A startup that is ahead of the curve - werkgeversreview Engineering Lead bij Kahi

None that outweigh the risk

I was recruited from Kitchener to Ottawa in March 2025 with promises of a stable, long-term role. The company made relocation a condition of employment and assured me the position was secure. I signed a one-year lease in Ottawa at $2,800/month based on their encouragement and the job offer. Less than three months later, in June 2025, I was abruptly let go with no warning and no severance. The only relocation support I ever received was a single $1,000 reimbursement — nowhere near enough to cover moving costs, let alone the financial fallout of breaking a lease in Ottawa’s expensive rental market. I’m now facing bankruptcy because of the 12-month lease I’m locked into with no income, massive credit card debt from the move, and no support from the company that explicitly asked me to uproot my life. When I asked for help with lease break fees or any kind of transition assistance, I was ignored. This wasn’t just a layoff — it was a reckless bait-and-switch that destroyed my financial stability. Leadership showed zero accountability or basic human decency after putting me in this position. Advice to job seekers: If Kahi asks you to relocate, demand iron-clad protections in writing (relocation repayment clauses, guaranteed minimum employment period, lease-break coverage, etc.). Otherwise, do not trust them with your career or finances. What happened to me can happen to you.

Start up culture with heart & soul

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