-Leadership and Cultural Changes:
Insource was once a company that felt like family to me, but over the years, it has undergone significant changes. The culture, which initially fostered support and growth, has shifted in a way that, in my opinion, now prioritizes profit over people. Leadership seems to have lost sight of the core values that made Insource a great place to work. There appears to be a disconnect between the company's past ethos and the way decisions are made today. There are systemic issues that seem to go unaddressed, which, in my view, have contributed to a less supportive work environment.
-Lack of Support and Training for Managers:
I initially joined Insource as an IT support specialist and was provided with strong mentorship that helped me grow into a managerial role. However, as a manager, I felt thrown into a challenging situation with minimal guidance. Despite my previous experience, I was given little to no orientation or proper training for my new role. This lack of structure, combined with an increasingly restrictive work environment (due to post-pandemic conditions), made it difficult to succeed. Many colleagues and I felt there was a lack of real support, and it was evident that the focus was no longer on helping employees grow, but rather on minimizing costs.
-Ambiguous Expectations and Performance Issues:
Insource, in my experience, seemed to struggle with setting clear expectations. This created a situation where employees could often find themselves in difficult circumstances through no fault of their own. For example, the IT department’s workload became increasingly unbalanced, with some staff members struggling to find enough work, while others were overwhelmed with responsibilities. This inconsistency often led to poor performance reviews and utilization scores that didn’t reflect individual effort. From my perspective, the company’s rapid hiring during the pandemic, followed by difficulty adjusting to post-pandemic demand, led to staffing issues that affected the whole team. Unfortunately, the burden of these issues often fell on employees, and performance concerns were frequently framed as individual failures.
-Concerns Over Business Practices:
A particularly concerning aspect of my experience at Insource was the use of Performance Improvement Plans (PIPs) as a means to manage staff during difficult times. While PIPs are often used to help employees improve, I observed that they seemed more like a tool to manage costs, especially when there was little billable work available. The goals set during PIP reviews were often unclear or inconsistent, with expectations that varied depending on who was reviewing the work. This led to confusion and frustration among employees, especially when the guidelines for success seemed to shift without notice. It felt like a pattern of cost-cutting measures being prioritized over employee development or success.
-Impact on Mental and Emotional Well-Being:
The work environment at Insource had a significant impact on my mental health. As the work became more uncertain and the pressure to perform increased, I found myself constantly stressed, anxious, and feeling unsupported. This emotional strain eventually led me to take a leave of absence to prioritize my well-being. During this time, I was fortunate to find a new opportunity, but even if I hadn't, I don't believe I could have continued working in such a stressful and uncertain environment.
-Final Thoughts:
In my view, the decisions made by leadership—driven by a fear of financial instability and an unwillingness to acknowledge past mistakes—have contributed to a shift in the company’s culture. Insource’s original ethos, which emphasized doing the right thing, no longer feels consistent with the company's actions. I believe the company's focus on financial stability has overshadowed its responsibility to its employees, leading to a culture that no longer aligns with its stated values. As a result, I made the decision to move on, and I’m not alone—several other employees have also left over the past year due to similar concerns.
Note: My experience is based on my time at Insource, and while I can only speak for myself, I hope this review provides insight into the challenges faced by some employees during this period.
