A Workplace to Avoid – Red Flags Everywhere - Customer Experience Manager Europe Congress Employee Review

Because everyone is so miserable, commiserating with colleagues is easy so you build bonds fast.

The most extreme micromanaging I've ever seen. Literally I've turned around to see the CEO reading through all my emails like it was something normal. Owner will chastise you if you leave right on time at 6:01 and expects you to be in your seat at 8:59. Staying longer doesn't get you any credit, however. Speaking of overtime, you will be expected to work 12-16 hour days, four days in a row for events, even after a 40 hour work week. You are never paid overtime and the owner does not guarantee breaks (you can work 8+ hours before getting any food). In fact, don't even try to sit because you'll be yelled at for that as well. According to the owner "real women can stand in high heels for 8 hours a day." It seems that the owner takes pleasure in inflicting pain on employees as he purposefully makes it so you have to be at the airport at 6:30 am, eat breakfast at 6am before anyone can see you, forces you to make public presentations when you're uncomfortable, and to dance with guests until 2am (and then be expected to get up at 6am the next day for your next 12 hour shift). Every event I became physically sick from lack of sleep and from stress. If you're still reading this have some respect for yourself and just find something new. Seriously being a waiter, working or mcdonalds, being a maid, any other job on the planet will be better than this.

giving employees constant motivation to quit the job

There are about 10 employees in the company. While I’ve been working here over 2 years, more than 7 people either left or were fired. With so few employees, this high rate of replacement is a clear sign. The colleagues are often coming and going around. The boss often asserts that he is capable of organizing events alone, which raises questions about the need for hiring additional staff for this purpose. Micromanaged work environment that often left employees feeling restricted and undervalued. There are frequent emails dictating what we shouldn’t do during the workday, down to minute details. For example, we are told not to make coffee at 9 AM because the boss expects everyone to be working exactly from 9 o’clock. Similarly, going to the bathroom or washing a cup near the end of the day, around 5:50 PM is discouraged, as the boss expects us to work until exactly 6 PM or even later. There is pressure to stay beyond 6:00 PM regularly. But there is no recognition or compensation for the over time. Ironically, any time taken off for doctor’s appointments or personal matters is very carefully tracked, and we are required to make up for those hours even though no adjustments are made for the unpaid overtime hours we put in. (We worked average of 16 hours a day when organizing the events) Plus, the salary offered by the company is significantly lower than the average wage. While commissions are offered, they are so many conditions to get paid “proper” salaries. Overall, the rigid rules, very bad work-life balance and micromanagement make for a stressful and frustrating work experience.