I’d like to embrace the Ethos one final time and be as candid as possible.
For nearly five years there was always the promise that we were on the right track despite underwhelming financial results. I wonder what’s true and what isn’t over there. I think their hearts are in the right place, I just don’t know if they (or anyone in that industry for that matter) have a clue about how to be successful in that space.
I had four wonderful years – I knew there were shortcomings, but my team was getting things done and I felt valued by the organization. Then came the last six months.
My boss was fired. After their departure, I had three – four people who functioned as my manager. None were especially effective despite messaging from the company about the importance of building strong management. I was left out in the cold, with almost no support. The ringleader in my former space is a bully who will smile in your face and then bury the knife in your back from the shadows. There’s nothing worse than a fake tough guy – and that’s EXACTLY who she is. I can’t be clearer about this. Just a coward masquerading as a straight shooter who talks tough. I worry about people I care about continuing to work under her.
My last few horrible months were punctuated by an egotistical junior colleague who was openly disrespectful to my face multiple times (in front of others) with little to no discipline. When I raised the issue with managers, there was FAR more concern of how the colleague was feeling and if they were valued enough. I was basically told to suck it up. Talk about being accountable to and for each other.
The final swipe came after my departure. I was told the company was in bad shape after a tough quarter and had to take drastic steps to keep the company afloat. I was laid off because I made too much. It happens. Later, while job hunting, I got an alert – a great job was open that I was totally qualified for. In fact, there were two! At Cengage, on my old team.
Also, Cengage is shockingly white and getting even whiter. They have no plan to address their lack of diversity.
One final thought – many say the positive reviews on here are fake and written by HR. That’s laughable. Stop with the conspiracy theories that discount others who are happy. Many people have a great experience over there. They write about it. I did, until I didn’t.
I suspect that will happen for many others as well.
