Management mess - Human Resources Xylem Employee Review

2.0
8 Jul 2022
Recommend
CEO approval
Business outlook

Pros

Xylem has a lot of potential. It could be amazing. It’s got a build in purpose that is easy to buy into. The CEO, Patrick, is genuine about sustainability and “solving water”. But don’t be deceived by the “opportunities for improvement”. They want you to believe you can come in and make change but Sr. Leaders are loath to change at the risk of losing power.

Cons

The Senior Leadership team is full of sycophants. They are not held accountable for their failures and just continue to get praise and crazy equity. The Chief Strategy Officer left his role to run a business, he failed miserably and got rewarded with a promotion and his old job back. The old CFO bungled three business transformations but kept his job for five years. The organizations design is extremely complicated and their latest organization change called “simplification for growth” is a joke. The new organization is just as complex as the old but the CEO and the SLT are excited about how great things are going to be. But it’s just an excuse to cut costs and get rid of some people who aren’t in the in crowd.

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Xylem Response
3y
Thank you for sharing your views on your experience in Xylem. We’re grateful for feedback from all stakeholders, and are always keen to improve. We use our regular employee surveys to develop action plans that address the issues our colleagues identify as particularly important. Those plans are part of our commitment to continuous improvement across Xylem, at all levels.

Explore other reviews about Xylem

5.0
6 Jun 2026
Anonymous intern
Recommend
CEO approval
Business outlook

Pros

Nice managers, supportive, kind environment

Cons

None really, would recommend for internship

2.0
25 Jun 2026
Anonymous employee
Recommend
CEO approval
Business outlook

Pros

Good pay, unlimited PTO, and the occasional free lunch when leadership is in town. There are also volunteer activities available if you want to get involved.

Cons

Only 12 paid holidays, and Veterans Day and MLK Day aren’t included. Expectations shift constantly, creating rework, wasted effort, and frequent overtime that leads to burnout. The environment is highly political, with a small group gatekeeping information, unclear ownership, and perception often outweighing results. The business is volatile, with heavy, frequent restructures and ongoing headcount cuts. Technology and systems are outdated, processes aren’t documented, and training/onboarding is weak. The culture leans toward a boys’ club, and it’s easy to feel sidelined or disrespected—so you’ll need a thick skin. Decisions are driven by short‑term goals, and the future often feels uncertain.

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