Stagnant, Terrible Leadership - Engineer Elastic Employee Review

2.0
29 Aug 2024
Recommend
CEO approval
Business outlook

Pros

- Great benefits for healthcare and retirement - Team members are smart, fun, and great to work with - Work can be interesting and challenging at times

Cons

- Immediate managers consistently are not considering IC concerns from leadership demands, refuses to listen to the concerns outlined because they don't know how to manage up, and then blames ICs for said issues once leadership sees the issues themselves. What a terrible way to manage a team by shifting blame, instead of taking ownership and effectively managing expectations with leaders. - Some team members have been randomly let go, which is sad. It doesn't appear due to performance issues as there were no PIPs and severance was given. Perhaps something about... shifting blame? - Management isn't keen on investing in your career growth (wouldn't approve reimbursement for certifications). Does that sound like a company you should work for?

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Elastic Response
1y
Thank you for sharing your thoughts with us. It’s great to hear that you’ve had positive experiences with your team and find your colleagues smart, fun, and engaging to work with. That’s the kind of environment we strive to foster at Elastic, and it’s encouraging to see it reflected in your day-to-day. However, we hear you loud and clear about the challenges you’ve mentioned, particularly around communication between managers and individual contributors. We know that having a voice and being heard is essential, and we’re working to ensure that managers are equipped to bridge the gap between leadership expectations and team concerns. Holding space for feedback and taking ownership when things need adjusting is a big part of what we want from our leadership, and your input helps to confirm that direction. Career growth is another area we are committed to. It’s disappointing to hear that you felt there wasn’t enough support for certifications and development, and we’re revisiting our approach to better support employees in their professional journeys. We want everyone at Elastic to feel like they have the tools and opportunities to grow. Regarding team changes, we understand that seeing colleagues leave can be unsettling. While we can’t always discuss the specifics, we strive to communicate as transparently as possible during times of change. We’d love to continue the conversation and hear more about your experience. If you’re open to it, feel free to reach out to HR, your HRBP or your manager to explore how we can make Elastic an even better place for you and your colleagues. Thanks again for your input, and for being part of the Elastic team!

Explore other reviews about Elastic

5.0
23 Apr 2026
Anonymous employee
Recommend
CEO approval
Business outlook

Pros

Great company benefits and salary

Cons

I have no cons from working here

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Elastic Response
1mo
Thanks so much for your review! We really appreciate you taking the time to submit!
1.0
1 May 2026
Anonymous employee
Recommend
CEO approval
Business outlook

Pros

There are talented and hardworking individuals across the company who do their best despite ongoing organizational challenges.

Cons

The organization operates with limited stability, with frequent restructures that repeatedly change team structures, reporting lines, and priorities. This creates a lack of continuity and makes it difficult to execute long-term strategies. Roles and responsibilities are often unclear and shift frequently. As a result, employees can struggle to understand expectations, measure success, or build meaningful ownership over their work. Feedback and communication from leadership are inconsistent, which further contributes to confusion. In some cases, employees are brought in to lead initiatives but are not given the autonomy to do so. Work ownership can become blurred, with overlapping responsibilities and decision-making concentrated at higher levels, reducing effectiveness and accountability. There are also noticeable misalignments between roles and responsibilities. Employees are sometimes tasked with work outside their core expertise, while critical functions may lack experienced leadership. This leads to inefficiencies and slows execution. Advancement and leadership decisions at times appear to be influenced by internal relationships rather than demonstrated expertise or performance, which can impact morale and trust in leadership. Diversity remains an area for improvement, particularly in representation of Black and Brown employees. Overall, the organization often feels reactive rather than strategic, with structural changes used as a substitute for addressing underlying issues.

5
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Elastic Response
1mo
Thank you for taking the time to share your experience. We’re sorry to hear that your tenure at Elastic was difficult. Fostering an environment that is respectful, inclusive, and supportive is something we are very committed to and feedback like yours helps us understand where we still have opportunities. We hope you've shared your confidential feedback through our regular Employee Experience Surveys or your HR Business Partner so we can take appropriate actions. Your honesty is appreciated, and we are committed to improving the experience for all Elasticians.
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