AVOID, AVOID, AVOID. Toxic workplace - Anonymous employee Sosu Cosmetics Employee Review

I worked alongside some genuinely talented, resilient, and supportive people. The positive aspects of my experience came from those individuals rather than the organisation itself. I also formed lasting friendships with colleagues who supported one another through what was, in my experience, the worst toxic workplace I have ever experienced.

This was the worst career decision I have ever made. For anyone reading the existing reviews and wondering whether they can really be as bad as they appear, my experience suggests they should not be dismissed lightly. The company publicly promotes values centred on empowerment, inclusivity, wellbeing, and respect. My experience of the internal culture did not reflect those values. Employees were frequently referred to collectively as "the staff", reinforcing a clear divide between leadership and the wider workforce. Whether intentional or not, the impression was that some individuals were valued more highly than others. The culture at senior leadership level felt political, cliquey, and driven by personal loyalties rather than merit. Influence appeared to depend on remaining in favour with the right people. Individuals could move quickly from being praised to being blamed, often with little consistency. The result was a culture of uncertainty, self-preservation, and constant pressure. The compensation package may appear attractive initially, but it comes at a cost. Long working hours, constant availability, early-morning calls, late-evening contact, and expectations beyond contractual responsibilities were normalised. Going above and beyond was treated as a baseline expectation rather than something worthy of recognition. Anyone who places significant value on their mental health, personal boundaries, family life, or overall wellbeing should consider these realities carefully. This was not a demanding but rewarding environment. It was an exhausting and ultimately unsustainable one. The recruitment process can be highly persuasive. Looking back, it often felt geared towards overcoming concerns candidates may already have heard about the business. The compensation package becomes easier to understand when considered alongside ongoing retention challenges. Multiple teams have experienced repeated turnover, and the organisation's reputation within the industry appears to have developed for a reason. Recognition was limited. Accountability was inconsistent. Mistakes attracted attention far more readily than achievements, and blame was often more visible than support. The single most significant issue is senior leadership. In my opinion, many of the challenges within the business can be traced back to decisions, behaviours, and standards set at the highest levels of leadership. Culture follows leadership, and the culture here reflects that reality. Basic standards of professionalism were frequently lacking. Meetings were cancelled at short notice, senior leaders regularly failed to attend meetings they had arranged, and urgent requests could arise with very little warning. Employees were expected to absorb these disruptions while their own time, workloads, and commitments appeared to receive limited consideration. From my perspective, HR support and employee safeguards appeared absent or ineffective for a significant proportion of my time there. In an organisation experiencing this level of turnover and employee dissatisfaction, that represents a serious operational and cultural concern. The experience affected my confidence in founder-led businesses for some time after leaving. Rebuilding that confidence has took longer than expected. It is often said that "if you can survive there, you can survive anywhere." That is not a compliment. It is one of the clearest warning signs a company can have.

there are none. Literally none. The place will have you questioning your self worth and feeling like a shell of yourself. You will be undermined and bullied on the daily - especially by the CEO herself. She paints a picture online of ‘female empowerment’ but runs through young women in the office like they are valueless and disposable. If the world saw how the staff in this office were treated they would be horrified

too many to name. You will be pushed to the brink of a mental breakdown after being sold the dream during interview processes. If you think something is too good to be true it is. Staff turnover is insane the only people that last are the very very very small number who are just as nasty as the CEO and COO who will have no problem throwing you under the bus and treating you awfully to save themselves. There are quite a few different glassdoor accounts under a variety of different ‘SOSU’ names in a bid for the company to hide from the awful reviews but they always catch up on them because the culture simply never changes