Should I take a job with awful Glassdoor reviews

[enkelt2]

I could really borrow some MN wisdom now! A bit long to give more context.

After 1 month of job hunting, I finally got an offer. I've accepted the offer verbally and sent my ID, but I haven't signed the contract yet.

The issue is that between the time I started interviewing with them and the offer, there's suddenly an onslaught of 1-star Glassdoor reviews of the company. In the past month alone, there were 10 negative, very detailed reviews. I imagine that these were employees recently let go.

I read the reviews carefully, and they do have common themes, like disapproval of management and CEO, lack of job security, called out of hours, and general 'toxic culture' themes. There was even one pointing to potentially illegal activities.

If I didn't see the Glassdoor reviews, there still are some problems indicated by the interviews and contract, e.g.:

-In the interview with the CEO, he explicitly stated that this wouldn't be a '9-5' job. As in the hours are more flexible and maybe longer. Which is not a big issue for me, until I read the contract and it has a clause that makes it clear that you're automatically opted out of the '48-hour work week' law.
-I had to nudge the interviewer for a follow up, and in that follow up call, I was sort of caught off guard in being presented an offer. Not a giant issue but maybe just a bit disorganised.
-The company uses a shared rental office space--not a big issue on the surface, but I understand that should there be money disputes later, it's difficult to track them.
-Six months' probation period

So, obviously at this point, it seems like a NO. However, I don't have much time left in my visa, and while this company isn't sponsoring out right, I've verbally discussed this with the interviewer and the written offer contains a clause that acknowledges the visa situation. They do hold a sponsor license and from some of the employees' profiles on Linkedin, it seems like they are currently sponsoring.

My money isn't tight but I do want to make the best use of my time here with a limited visa. I thought if I joined this company now, I could potentially be let go in an awkward timing. Not to mention the potential mental stress indicted in the reviews. But on the other hand, if I make it past 6 months and/or even secure a visa sponsorship, my life would be so much easier. I could look for different jobs/train for other jobs, etc. And at least I would have a smaller career gap and a 6 months' job would look better than no job?

So... should I go on and sign the contract now despite the bad Glassdoor reviews?

AINBU: Yes, go for the job, forget about the reviews
AIBU: No, it would unreasonable to take the job.

My other options:
-I interviewed at a much better company with a much better pay (+50%), and with a sponsor license as well, but we haven't discuss this yet. This was 4 business days ago, so I assume I'm still in the running. Based on online information, the whole interviewing process would take 2-4 weeks (and interviewer said 2 more interviews) so if I get the job I'll likely start mid-June earliest. If I get this job, I'll be truly happy and even if they don't sponsor, I'll be happy walking away with the money and experience.
-Get another degree that would be practical with job hunting after graduation; I could get scholarships from my home country and would just have to cover a reasonable (albeit still expensive) tuition.
-Continue job hunting ... although I feel like prospects aren't good considering that it's just with a longer career gap and my experiences aren't improving with time.

This job sounds utterly miserable, and one offer plus another interview in the space of a month is amazing! Hold out for job number two in the knowledge that there are other options out there. If you can possibly avoid it, never go for a job which you know from the outset will be a nightmare.

I wouldn't touch the company with a barge pole after all that. Not even your visa running down is worth the damage it could do to your mental health.

Working conditions can play a huge part in happiness. Admittedly happy people are less likely to post, but having said that it seems something recent has prompted this slew of bad reviews.

My gut says don't risk it.

If the reviews are all saying similar things- then run like hell!

High staff turnover is a big red flag.

You're worth more than this. Keep interviewing for a better job.

Someone in my family works for a company that sounds a lot like this. They're working their notice. That said, if they're as awful as it seems, I wouldn't feel bad about walking if a better job comes along. Probation should be a trial period for you as well as them.

I took a job when the reviews were awful... Thought how bad could it be? BAD is the answer!!!
Don't do it!
Alarm bells rang when out of the 30ish people working there one lady has started 3 months ago, one person 3 weeks... And the rest were newer. It was a new people starting and leaving every day.
And most did not get paid!! (I did though).

After typing all of this out and seeing the responses, I am leaning towards no, but they're now pushing me to sign the contract! The urgency is stressing me out.

That in itself is another red flag

You could take the contract and leave if successful with the other role. And continue hunting for other roles also.

there's a reason they're pushy, because they're desperate. Don't do it

So I declined in writing, citing incompatibility after reading the contract. After some more digging I found a tribunal case for owed wages!

HR reached out, tried to paint a story about the reviews. While their story is plausible, I brought up the tribunal case and raising the salary. They were ok with a slight raise but still didn't meet my expectations. They didn't see the tribunal case as that problematic. So we mutually decided it was a No. No bridges burned as they told me I could reach out should I think otherwise.

I do wonder who in the right mind would work for them upon seeing the reviews (and even find the tribunal case). And who would buy their story... without concrete mitigations.