I've been working at Sage for some time, and I find myself increasingly disheartened by the direction and decisions being made by the senior leadership team. Despite repeated feedback from employees, there's been a clear disregard for voices around flexibility—especially with the insistence on a three-day office mandate. It’s frustrating that while many companies are adopting progressive, adaptable ways of working, Sage seems to be stepping back.
On a personal note, over the years I have discussed wanting to condense my working hours. I've been repeatedly told to wait just a little longer. "The timing isn't great right now" etc. I was advised to wait until after a particularly busy period to officially apply for condensed hours, only to find out that approval is now extremely unlikely, with hints that the option might be removed entirely. The existing policy means that if I apply and get rejected I won't be able to reapply for another 12 months. It’s disappointing, particularly in a world where flexible working has proven both productive and beneficial for employees. Instead, the company’s policies feel outdated and rigid, which is surprising for a FTSE 100 tech company.
Looking forward, I can't help but feel concerned about how slowly we’re moving in this new landscape of AI. While innovation in tech accelerates, it feels like Sage is at risk of being left behind if it doesn’t adapt faster. We adopt new technology painfully slowly. There's a strong impression that we, as employees, would be seen as expendable if capable AI agents could step into our roles—a genuine possible reality that only adds to the sense of instability here.
For now, the outlook feels bleak, and unfortunately, the long-term view seems even worse unless a meaningful change in many areas of the business takes place.
