Pros
I was drawn to this place by their “indy shop” identity. They expressed a desire in the interview process for unique, inquisitive and energetic personalities. You do see that reflected in some of the people work there. I met some real gems in my time at Mekanism. It’s not corporate in the sense that everyone wears ties, but it’s definitely corporate in the way they treat people.
Cons
I could never put my finger on exactly why this place was so detrimental to my everyday happiness. If you listen in on an all-hands meeting, you’ll hear nothing but energy and joy. Listen in on the 1-1s, and it’s a different story. It’s a manger explaining that they realize you’re already double scoped, but “we just need to be more efficient.” It’s two employees trying to work out if they need express permission to work from home the day after the loss of a pet. Or a huddle with a sobbing coworker who is so stressed out their spouse wants them to just quit. The managing director in my region was, hands down, the cruelest person I’ve ever worked with. We were told that work-life balance was not to be expected in this industry. Working long hours and on weekends is the norm. There was a near-constant feedback loop of negative comments and antagonistic behavior from leadership. Employee satisfaction surveys are NOT anonymous. Management is retaliatory and vindictive. Layoffs have been heavy and frequent. Those that could leave already have.