Working at a "unicorn" sounds like a magical dream. Working here is more like a nightmare.
If you're looking for a company that genuinely values its employees, seeks their feedback, and acts on it, then Remote may not be the right fit for you.
It used to be different, but the company has undergone frequent changes in response to the market downturn. From “be a great place to work at” to “extract maximum value from employees”. Reviews from a couple of years ago are no longer relevant. While change can be positive, in this case, it hasn't been.
* Remote once prided itself on hiring top talent and offering a global minimum salary. Now, the focus is on hiring in the cheapest regions possible. Recruiters face pressure and trouble if they can’t meet quotas due to strict geographical limitations.
* The company’s core values have shifted. “Kindness” has been replaced with “Intensity” (though some claim it was folded into "care"). That said, the reality of working at Remote is indeed quite intense.
* Leadership has become increasingly top-down. Ideas and research from lower levels are often dismissed. It’s their way or the highway, with a strong emphasis on relentless shipping over thinking things through or improving how we work.
When reviewing the company’s values and handbook, remember that many policies apply mainly to lower-level employees. Transparency is one such example – while lower levels are expected to be transparent, higher management often isn't. Important decisions are made behind closed doors, reasoning is sparse and questioning these decisions can lead to public reprimands (which are hailed as being transparent).
Remote has excellent documentation on running effective meetings, but many senior managers, directors and VPs (the best of the best!) fail to follow these guidelines. Meetings often lack agendas or they are hastily added just before the meeting starts, leading to disorganization. Given the unrealistic expectations and high pressure, it’s somewhat understandable, but still problematic.
Promotions often favor a tight-knit group of long-term employees trusted by the founders. Newer, possibly more qualified candidates frequently get overlooked, leading to frustration.
A prime example of the company’s issues is one co-founder’s shifting roles: CTO to COO to President (where we had hoped that people had realized, that no one should be exposed to his direct “management”), and then interim CRO (R = Revenue), despite lacking relevant experience in sales or marketing. This reflects a broader problem of high-level management’s overconfidence, illusions of grandeur and lack of trust in their employees. Were there really no senior Sales or Marketing people suited to such a role? Failures are often blamed on lower-level staff, with leadership rarely taking accountability.
The connection between leadership and staff has weakened significantly. The company's rapid expansion has slowed progress and increased complexity, making it harder to get things done – which high level management often fails to acknowledge wanting to to back to the “golden old days”.
If you’re comfortable working towards unclear goals on unrealistic timelines, Remote might be for you. However, many employees across departments struggle with burnout, irregular hours, and high stress. Finding a new job in the current market is tough, so many of us stick around despite the challenges.
Remote has many talented people, but satisfaction levels are low. Salaries can be good depending on your location due to geo-based pay, but career progression is often luck-based.
In a high-pressure environment where you're expected to cut corners but also discouraged from iterating and improving, work can become chaotic and stressful. The discrepancy between public statements by leadership and internal practices is often gets a good chuckle out of those within the company.
Ultimately, the decision to work at Remote depends on your tolerance for stress and the value you place on working for a "cool" company versus the impact on your personal life and health. Consider these factors carefully before making your choice.
