schlecht am Arbeitgeber finde ich
Since the two new CEOs took over in early 2023, a palpable change has swept through the company, altering its atmosphere, principles and attitude towards employees. The once vibrant, family-like camaraderie has given way to a stark departure from the can-do team spirit that was once the hallmark of the workplace. In particular, the company's core value of 'appreciation' now stands as a mere echo of its former self. Transparency, once a cornerstone of the company, has become a rare asset, with opacity ruling supreme in day-to-day operations. There's a pervasive sense that the company's investment in its people has diminished, with instances suggesting a deliberate attempt to mislead colleagues, leaving many disheartened and disillusioned.
Verbesserungsvorschläge
Introduce a system for handling failures: By refraining from the reflexive blame game whenever things go awry, employees, senior and middle management might start to dare to make decisions again and focus on finding solutions rather than justifications.
Implement a real empowerment of the headquarter in order to be able to lead the countries. At the moment, the tail is wagging the dog rather than the other way round.
Cease micromanagement practices, particularly from CEOs, and instead prioritize listening to and trusting internal talent. Providing autonomy and support to employees fosters a culture of innovation and efficiency, driving the organization forward.
Arbeitsatmosphäre
While there's still a sense of camaraderie among colleagues, the once-positive atmosphere at the workplace is steadily deteriorating. The humanity, empathy, cohesion, recognition and motivation that were once the pillars of the management style are now conspicuously absent. Instead, a culture of fear and scapegoating has become the dominant style, undermining team morale and trust.
Kommunikation
Communication within the company ostensibly advocates transparency, yet regrettably, the reality paints a starkly different picture.
Kollegenzusammenhalt
Cohesion among colleagues is crumbling, especially as many experienced and long-serving colleagues are resigning and leaving the company. Their departure removes valuable knowledge and expertise, further weakening the team's foundation.
In addition, replacements are often chosen for their yes-man mentality rather than their competence.
Work-Life-Balance
Work-life balance largely depends on individual line managers. Overall, there is a conservative attitude towards the use of home offices and flexitime arrangements.
Vorgesetztenverhalten
The general management demands more and more. One extra mile after another, higher and higher and higher, with no regard for personal life, family or health issues; and with no genuine recognition or appreciation of outstanding performance and loyalty to the company. Employees are interchangeable to CEOs, and they are treated as such.
Senior & Middle management, caught between complying with pre-determined directives and maintaining a semblance of humanity, finds itself under increasing strain. The resulting exhaustion and demotivation is palpable as they struggle with the burdens of conflict resolution and navigating office politics.
The general feeling is that the CEOs are not really interested in a real management TEAM and joined leadership.
This relentless pressure has taken its toll, leading to a mass exodus of the senior & middle management team, either voluntarily or through redundancy. The absence of a coherent management strategy and shared leadership further underlines the disconnect between the aspirations of the workforce and the priorities of senior management.
Arbeitsbedingungen
Working conditions are far from ideal, with an open-plan office layout offering little privacy or retreat. There's also a noticeable lack of meeting rooms and phone booths, and some of the technology is dysfunctional, hampering productivity and collaboration.
Gehalt/Sozialleistungen
The salaries and benefits offered by the company are below the industry standard and are not competitive. Despite the expectation associated with the recent introduction of the benefits and compensation programme, the promised transparency and fairness have not yet materialised. Instead, employees are disillusioned because they have the impression that attempts are being made to deceive them, e.g. by passing off statutory salary adjustments as voluntary increases. This discrepancy has not gone unnoticed, leaving many feeling undervalued and discouraged. What initially looked like a promising initiative has unfortunately turned into a disappointment and casts a shadow over the company's efforts to address compensation issues.
Karriere/Weiterbildung
Promotional and training opportunities remain theoretical and are rarely implemented. Even initiatives such as the benefit and compensation programme do not translate into tangible opportunities for career growth and development.