Four Years of Dedication Met with Disorganization and Disregard
Pros
The people I worked with day-to-day were genuinely great, and the relationships I built with coworkers were the main reason I stayed as long as I did. There were many employees who consistently stepped up to support one another during high-pressure periods, often going above and beyond their actual job responsibilities to keep operations running smoothly- which matched my level of dedication after years of working with a team I truly valued. When I interviewed, I informed them that I was looking for a company I could grow with, and I proved that every day when others would call out last minute or "work from home" but not really. I was there for more than just a paycheck and anyone that worked with me would attest to that.
Cons
Unfortunately, the same level of support was not reflected at the leadership level. Communication, expectations, and processes often felt inconsistent depending on the department. This was especially the case when I, a licensed real estate agent hired to assist in the acquisitions department with transaction management- was asked to take on a business development role. Mind you, I haven't any formal training- just a sparkling personality and desire to help. This wasn't the first time I was expected to absorb additional responsibilities- I often assisted in HR, accounting and property management due to the companies inability to remain fully staffed. This role, coming directly from the CFO I felt I had a good rapport with, came without clear structure, direction and as usual, compensation. This role was taken on in addition to my original role, with some duties being passed on to a virtual assistant in a different country being paid half of what I was, that I trained and managed. (But, I wasn't considered a "manager" of course). I was with the company for 2 years before I even received a raise- which I almost had to fight tooth and nail for. My duties were flawless and I took on roles that were beyond my job description with joy, assuming when the time came my effort would be recognized. I submitted for a raise, with evidence supporting where I got the amount from and was advised by my "supervisor" that she agreed and would submit it to management. I then and had to wait over 3 months for their approval. I went to HR often requesting an update and was verbally advised she would ensure it was backdated, Only to THEN remind her of my request and urge that she keep her word. The following year I had taken on even more duties than the previous two years and therefore requested another evidence based raise. Once again, my supervisor told me she agreed with the amount and put it through to HR. I knew by this point that I wouldn't see it for a while, and yet again, it took months to get approved and it still wasn't the amount I initally requested. This supervisor was great personably, but not so much in a leadership role. Anything personally she had going on greatly effected how she treated any and everyone around her. I even went to HR and the CFO about countless situations where this was negatively impacting those that worked on her team, only to be promised a solution that never came. As the company evolved, the culture also shifted noticeably. What once seemed collaborative and employee-focused became increasingly disconnected, with most employees feeling undervalued and unheard. Leadership initiatives and company messaging more than often failed to align with the actual employee experience, particularly surrounding morale, transparency, and long-term job security. This was especially apparent at this past year's company "holiday party". What was once inclusive and morale-boosting, was taken over by the CFO to be made "mandatory" and our spouses weren't allowed to attend. We (the volunteers on the stretched thin events committee) had to take the remote employees on a bus tour to show off the companies current renovations, Then only those employees were required to attend team building events. The company dinner turned into a "let's praise AI that's going to put most of you out of a job" and left many employees feeling undervalued and unimportant. As soon as the presentation was finished, everyone left. I was praised by every person I worked with for the time and effort I put into showing that I valued being a part of the company I had come to know and love, regardless of the challenges the it continued to put on us. We interacted outside of work, and were more than just coworkers- even the CFO. The day I was laid off I literally couldn't believe that everything I had worked so hard toward amounted to nothing. Even HR seemed to be disappointed in the CFO's decision, but of course, his decision is final regardless of how it effected anyone else. EVERYONE I worked with reached out in disappointment after hearing what had happened, and even now, 3 months later reach out. After seeing so much turnover within various departments, I assumed my dedication to the company and more to my coworkers, kept me safe. I was wrong. And now, everyone that works there knows they're just as dispensable. To add to my disappointment in the company, after years of not allowing PTO rollover, the company finally implemented it, which allowed me to intentionally save a full week of PTO in preparation for an upcoming surgery. However, when I was unexpectedly laid off, I was informed that the accrued PTO I had specifically saved would NOT be paid out. I was laid off literally four days shy of my 4-year anniversary with the company. Not even 24 hours later, I was immediately instructed to return company equipment without any care for the fact that my way of providing for my family, and to an extent the people I had considered friends had just been taken away after four years without explanation, further highlighting the lack of professionalism and communication. If I had even had any idea of what was going to happen I could've brought the equipment with me to the office. Instead, I had to go out of my way to find a FedEx and take time away from finding another job to wrap up a loose end for a company that had shown me exactly where I stood in their eyes. I received my benefits determination letter where they gave my reasoning for being fired as "the claimant's quality of work did not meet company standards". Part of me wanted to escalate the situation to make them prove it because I know they can't.
