Do not accept an offer from this place - Anonymous employee Blue Bridge Financial Employee Review

As always we welcome feedback on the Company and its operation. Unfortunately, though in this case we are not going to take the “Advice to Management” and “Not reply”. We feel the need to reply to this attack by a small group of disgruntled former employees. We are responding to support the individuals that are currently employed at the company who have put in considerable time and effort building the company to where it is today. Let’s start with some facts. There are 18 individuals in Senior Associate positions and above employed at the Company. The average tenure of these employees is over 4 years. Yes, 4 years average tenure for a company with as many issues as the writer mentions and states that “employee turnover is obviously extremely high.” Of the 4 Senior directors that have been here for 1 year or less, 3 have been promoted during the last 12 months from Senior Associate. These are employees who embody the skill and commitment that we nurture and support. The data shows employees who engage and commit themselves to the business progress at a rapid pace that is not generally experienced in large bureaucratic companies. The writer’s comment that management mocks people’s stress, anxiety and misfortune is offensive. There have been dozens of situations where employees faced real misfortune and the Company responded with compassion including extended leaves of absence, financial support and job accommodations. The employees who are hard-working and truly want to learn and develop their careers are those that deserve and experience the support of senior management. The author is correct, we are not Amazon or Google, that comment alone seems to come from someone who believes that only relevance comes from high technology companies, which is quite naïve. Blue Bridge has served over 8,000 customers from around the country since 2009. These customers are farmers, dentists, construction companies, etc. and have all received loans from the company that are managed by the individuals mentioned above. Our business can be stressful as we work with these borrowers and help them navigate the challenges of their own business. Now let’s get to the real heart of the matter. First, many of the negative reviews have come in a flurry over the last four months. Not surprisingly that seems to coincide with recent terminations or mutually agreed upon resignations. Many of these terminations have been at the Associate level which is too be expected given the fast-paced nature of the business and the high standards we set for all employees. The venom which these reviews express is clearly calculated and coming from a small group of individuals that struggled with the pace of the business and the accountability that comes with working in a growing and dynamic business. Each department has a clear set of operating SOPs and management is always accessible to review unique situations. In many cases, employees departed, either voluntarily or involuntarily, because they did not utilize the available resources or take the feedback that was provided. When potential employees are in the interview process, they often ask “what are the traits that make people successful?” The answer is very simple: self-awareness, desire and ability to learn, independent thinking, ability to manage deadlines and at times stress, and not being tentative about asking questions. We have found, like many other businesses, that employees seek an environment like that, but not all have the personality and work ethic to succeed in such an environment. In a small company such as Blue Bridge, there is tremendous access to senior management which allows those with the skill and drive to succeed and develop their career. However, it also provides transparency and accountability which can be uncomfortable in cases where either the skills or the motivation is lacking. As a Company we continue to strive to find employees who can grow and thrive in this environment like the Senior Associates and above who have been here more than four years. This is a two-way street, and we do try to make it very clear what the expectations are for all new employees to avoid some of the unproductive behavior we have experienced: • We strive to have all employees work in the office the majority of the time. This improves the pace of learning and accountability. • Be respectful of fellow employees and management. It is a small company and if you are constantly complaining about your co-workers and management, it will impact your employment. • Be honest about your skills and knowledge and ask questions. • Follow the guidelines for work hours and expectations. These are some very simple tenets of workplace culture that some of the most recent employees who departed have struggled to understand. Blue Bridge is a growing company serving small businesses around the country which has a very talented and committed workforce.