Growing Pains Don't Make A Company Evil - Manager Ruffwear Employee Review

Great vision, mission, values. Product passion

Small company.. working hard to do all the right things for all involved.

There were genuinely great people on the team, and I built some meaningful relationships during my time there. Being able to bring my dog into the studio was a unique and enjoyable perk, and the employee discount on gear was generous.

For a brand positioned as an action-sport dog company, the culture felt overly corporate and rigid. Despite exceeding expectations for extended periods, it often felt like the standards were constantly shifting. The moving goalposts made it difficult to feel successful or motivated, and over time, that eroded morale. There was also a concerning pattern around terminations. Employees were sometimes let go under the label of “poor performance” despite prior strong contributions. In several instances, it appeared this approach was used to avoid severance or unemployment obligations. I witnessed this happen to multiple coworkers, which created a culture of instability and fear rather than trust. At times, I observed that personal emotions appeared to influence leadership decisions, and accountability was not always handled constructively. Work was often not clearly delegated, which made it difficult to understand priorities or fully contribute. There were instances where I was not assigned projects, yet concerns were raised about workload and output, creating confusion and inefficiency. The management style also felt overly controlling, limiting autonomy. When I raised concerns about compensation and my overall experience in the role, I did not feel heard. Those conversations often felt dismissed, and responsibility was redirected back onto me rather than being addressed collaboratively. Over time, this made it difficult to feel supported or valued.