Superficially great but exploiting workers - Referencing Executive Goodlord Employee Review

1.0
22 Dec 2020
Recommend
CEO approval
Business outlook

Pros

- Great people. - Lots of parties, events and diversity activism.

Cons

Goodlord will rave about what a great place to work this is. The culture means everything to them and they make this feel like a real community. However they won't treat you fairly in terms of salary and benefits. They've exploited a pandemic and recession to move over 40 people onto contracts with a 30% pay cut. Sick leave on these contracts has gone from 2 weeks to 3 days. This department is the heart of Goodlord, but the people are not valued and they do not care about the quality of the product. It's been stated that as the company grows similar steps will be implemented for other departments as well. Goodlord values are constantly discussed, but these won't be reflected by management if they think they can save money.

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Goodlord Response
5y
Thank you for taking the time to write this review - we are very sorry you feel this way. Our values are very important to us and we’re very sorry that you didn't feel this was reflected during your time here. We take great pride in the culture that we're building at Goodlord and we're so glad that you mentioned the people here and our events and diversity committee as pros of the workplace in your review. We hope that we are making strides towards making this culture a sustainable one in the referencing team by transitioning from temporary to permanent contracts - offering more job security and a department staffed by a permanent workforce. Although we would be really happy if everyone chose to continue working at Goodlord, we recognised that this transition wouldn't work for some people and offered several options for those who said the new terms wouldn't work for them, including help finding new employment or extension on the current terms to provide more time to find an alternative that meets their needs. We would like to work with you to find a solution that works for you, so please get in touch with us. Best Wishes, Lucy

Explore other reviews about Goodlord

1.0
18 Jan 2026
Anonymous employee
Recommend
CEO approval
Business outlook

Pros

The company is in a growing sector and has scope to deliver a genuinely impressive product. Some of the lower level staff are genuinely kind people trying to do their best.

Cons

Working at Goodlord was a distressing experience. The culture is defined by a staggering lack of professional boundaries and a management style that borders on bullying. Leadership frequently uses intimidation and public humiliation as a means of control. There is a noticeable lack of respect for expertise; management is often dismissive of qualified staff, preferring to "talk down" to employees rather than foster a collaborative environment. The office atmosphere is exclusionary and highly stressful. Communication from leadership is often unkind and impatient, with a "sink or swim" mentality that is never backed by proper training or a clear induction. There is a heavy layer of middle management but very little actual accountability or transparency regarding workload and staffing changes. It is an environment where basic human dignity feels like an afterthought, and the toll on one's mental health is significant. I would strongly advise job seekers, or those who value a professional, respectful culture, to look elsewhere.

2
1.0
21 Jan 2026
Recommend
CEO approval
Business outlook

Pros

Good socials quarterly, nice people to work with on the whole, work/ life balance was good.

Cons

My experience at Goodlord was poor, largely due to a patronising higher management. Senior management gave little to no support, creating an environment where people felt undervalued. This was reflected in the high staff turnover, which seemed to be accepted rather than addressed. One-to-one meetings were impersonal and purely business-focused, with no genuine interest in you as an individual or in your development. Training was entirely online, poorly structured, and failed to clearly explain what the role actually involved. As a result, it was difficult to build confidence or perform well. Felt that I couldn’t ask for help — you were told you would “pick it up as you go along,” despite the lack of proper guidance or support. Overall, the culture felt dismissive, driven by management that appeared disconnected from the realities of the role and the people doing it.

3
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