Attractive opportunity but horrendous GD reviews

[Mermaidrone]

I've been approached by a recruiter about a job opportunity. It's a 4 day a week job with the same salary I'm currently on. I was very excited about the role until I checked the Glassdoor reviews.

The company had 2.0 star rating and the negative reviews were all recent and agreed on the toxic environment, coming senior management. The only good review seemed fake and written by the company's management.

I have a 18 month-old so less working days plus going only one day to the office are a massive draw for me (my commute to the city is 1
5hrs each way). However, it won't be worth it if they make my life hell.

Would you give them a chance and go to the interview? Could you work under those conditions if the pay and flexibility are there?

Noooooo….. don’t do it.

No.

Run.

I had a similar opportunity last year in similar circumstances and decided not to risk it. Whilst the work/life balance is a bonus, a toxic culture and the resulting stress and anxiety would negate any upsides for me.

I know why you're in two minds tbh...I worked somewhere with bad GD reviews (quite a famous restaurant). But, I didn't know that till I left! I didn't love the job, but it was far from the worst. I wonder if only quite disgruntled staff take the time to go on there and review so it's a skewed view sometimes.

That said, toxic management and work environment are not worth any amount of money, and certainly not worth the same salary as you're currently on with just one extra day off.

Can you work out the salary drop if you went pt to four days at your current job or could you work compressed hours on four days a week?

I'm currently doing compressed hours so I work half day on Fridays, and my partner does the same thing. We can't afford any salary reductions :(

My current job is fine but I'm looking for a new challenge to learn more and overcome the guilt of leaving my toddler in nursery.

My gut is telling me to keep searching...Thank you for your answers!

I would let the recruiter put me forward for the role. Then if invited for an interview, I would ask about the negative reviews in the interview and hear what they have to say about it.
It may be that they are a toxic employer with terrible managers and persistent issues. Or it may be that something specific happened that upset a specific group of disgruntled employees.
You have nothing to lose by speaking to them and you should get a clear idea by their response to you questioning the issue.

I left a place like this last year. Totally toxic. Glassdoor reviews reflect this, including mine, except for the ones clearly written on the instruction of the toxic management 😂

I'd say don't waste your time with an interview, they're going to have a bullshit reason to trot out.

Even if they have 'just' pissed off a small group of employees, that's a huge red flag.

I'm glad people take notice of GD. The CEO at my old place apparently wasn't bothered about their 2.3 and falling rating because 'no one cares about GD'.

No disrespect but how did the recruiter pick you?
Generic or are you looking or has someone recommend?

As paranoiaofpufflings said it wiĺ only cost you the interview time and may be a good role fit.

I would look on linkedin (old hire ads) and try trace ex-ees to see what roles they had as sometimes its a department or line manager problem.

And always look for more money when moving as is it the best way to get a bigger raise as you are being bought in at market rate because their internal rate is too low

Tell them.no, but cite the reviews of toxic culture.

Hopefully it will get around the company and with any luck they'll learn from it. Losing good existing and potential staff is a blow for any company.

I worked for a company for a long time that had awful GD reviews.

It often came up in interviews and we’d say it was left by disgruntled employees, multiple reviews left by same person, two sides to every story etc.

Hand on heart, they were all true. They could have easily had a lot more if everyone had left one. I never did when I left, but it was such a toxic damaging workplace. I’d definitely take reviews like that into account when looking at jobs in the future.

I would only use this strategy if you are genuinely not bothered about not getting the job (in which case why go for the interview) as a big interview no-no is to crticise or embarrass the employer. I'd try and find out about this through other ways.

Another red flag on glass door is when you have a spate of bad reviews with the odd 'perfect' one which is probably the HR team making them up.

In this case she needs to know how they manage conflict, HR etc

The interview is a two way street.
And it is really only a (very) blunt way of asking why did the last person leave
If she and they are crap she will judge them and not move.

True 😃

If it's a job that interests you I'd go and ask about the reviews in the interview. You can then assess whether you think they're lying or not. It might be they've realised they have an issue and are trying to improve with a new team.

At least go for the interview and see how you feel afterwards.

I think you need to take reviews with a pinch of salt - whether that's for companies or hotels.

2.0 truly is a terrible rating - avoid. I think anything over 3 is acceptable but may have its faults, but 2 - run for the hills.

I'd avoid if it is had numerous bad reviews...there is nothing more detrimental than a toxic work environment...especially as these are all recent reviews too. I would give it a miss.

That's exactly this place. Negative reviewers commented on it, but it's so obvious you can easily tell.

Another red flag, people said there wasn't a proper HR department. Never worked in a place that small (around 30 employees). Is that common practice?

They had my CV on file and contacted me about this opportunity. I'm actively looking for a new job that's more flexible than the one I have.

Thought about contacting ex employees on LinkedIn. I fear they won't disclose anything but worth a try.

While not being a huge salary increase, I'd only work 4 days a week (with a full time salary) so it pays off for me.

Can be.
I have seen where there was no HR so the HR was provided by the accountants "other services" and where the HR was an specialist outside contract.

imo If is that small and crap its because the boss is not nice and it rolls down.

@Mermaidrone am not sure contacting ex employees via LI would be that helpful as doubt they would say much as they may well need references etc in the future...different them being anonymous and posting on GD...I thought about doing that myself for a role but didn't in the end...

You haven't even had an interview and are already thinking of reaching out to ex employees on LI (which in itself is bizarre behaviour anyway)..

I agree with marshmallowmix on direct contact with people you have no relationship with but a friend of a friend is not bizarre its one benefit of linkedin

Be blunt with the recruiter as the contract may not be paid untill you turn up on day 1 and last 6+ months so if the business is a frequent flyer the recruiter wants someone who will stay

And I would judge on FT salary because if they are v bad they are buying you in on a 4 day week with a 5 day workload.

And if its 4 days work should be prepared to have to pay the extra day to secure someone doing the role

I get that but I can just see it going
'So, X, do you have any questions for us'
'Yes, just wondering why you have such poor ratings on glass door'
(interview panel coughs and splutters)
'Er, so we have a few more candidates to see and we'll be in touch'
(sound of crickets)

OK maybe not exactly like that but it's unlikely to land well in an interview setting. If OP desperately needs this question answering and the interviewers are the only ones who can answer it I'd at least wait until offer stage.