Google reviews

While the flat structure aids quick development of ideas, many managers are not people persons and are fairly inexperienced (as managers, while they're great software engineers). For newbies this can be frustrating because of the lack of downwards managerial communication. On top of that, the lack of clear policies and rules about things like WFH and OOO while make it easier to have a personal life highlight the disparity between well-connected Googlers (who might be friends with their managers) and the others. Lastly, product/project managers, ubertechs and swengs often fight about silly stuff, leaving innocent bystanders merely confused.

The downsides of working at Google depend largely on the department that you're dealing with. The sales organization is highly disorganized and has a glut of middle management. Management and structure are obviously necessary in all companies, but the sales org at Google has too many managers, many of whom are ill-qualified to be managing other people. There are also a lot of politics surrounding promotions, etc. because of this large middle management structure. It also causes a lot of unnecessary bureaucracy which slows down work and can be extremely frustrating for individuals who are still on the lower rungs of the ladder. Additionally, at least within the sales org, there appears to be virtually no real career path or hope for development/promotion. Managers are hired from outside (with MBAs being strongly preferred), which is frustrating and demoralizing for employees who have worked for years without being moved up.