overworked, underappreciated, disgusted - Anonymous employee Starkey Employee Review

1.0
24 Nov 2017
Anonymous employee
Recommend
CEO approval
Business outlook

Pros

good insurance benefits, fellow employees, lots of talented people

Cons

No advancement without having an "in" with someone. Insurance is good, but every year it gets more expensive. This year, the deductible doubled. No training. If you're to learn anything new, it's done on your own time. Starkey expects you to work any day, all day, all night, for nothing. There is never a reward for working double shifts at the expense of your own family and life for months on end. No recognition, no bonus, nothing. Starkey calls employees "family", but the only time they act like family is when they want something. Bill Austin is showered with praise. He pats himself on the back on a regular basis. Very seldom do you hear him giving praise to anyone else. Upper management exists in an entitled bubble. Anyone outside that bubble is not respected. The new President struts around like a peacock and with an ontourage. His mom, the CEO's wife, is now trying to get the CEO the Nobel Peace Prize. I'm pretty sure she hasn't read the requirements for that award. CEO is as eligible for that as Mickey Mouse.

Explore other reviews about Starkey

5.0
26 May 2026
Recommend
CEO approval
Business outlook

Pros

Flexibility, good pay, rewarding work, great employees, private company

Cons

Some silos between departments can be difficult to work with sometimes

3.0
24 Jan 2026
Recommend
CEO approval
Business outlook

Pros

Mission-Driven Impact: You get the unique satisfaction of knowing your technical infrastructure directly supports technology that restores hearing and improves the quality of life for millions. • Innovation Hub: Because Starkey integrates AI and sensors into their hearing aids, IT engineers often work with sophisticated, modern stacks that bridge the gap between traditional enterprise IT and wearable tech. • Strong Local Culture: As a privately held company with deep roots in Minnesota, Starkey offers a stable, family-oriented environment that often feels more personal than a massive, faceless tech conglomerate.

Cons

Legacy Debt: Like many established manufacturing giants, you may encounter older legacy systems and "on-prem" hurdles that can slow down the deployment of more modern, cloud-native solutions. • Corporate Rigidity: Some employees report a traditional top-down management style, which can occasionally feel restrictive if you are used to the agile, flat autonomy found in Silicon Valley-style startups. • High-Pressure Environment: Given the precision required for medical devices and global distribution, the IT uptime requirements can lead to demanding "on-call" cycles and high-stress troubleshooting windows.

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