Avoid at all costs
Gut am Arbeitgeber finde ich
That I left this toxic releationship
Schlecht am Arbeitgeber finde ich
Pretty much everything. Honestly. Read my review
Verbesserungsvorschläge
Shut it down
Arbeitsatmosphäre
People come because of the projects, stay because of the colleagues and leave because of the management.
The mangagement has a toxic positivity bias. It is impossible to communicate with them about actual operational challenges because according to them "complaining is cancerous", yes this is an actual quote from one of their "inspirational" slide decks.
They will ignore any real world problem if it does not fit their narrative effectively creating impossible situations for the people working on projects and trying to fulfil the contractual obligations of the company. If you point out problems you will be sidelined
This so-called "scale-up" quickly reveals itself as a quagmire for those tasked with delivering actual results, particularly project managers and senior staff.
This is not the focus of the management. Their focus is to look good and to "be inspired".
You will be stuck in meeting after meeting in which the top-management will give self-aggrandizing powerpoint presentations about their family life, their travels, and how they single handedly saved Africa by bringing them cheap tooth-paste and soap.
Kommunikation
The top management is only focused on the impression they make on "important people," showing blatant disregard for those they consider "beneath" them.
As a result, crucial information often goes unmentioned, or falsehoods are presented if the truth would reflect poorly on the company in the eyes of these "important people."
They arbitrarily assign roles of "scapegoats" and "superstars," basing their decisions on utterly superficial criteria
They planed to introduce regular quizzes on Excel table contents as "a factor for future career trajectory in WDL." They expected employees to memorize and be quizzed on arbitrary data, suggesting that being labeled a "superstar" depends more on trivia than on actual work performance or productivity.
With this insight, one might easily spot the inauthentic reviews they could be posting themselves here.
Kollegenzusammenhalt
The colleagues are the highlight of the job—motivated, international, academically inclined, and leaning left, they add value to WDL. The company, adept at promoting its "green-washing" narrative, attracts such talent effectively.
However, it doesn't take long for most to see that this facade is a front for a purely profit-driven entity, using "data-for-good" as a guise to procure and exploit inexpensive labor.
They offer NGO-level salaries but expect output comparable to that of a McKinsey analyst, a disparity that leads to high turnover as the more perceptive employees soon depart, recognizing the operation as a profit-making venture for the owners.
Those who stay liken their coping mechanisms to AA group therapy, constantly airing grievances about management in WhatsApp groups, yet feeling unable to exit.
An ex-colleague summed it up: "WDL is akin to an abusive relationship."
Understandably, staff turnover is exceedingly high.
Work-Life-Balance
Full-time and part-time temporary freelance contracts without paid leave were the norm. The Austrian Social Security Agency (ÖGK) later decided these should have been regular jobs under mandatory social security laws. The employer knew this but kept dangling the promise of real contracts without delivering, suggesting illegal conduct.
With no room for side gigs, workers felt pressured to avoid sick leave to secure contract renewals.
Not working means no pay, and taking sick days is frowned upon, a stance that was harsh during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Freelancers are expected to be on call at all times, with top management requiring availability through personal communication channels even after hours.
If unavailable, finding a personal replacement is expected. Despite low pay, the responsibility is immense, with an expectation to perform well beyond the call of duty, under the guise of "great opportunities."
Vorgesetztenverhalten
Top management employs "greenwashing" narratives to attract eager university graduates willing to accept modest wages for the perceived "greater good". Yet, rather than contributing to philanthropic projects, employees find themselves supporting mega corporations like L'Oreal with their expansion in the developing world. The "data-for-good" slogan is nothing more than a veneer for profitability.
Promises from management often fall by the wayside unless they serve their own agenda. It's advisable for those employed to have all agreements in writing.
There's a notable lack of organization, compounded by a blatant disregard for Austrian labor laws, with claims that recruiting more affordable data scientists from abroad is necessary due to high local costs.
To skirt around social security contributions, management pushes staff into freelance contracts.
Ignoring project managers' advice, they haphazardly shift resources to projects they suddenly prioritize, leading to unrealistic deadlines and excessive pressure on teams.
Interessante Aufgaben
When you are granted the opportunity to work on public sector projects for the "NGO" side (which actually is and always has been a for-profit enterprise), the work is genuinely interesting.
However, the reality is that your time will be consumed by assisting mega-corporations in selling toothpaste to Africans, alongside fulfilling greenwashing initiatives in your spare time.
Expect to justify these tasks to the grant providers as "top-notch" work and brace yourself for criticism from the management for not dedicating enough time to make them wealthy AND fulfill the grant obligations.
Gleichberechtigung
Everyone is equally replaceable in the eyes of the senior management
Arbeitsbedingungen
The company is mired in technical debt, offers low wages, and operates in near-constant chaos. It's a jumble of buzzwords with no solid business processes in place. Questionable accounting practices are the norm, alongside a stark disregard for project management and project managers. Additionally, it seems to flout Austrian labor law with impunity.
The turnover rate is alarmingly high, reflecting perhaps on the incompetence of HR. Employees are often underpaid despite bearing heavy responsibilities, a situation exacerbated by title and project creep, as well as incessant meetings. Management lacks technical expertise, documentation is non-existent, and crunch times are frequent.
There's a disturbing trend of data tampering to fit narratives, reckless "back of the envelope" decisions rushing into production without proper data validation. A culture of scapegoating pervades, adding to the overall dysfunction.
Umwelt-/Sozialbewusstsein
In reality, their commitment to environmental and social awareness exists only on paper.
In theory, there should be no difference between theory and practice, but here, they are only theoretically the same.