Mature remote culture + unmatched flexibility, but some challenges with scale - Anonymous employee GitLab Employee Review

4.0
24 Aug 2021
Anonymous employee
Recommend
CEO approval
Business outlook

Pros

Working at GitLab is like getting a degree in remote work. They are relentlessly committed to writing things down and reinforcing asynchronous work. Once you've experienced having the entire company using the same tool to communicate and collaborate on work, you won't want to go back. By focusing on results delivered instead of time spent on work, you're free to make your own hours and get things done without being micro-managed. Pandemic aside, there are some fun opportunities to travel and meet up with teammates around the world.

Cons

Scale makes everything harder, including maintaining culture and practices. People coming from more traditional workplaces default to busywork and lots of meetings (no shade, it's what a lot of people are used to!) instead of being thoughtful about what deserves time and effort. There are many layers of the org to navigate to get anything off the ground, and the tendency now seems to be toward inertia rather than trying creative new things. Salaries are not competitive now that so many other tech companies are remote and offering SF base pay. At this scale, individual successes and achievements are more highly valued than collective ones. This isn't wrong, but doesn't feel great for those who joined the less mature company which had less of a focus on personal bonuses and being "key talent"

Explore other reviews about GitLab

5.0
24 Jun 2026
Recommend
CEO approval
Business outlook

Pros

Best company I've ever worked for. Strong culture, great leadership, competitive compensation, excellent work life balance, and a genuine focus on employee well being and career growth.

Cons

Fast paced environment and high expectations, but that's part of working at a successful, growing company.

2.0
16 May 2026
Recommend
CEO approval
Business outlook

Pros

OK pay or benefits in the market. Fully remote. Still is trying to frame itself as a big player.

Cons

Leadership went from being collaborative, communicative, and transparent, to being mercurial, secretive, and out of touch with the actual work. OBSESSSES over your AI usage metrics - even if AI doesn't help you and slows you down. The current layoff in progress was communicated poorly and not planned at all. And now they want us to adore the leaders and the company? Cultish vibes. We went from a company that plans ahead to a company that reacts.

6
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