"Flying an airplane as the airplane is being built" - Anonymous employee Outside Employee Review

-low pay which seems common in the outdoor industry (people don't work at Outside for the paycheck) -hiring more higher-level employees versus hiring more individual contributors to execute/accomplish goals (there are many things going on/things that need to get done; we need boots on the ground to execute, not think about things; I understand we need higher-level employee hires to steer the vision, but how do we balance that with what needs to get done today/now? This is a factor leading to major burnout) -performance rating system 1-5 (3 is average; unclear expectations/requirements to get 4 or 5) -lack of headcount (many people are doing the role of five people and there doesn't appear to be discussion on adding more support) -turnover (so, so many people have left or are in the process of leaving the company; difficult to accomplish goals as we're left picking up the pieces/responsibilities from employees that have quit) -lack of culture/identity (from my perspective, revenue is more important than people; we don't have fun together - most are heads down just trying to survive/get through the day/put out fires) -unclear strategy and value proposition (lack of communication from higher-level management on what Outside will look like in five years) -"this environment isn't for everyone" (said to many people about the current environment at the company; feels like a cop out - who is this environment for? If you enjoy working non-stop, changing metrics/goals, and constant fires, is that the environment?) -feeling burned by the organization (there are always two sides to every story, but I've felt pretty burned by the company (promises broken, unclear expectations, lots of egos) and it's going to be hard to get my trust back if I decide to stay) It's a bummer because this place COULD be so amazing, but you get the sense that management doesn't actually care for the employees, rather it's only about revenue and trimming costs. If that's the case, please be more upfront during the interview process as I would not have taken this job if I got the sense that people aren't the most valued asset at the company. I feel like I'm a cog in the wheel/number and can be replaced at any moment with no job security. Also, the outdoor industry is small - people talk. If you're not providing a good working environment, that will reverberate throughout the industry. Your employees can also be your biggest evangelists, but that's not the case at Outside. I want it to be better but I will most likely be quitting soon.