High stress environment with disengaged leadership - Systems Administrator Ontic Engineering and Manufacturing Employee Review

The working culture can be extremely stressful, with heavy workloads and very little practical support when employees raise concerns. HR does not appear to advocate for staff and seems primarily focused on protecting the company’s interests rather than addressing employee wellbeing. There is also a noticeable “boys’ club” mentality in parts of the management structure, which can make the environment feel exclusionary and difficult to challenge. Senior leadership is largely absent from day-to-day engagement with staff and communication from the top is limited. One of the most frustrating aspects is how retention is handled. When employees raise serious concerns about workload or culture, the issues are often ignored. However, if someone tries to leave, management can suddenly become very motivated to retain them through pay increases or promotions instead of addressing the underlying problems that led to the situation in the first place. This approach creates a culture where problems are left unresolved and stress levels remain high.