Pros
- CitizenLab/Go Vocal is skilled in branding and creating a polished external image, which I think appeals to many potential employees and clients. - Some creative initiatives for team interaction and slack channels were created to fostered more personal exchanges with colleagues.
Cons
- Burnout was common among employees, with many leaving due to feeling overworked, underappreciated, and unsupported. - The turnover rate was extremely high (there are constant job openings and every few months you can see the same roles coming up), and concerns raised with management were rarely addressed meaningfully. - There was a blame culture, where employees were often internalizing struggles and left blaming themselves. - There was a lack of respect for people’s boundaries. For example, when I did not want to announce that I was leaving during a town hall meeting (because I did not feel comfortable lying in front of everyone about why), I was pushed to do so. Looking back, I assume that was to save face and avoid potential parallel conversations where there was a risk I would reveal the truth about why I decided to leave. - Bullying was a significant issue, driven by a cliquish culture that created divisions, feelings of being ‘ganged up’, and undermined collaboration. - Priorities were often unclear, leading to miscommunication and unnecessary stress. - Certain teams were plagued by micromanagement, with little autonomy or ownership given to employees for their tasks. - Feedback loops lacked transparency. - Employees were encouraged to write positive reviews on Glassdoor for branding purposes.
