Toxic Leadership, Favoritism, and Misaligned Priorities - Anonymous employee Smartly Employee Review

Smartly talks extensively about culture, transparency, and people first leadership. Unfortunately, my experience was the exact opposite. The company has developed a culture where optics matter more than people. Leadership is quick to celebrate itself, host lavish dinners, happy hours, offsites, and executive events, yet somehow struggles to address the very real concerns employees raise about compensation, staffing, workload, and burnout. The disconnect between leadership and employees is staggering. One of the biggest disappointments was the People lead by a highly unexperienced CHRO. Rather than acting as an advocate for employees, it often felt more focused on protecting leadership and preserving appearances. Concerns regarding excessive workloads, unrealistic expectations, and employee well-being were frequently acknowledged but rarely addressed in any meaningful way. Favoritism is impossible to ignore. Employees brought in through certain leadership circles seem to operate under a different set of rules, receiving opportunities, visibility, and support that others never see. Meanwhile, long-tenured employees and high performers are often left wondering what exactly it takes to be recognized. There is also a troubling lack of leadership experience and maturity among some members of the executive team. Decisions frequently feel reactive rather than strategic. Communication is inconsistent. Accountability is rare. Employees are expected to adapt to constant change while leaders avoid responsibility for the chaos they create. The bullying from some senior leaders was one of the most disappointing aspects of the culture. Intimidation, public dismissiveness, and a general lack of respect for employees have become normalized in ways that would not be tolerated at many organizations. Speaking up often feels risky, and challenging decisions can quickly make you a target. Work-life balance is more of a marketing slogan than a reality. Employees are expected to absorb ever-expanding workloads with little regard for capacity or sustainability. Teams are routinely stretched beyond reasonable limits, and concerns about burnout are met with sympathy but very little action. What makes this particularly frustrating is that there are genuinely talented and dedicated employees throughout the company. Many people are working incredibly hard to keep things running despite leadership decisions that create unnecessary obstacles.