Board meetings are screaming matches by directors with verbal abuse directed at staff, junior and senior. Micromanagement and finger pointing at all levels, leading to anxiety and stress for staff. Initially everyone seems nice, however over a short time the culture of stress becomes apparent.
Offices consist of non-approved converted cupboards and former toilet cubicles with open ceilings revealing ceiling pipes such as sewage facilities and air conditioning. Offices are overcrowded, chairs are cheap and OHS is non existent for administrative staff. There are no windows at all for staff.
Valued staff regularly disappear (fired and escorted from premises) with little or no notice or explanation and remain staff are told nothing perpetuating the culture of fear. Those who survive are adept at office politics or flying under the radar. Any staff member challenging the status quo is "removed" quickly and quietly.
Directors are prone to explosive outbursts more at place in a kindergarten than a workplace, using the phrase of "passionate family company" to excuse these unprofessional episodes.
Staff are filmed through CCTV around the clock, finger scanned on arrival and departure. There are signs around the offices extolling the values and mission statements as well as rules and regulations, none of which appear to apply to the owners.