Smallpdf reviews about "people"

Things have changed dramatically lately. At the end of November, there was a first wave of layoffs, which surprised most employees: a few weeks earlier we had been told that there wouldn't be any layoffs. Also, we had the Xmas party 2 weeks after that, which most people found quite inappropriate. In the last 3 weeks there have been layoffs on a regular basis: 3 people 2 weeks ago, 2 people last week, and 27 people this week. Some of the remaining employees have been told they will be let go soon. All this created a tense environment where it is impossible to work well and focus on anything. Everyone thinks they can be next and I don't blame them.

They told us late last year that there wouldn't be any layoffs, and then in November I was let go along with 21 others (including people who had large impacts on the company culture). I was initially told it was due to "market conditions", which alone is pretty bad, there was no remorse or even acknowledgement from management that they had made mistakes that lead to this. We then later found out that certain things are meant to be done before a mass layoff in Switzerland, which smallpdf did not do. Their response to this was that only 9 of us were actually laid of, and the rest were fired due to their own performance, and I was now one of the latter (and apparently this is legally totally ok). We weren't given the performance improvement plans that employees are promised (they were quick to point out that they aren't obliged to do this, but couldn't give me a reason beyond it being a "company decision" as to why I didn't get one). I got a meeting with a couple of managers in which they gave all the things they'd come up with to justify me being let go due to performance, most of which were largely unfounded but of course they hadn't taken the time to discuss these things with me beforehand, so I had no opportunity to explain and defend myself. They made a pretty awful offer of one extra months pay than I am legally entitled to, but given all at once at the end of the year, so once you factor in the taxes it didn't really work out that favorably. I was told by just about everyone involved that I could reach out if I needed any assistance, but most of my questions have been ignored and it's taken me months to chase them up for various documents, including my reference letter. During this time there has been multiple more rounds of firings, including the C levels and just recently another 26 people gone, as far as I am aware still with little communication to the current employees.

failed to grow thanks to poor management, people got laid off in tranches. people know the company and product and prefer not to work there. Those that do, decide not to remain long.

After layoffs the trust in management is quite low.

This is just a shadow of the great workplace it used to be. No salary reviews even to adjust for inflation, here is a quote from one of the founders when people complained about salaries having been frozen for 2 years "I don't think anyone is, but if someone is struggling to pay the bills let us know and we will see what we can do". There is a person getting fired or quitting every two weeks in average for the past 6 months. Even if the job market is tough right now you still have people leaving because they really dislike what the company has turned into. There is a certain group of people that just agree with whatever the founders decide to do next and they get favoured. You can see this because they get promoted and sometimes this is communicated and sometimes it is not (even though the company says that every promotion should be). Read old reviews before the first round of layoffs, you will always find the same, people used to love working here because of the people they were surrounded with. This has been completely eradicated and management doesn't care, everyone is seen as disposable (especially if you are vocal about things that could be improved). Comments made by management about how we have great offices and we should be using them have been dropped lately more than ever. Also "I never see this person in the office". So much for "remote work". It seems that you are also valued on how much you attend the office. It is just sad to see how things have changed, I wish I was not writing these words but I think it is fair for anyone thinking about joining to know the truth. If you like to be told what you need to do every day instead of the company relying on your expertise and insights then yes, this is a great place.