Reasonably benign dictatorship, weak on management skills and structure - Anonymous employee Mumsnet Employee Review

2.0
5 Sept 2017
Anonymous employee
Recommend
CEO approval
Business outlook

Pros

Mumsnet has a strong set of values, gives you the opportunity to work alongside talented, outspoken, interesting women and men and is sympathetic to working parents in terms of flexible hours and working from home. For this reason, women who are parents of small children cope with a less than perfect working environment, since jobs that offer this kind of flexibility are still in a minority.

Cons

For a company of its size, 80+ , it was bizarre and shortsighted not to have a properly trained HR team. Management skills across the board were lacking and career progression was arbitrary and haphazard, with favouritism and cronyism clearly on display. New hires were regularly parachuted into high level roles without those jobs having been advertised, purely on the basis of personal contacts and friendships with senior management. Low level, and sometimes more serious bullying of staff members by other staff members took place with no recourse, since there was no HR or formal procedure. Within the company roles and responsibilities were often switched around or reassigned arbitrarily, regardless of an employee's skillset or capabilities. Ultimately power rarely devolved from the top and decisions, however ill-judged, rash or idiosyncratic could not be challenged or questioned.

Explore other reviews about Mumsnet

3.0
16 May 2022
Anonymous employee
Recommend
CEO approval
Business outlook

Pros

Mumsnet is a nice place to work with some great people Friendly environment Interesting business to work for

Cons

Underpaid for the work you do Career progressions isn't clear

1.0
17 Jun 2025
Recommend
CEO approval
Business outlook

Pros

The owner loves to boast that parents will “never miss a sports day”

Cons

In reality the company is filled with miserable employees (mostly women) who are burdened with the golden handcuffs of having the flexibility of working around childcare but hating your job.

2
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