The culture suffers from inconsistent and often unrealistic expectations. There’s little sense of stability or security, and burnout is frequently rewarded rather than prevented.
Many challenges are typical of a startup, but they’re made worse by an authoritarian CEO who plays favorites. Employees brought in for their expertise are often sidelined. Efforts to build sustainable processes are discouraged, while reactive, last-minute “fire drills” are praised. Executives expect constant availability, even during off-hours or scheduled time off.