Great peer support, disconnected management - Anonymous employee Bluesmith Information Systems Employee Review

Leaving was the best decision I ever made. While Bluesmith often talked about wellbeing, they were appalling when it came to actually handling things while I was suffering with mental health. The focus seemed to be on getting me back into work, rather than making sure I was ready for work. I felt that they were badgering me and trying to force me back. At one point where I was at my worst due to their own handling of the situation, they resorted to threatening me. They also refused to make any adjustments with regards to my disability (indirect discrimination). I tried many times to highlight issues to the management team, but despite their "open door policy", they were unwilling to listen. They would comment that they had not heard of the issues from anyone else, or just tell me the ways in which I was wrong. I know a number of employees stopped reporting things because they knew nothing would be done about it, so I'm not alone in experiencing this. It was better for their mental health to put up with it, rather than talk to management. All of my suggestions were to try prevent other employees going through anything like what I had in future, and that is exactly why I write this. I think employees should feel safe at any company event without the risk of suffering mental breakdowns, and it was in my employment contract that they would provide a safe working environment. I don't feel they did that. It got so bad during my final year, that there were many times I wished I had never worked at this company. I'm not sure I received thanks from the management on leaving for all of the work I put into building up that company, I received that from colleagues instead. It definitely felt like they were trying to force me out. For anyone working at Bluesmith, I would advise NOT telling the management team if you intend to leave, until your required notice period. Don't give them the opportunity to make your life difficult. There were lots of other issues like dismissing any ideas to improve remote working (because office working is preferred by management), making decisions for employees based on assumptions rather than asking for feedback, or extended periods of work on remote sites. At times I even felt the management team were lying, in contradiction of the "open and honest" policy. It's all trivial compared to the issues of my final year though. Since leaving, my health is drastically improved. My mental health is much better, my insomnia has gone, I've had no more panic attacks, my anxiety is reduced, I'm considering reducing my medication (I ended up on maximum dose of an anti-depressant), I'm eating healthier, have far more motivation, and so much more. I should have left years ago. I think my biggest regret is the loyalty I had to the company. I'm excited about life again.