Learning opportunities overshadowed by heavy HR governance and layoffs - Analyst Polestar Analytics Employee Review

The company culture has become heavily HR-governed rather than employee- or business-focused. HR involvement in appraisals appears excessive, and employee ratings can be negatively impacted even when managers have provided strong performance feedback. There is a rigid policy-driven environment with strict focus on office-hour completion instead of productivity and outcomes. Employees are monitored heavily, which creates unnecessary stress and reduces morale. One of the biggest concerns is the way layoffs and employee exits are being handled. Employees are being removed with extremely short notice — sometimes within a few hours on the same working day. People come to office normally and an AI Interview is scheduled and they are informed by the end of the day that they need to leave. In several cases, employees are pushed toward submitting resignations so the exit appears voluntary, even though it effectively functions as a termination process. This creates fear, insecurity, and a lack of trust across teams. Certain workplace policies and late-evening restrictions also make the work environment feel restrictive and discourage equal participation in team culture and activities. Overall, there is a lack of transparent communication and stable management practices. Employees are expected to adjust constantly to policy changes with little clarity or support.