Upwork reviews

People seem nice overall but there are definitely snakes in the grass and a significant amount of politics and bureaucracy. Employees work extra long hours with no reward or recognition. The culture in marketing is toxic and unbearable with leadership not driving a strategy, every team being siloed, and complete lack of integration across all the marketing teams. Marketing is driving our story and growth instead of product, which seems backwards. The team is cliquey and you are either in or out depending whether or not you were recruited from Robert Half. Colleagues are hanging in just to have a job but are overworked and under appreciated. Everyone seems stressed out and miserable. There's a push for diversity and inclusion but the system itself is biased and the goal to grow the company (clients and freelancers) focuses on the US, whereas the mission is aimed at global audiences. They are working at cross purposes.

Upwork used to be a great place to work. It was filled with happy people, happy teams, and happy leadership. The environment and culture was positive and infectious to the point where everyone enjoyed coming to the offices to bond. Then something happened. I don't know whether it was the fact they went public, a change in leadership, or they just plainly lost their way. It went from an empathetic, family friendly atmosphere to this hostile environment, they call "wartime" now. Since this change, people became overworked, forgotten, taken advantaged of, and untrustworthy. I'm one of the lucky few that left on their own accord, but many who had been there for years and contributed so much of themselves to a company they thought cared, have been put out to pasture unceremoniously. I saw teams re-org'd when there wasn't any reason to do so. So many people who won't say anything, out of fear, were betrayed and basically told to either take it or leave it. Many did leave and were paid out, and many stayed because they had no other choice. Certain departments that you're supposed to trust became this unknown entity that would push people out the door if you didn't agree with their practices or the powers that be. It certainly was not a reflection of the glowing reviews you may see, but I do hope things change for Upwork. They did not start out bad, but have definitely lost their way.