Toxic Culture, No Support, and Zero Work-Life Balance - werkgeversreview Automation Engineer Intern bij Tertiary Infotech

Your stress tolerance will be thoroughly trained and developed rapidly to deal with the demands of the company.

The company operates with minimal staffing, relying heavily on interns and students from work-study programs. There is little to no structured guidance or mentorship; self-learning via platforms like YouTube or ChatGPT is often your only option. Project timelines are frequently unrealistic and subject to change without notice. Unpaid overtime is expected and often enforced to meet tight or shifting deadlines. Scheduled off days may be revoked with little warning, usually due to project pressure. Employees may receive work-related calls and messages outside of work hours, including during off days. Lack of response can lead to escalating pressure. There is no provision for paid or unpaid sick leave. Any time off due to illness must be "repaid" through additional workdays, typically extending your weekly workload. Instructions from leadership are often contradictory and subject to change without clarification. The supervisor operates with a 'my way or the highway' mindset, often refusing to consider feedback or pushback on tasks or schedule changes, regardless of feasibility. The work culture can feel coercive, with instances of pressure, intimidation, and emotional manipulation.

None. There is not a single nice thing about this company.

No technical leadership or system architects available to guide implementation decisions. Tasks are assigned directly by the company’s founder, who lacks a technical background, leading to impractical or unfeasible assignments. Often given technically unfeasible tasks, and when concerns are raised, overtime is enforced and interns are unfairly compared to previous ones. Proposed workarounds or solutions are often dismissed without discussion. Leadership style can be micromanaging and reactive, contributing to a stressful and unsupportive work culture. Communication is challenging due to frequent interruptions and a lack of openness to feedback. Workspace arrangements are not ideal—employees often need to move around to find a suitable place to work. Off-days are sometimes rescheduled or cancelled without prior notice, making it difficult to plan personal time. HR does not appear to operate independently and often defers to leadership decisions, which does not consider employee well-being. Sick leave is not given—Interns will be required to "make up for" medical absences by giving up a future off-day.