Poor C-level leadership, oppressive atmosphere, layoffs - Software Engineer Accela, Inc. Employee Review

1.0
Dec 1, 2015
Recommend
CEO approval
Business Outlook

Pros

- Some great, friendly people around to balance out the oppressive, corporate atmosphere. - Good perks in the office (food, snacks, beer, etc.). - Pretty good work/life balance. - Engineering team is talented and the CTO is awesome. - HQ in San Ramon is in a good alternative location than the usual Bay Area tech company locations if you live in the East Bay. - A few of the high-level VP executives are great people and should be the ones to replace the current C-levels. - If you're an old buddy of the CEO, congratulations on the easy job and lack of accountability!

Cons

- No more than 2 - 2.5% annual raises. No bonuses for most employees. - C-level executives really need to be replaced with nicer, more savvy professionals who can focus on operations rather than sales. - Friends of the CEO are appointed to cushy jobs with zero accountability and 2-hour work days. - No working from home (unless you're an aforementioned Friend). - Extremely poor financial and acquisition planning. 30+ people, including excellent performers at HQ, were laid off following the acquisition of small companies of dubious value. - There is a feeling that nobody is safe from layoffs. Some of the best employees I've ever worked with were laid off because of poor financial planning. - The company has almost not made payroll a few times! - Government clients are often difficult to work with and still operating with 90s-era technology and 50s-era bureaucracy. - Focused on short-term gains and an IPO that will never happen.

Explore other reviews about Accela, Inc.

5.0
Aug 23, 2025
Recommend
CEO approval
Business Outlook

Pros

Good pay for sure here.

Cons

Nothing to say in the megative.

1.0
May 30, 2025
Recommend
CEO approval
Business Outlook

Pros

We spent years getting the plans right and the future is amazing for this company if they can just keep FOCUS. Focus is hard when the company does lay offs every 3 months.

Cons

Entire leadership turnover was a downgrade in ALL departments, CEO is HORRIBLE and has no clue what he is up to. He brought his own PERSONAL COACH to a company meeting and we all had to sit around and pretend it was normal!! Definitely more layoffs coming because the CEO is super impulsive and he FIRED a really good CFO that was the last adult in the room! CEO and his new team don't care about employees, unless you are a young woman that catches his eye - SERIOUSLY! I wasn't young enough so I was shown the door. Can't wait to watch the people start prosecuting the Musk wannabe CEO!!!

4
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