Great company, but the management is a disaster - Anonymous employee atolls Employee Review

1.0
Dec 28, 2023
Anonymous employee
Recommend
CEO approval
Business Outlook

Pros

- GSG is profitable and economically secure (for now at least) - The company values work-life balance - Highly flexible remote work policy, enhancing work satisfaction

Cons

Management is challenging, marked by significant instability and a high turnover in the product/tech department, with recent terminations of the CTO, VP of Engineering, and Director of Engineering. Deadlines are consistently unmet, and there are no realistic roadmaps. Team cohesion is lacking as members are spread across Europe with limited budget for physical meetings. The organization undergoes frequent changes, and the tooling is problematic. Managers seem to have little awareness of what's happening and lack effective strategies to improve the situation. From an external perspective, the company appears innovative, but internally it is characterized by chaos and low performance.

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atolls Response
2y
Hi, Thank you for sharing your comprehensive feedback on your time at GSG. We take your insights seriously, as they are crucial for our continuous growth and improvement. We recognize your concerns regarding the recent turnover in leadership within our product/tech department. Such changes, while challenging, are part of our broader strategy to optimize our structures and adapt to the evolving business landscape. We are committed to ensuring stability and fostering a vision that drives the company to new heights. This includes enhancing our leadership development programs and creating a more dynamic and visionary management approach. The challenges in project management, such as unmet deadlines and the lack of realistic roadmaps, are areas we are actively addressing. Our aim is to establish clearer, more achievable goals and improve communication across teams. This effort is aligned with our #MoveLearnChange value, emphasizing the importance of adaptability and continuous learning in our operations. Part of the business efforts is sharing with all of our colleagues the company's roadmap and OKRs for the coming months, in order to align them to the departments' and teams' specific goals, as well as to receive feedback to address any possible concerns. We understand that team cohesion can be a challenge, especially with members spread across various locations. We are working on better integrating our teams, ensuring regular and effective communication, and providing adequate resources for both virtual and physical team interactions. We believe that fostering strong team dynamics is essential for our collective success. Your point about the concentration of power and decision-making within a specific group at the top level is noted. We are working towards a more decentralized approach, ensuring fair opportunities for all our employees and promoting a culture where every voice is heard. This includes offering equitable chances for internal promotions and focusing on objective decision-making processes. Regarding the feedback on people managers and their involvement in organizational changes, we are taking steps to ensure that managers are more included in the decision-making processes. Our upcoming program for people managers, launching in Q1 of 2024, is designed to empower them with the necessary skills and knowledge to effectively lead their teams and contribute to strategic decisions. We also acknowledge your observations on the internal challenges versus the external perception of innovation. Bridging this gap is important to us, and we are striving to ensure that our internal practices genuinely reflect the innovative and forward-thinking image we present externally. Lastly, we understand the importance of a fair compensation structure and career progression. We are reviewing our compensation policies and career development pathways to ensure they are competitive and transparent. Our goal is to provide a work environment where every employee feels valued and has the opportunity to grow. Your advice to management is invaluable, and we assure you that it is a key part of our strategy for improvement. We are committed to creating a workplace where every employee can thrive and feel proud to be part of Global Savings Group. Warm regards, Your P&C Team

Explore other reviews about atolls

5.0
Dec 6, 2024
Recommend
CEO approval
Business Outlook

Pros

Atolls has an incredibly caring management team. They do not shy away from motivating their teams to work hard and achieve lofty goals, but they offer ample support, frequent pulse checks, and actively encourage a healthy work-life balance, motivating employees to maximize their work hours. If you're looking for a workplace devoid of toxicity and who supports your overall career aspirations, this is the place.

Cons

The work here can become rather repetitive. While you have an incredibly large array of client sites to work with, most of your day-to-day duties will look the same. There are still plenty of opportunities for you to take on new projects and mix things up, but your core schedule is very similar day to day.

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atolls Response
1y
Hi, Thank you for sharing your experience as a freelancer with Atolls over the past six years. It’s heartening to hear that you’ve felt supported by our management team and appreciated the motivation, pulse checks, and encouragement for maintaining a healthy work-life balance. Creating a positive and supportive environment, even for our freelance team members, is something we strive for every day. We understand that the nature of the work can sometimes feel repetitive, despite the variety of client sites. While there are opportunities to take on new projects, we recognize the importance of keeping daily tasks engaging and will continue exploring ways to enhance the freelance experience. At Atolls, we believe in #StrongerTogether, fostering a culture where every team member, whether full-time or freelance, feels valued and supported in their professional journey. Thank you again for your contributions, and if you’d like to share more, please reach out to our Talent Attraction and Engagement team at tae.team@joingsg.com. Your P&C Team.
5.0
Oct 10, 2024
Recommend
CEO approval
Business Outlook

Pros

I have sincere confidence and respect in leadership - Gerhard, in particular, is smart, charismatic, deliberate and compassionate. It's easy to believe in him and his vision because he seems very sincere. I've found this to generally trickle down throughout the organization. While not necessarily true of all leaders I've had during the course of my tenure at the company, my current direct manager is pragmatic while still managing business goals, and has respect for a healthy work/life balance. The company leans into a policy of being open, honest and direct. I generally find leadership to be quite transparent - if you're paying attention, you'll know the temperature of the business at any given time, and have a sense of where the company is heading. There are no big secrets (or if there are, they've done such a good at hiding them I'm oblivious). This is one of the rare companies where the people I come into regular contact are good people, supportive of one another, and genuinely working towards common success.

Cons

Look, no company is perfect. Atolls/GSG can sometimes move too slow. And sometimes it can seem to underinvest in what seem like key initiatives. But I believe that leadership is generally self-aware, open to input, and looks to improve in areas of underperformance where it is reasonable and makes sense. Comp is generally aligned to market averages. There are certainly companies that pay more - but will you find the same environment? I'm unsure on career opportunities. It seems like employees in some geos may be better positioned for growth then others.

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atolls Response
1y
Hi, Thank you for sharing your detailed feedback and for your long-term commitment to Atolls. It’s wonderful to hear that you have confidence in our leadership, and that you appreciate the transparency and collaborative spirit within the company. Building trust and a healthy, balanced work environment are essential to us, and it’s gratifying to know that these values resonate with you. We understand your concerns around areas for improvement, such as the pace of change, investment in key initiatives, and career growth opportunities. As part of our commitment to continuous improvement, we’re actively enhancing our internal growth framework, with specific efforts to increase career mobility across all regions. Additionally, our 2024 initiatives include a refined job architecture and performance review process, designed to make career pathways and development opportunities more transparent and accessible across the organization. At Atolls, our #MoveLearnChange value reflects our commitment to adapting, learning, and growing based on the feedback we receive. We truly appreciate your insights, which help us shape a better experience for everyone. Thank you once again, and please feel free to reach out to our Talent Attraction and Engagement team at tae.team@atolls.com if you’d like to discuss any of these areas further. Your P&C Team
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