Employees expose major red flags they've encountered while working at companies: 'An overabundance of outdated motivational posters'

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Isabella Penn
May 27, 2024 12:00 PM EDT

Have you ever come across a job listing and immediately knew you wouldn't want to work there? Maybe the listing used phrases to describe the company culture, like "we're a big family," or stated that they required candidates who could "perform well under stress," setting off major red flags in your head. That's not really the type of environment you're looking for when you're trying to find your dream job. But the kinds of red flags you can find at companies go way further than those examples. The employees below have encountered some shocking red flags with employers, whether it be in job listings, something the hiring manager said in an interview, or workplace experiences that made them eager to put in their two weeks ASAP. No matter the reason, you should take these stories as a warning. You don't want to get stuck at a company like this.

But other times, it's your coworkers who are the problem. Read about these hilarious stories of new hires who were fired on the first day: 'Kid lied about his experience as a foreman and drove a skid into the side of the house we were working on' 

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  • 01
    • r/AskReddit ⚫ 11 hr. ago WonderfulMeat99 What's the biggest red flag about a company that screams "Don't Join Us"?
    via u/WonderfulMeat99
  • 02
    HeadFit2660 • 13h ago "Fast Paced, ever chagning, multi task environment! "Means they're gonna over work you or make you do that isn't in your job description
    via u/HeadFit2660
  • 03
    Far Positive9086 ⚫ • 13h ago Wasnt in the posting, but was a comment about them wanting to bring me in for a test. Initially thought it was odd because they will sometimes ask technical questions, but no official test. At that point I had been a Sr. Engineer for a while, my background spoke for itself. When I did a deeper dive on the company, | found they were heavy into
    via u/ar_Positive9086
  • 04
    scientology and the test was going to be hooking me up to the ole e-meter to see if I was a good fit for their cult. I quickly noped out of that interview.
    via u/ar_Positive9086
  • 05
    send_me_jokes_plz ⚫13h ago When you ask about the training period during the interview and they say "we're still figuring that out" Been at my job for almost a year and I have access to 10% of the systems I was "trained" on. Three of us were hired for this position, mid level IT stuff. They have almost no documentation, and they keep
    via u/send_me_jokes_plz
  • 06
    having to pull people from other teams to handle the systems we don't have access to yet. We've asked over and over again about getting access and everyone seems to think someone else is handling it... sometimes they say "checking" and then don't respond for a week. I currently have maybe an hour of work a day because of this, so I'm not complaining. Still getting paid for 8! Working from home, so I have too much free time. But if you want a fulfilling career, this is certainly not it.
    via u/send_me_jokes_plz
  • 07
    gogojack 13h ago "We work hard, and play hard!" Look...you're my employer. I have no desire to "play hard" with you outside of work. You are literally paying me to hang out with you during work hours, but when I'm off the clock and you're not paying me? You can off. I'm going home.
    via u/gogojack
  • 08
    . augustwestburgundy • 13h ago we are a big family, usually means a disfunctional family, that only the senior people reap the true benefits of the profits. the underlings are expected to be loyal, but when its time for budget cuts, it is not meritocracy
    via u/augustwestburgundy
  • 09
    ClockParts 13h ago • Posters on the walls talking about NOT discussing pay.
    via u/CIockParts
  • 10
    Vegan_Harvest • 12h ago Complaining about employee behavior in the listing.
    via u/Vegan_Harvest
  • 11
    RiffRandellsBF • 12h ago The interviewers scowl when you say one of your priorities is "work-life balance".
    via u/RiffRandellsBF
  • 12
    Tough_Str... . 13h ago Edited 12h ago AECORDIN | agree with everybody saying that "We're a family" is a huge red flag for any company. ", sometimes when it's the literal truth it still . My cousin used to work for my uncle's company back when he was in college and he'd always complain about never being off the clock because his dad would ask him about work stuff when they were at home and if he complained or refused he'd get offended.
    via u/Tough_Stretch
  • 13
    . Severalsevans • 13h ago Their Glass Door reviews
    via u/Severalsevans
  • 14
    Feeling-Visit1472 11h ago They're looking for a "rock star"
    via u/Feeling-Visit1472
  • 15
    kantotero69 10h ago "can perform well under stress" they will stress tf outta you bruv
    via u/kantotero69
  • 16
    _ OneLove _ •11h ago Just 1? In no particular order... "Competitive Salary" - But kept secret. Wild salary ranges - "75k to 750k". - Any mention of "Family" in a JD or otherwise. One way interviews.
    via u/__OneLove__
  • 17
    Pseudo-Science based assesments. More rounds of interviews than the CEO position. An over abundance of outdated motivational posters. "Do not apply" unless (insert list of questionable demands). Requesting hours of free work, 'as part of the hiring process'. I could go on, but...
    via u/__OneLove__
  • 18
    . Jkayakj • 11h ago At one interview they asked "are you tough enough to work here?".. That's not a red flag or anything.
    via u/Jkayakj
  • 19
    discostud1515 • 12h ago I interviewed to be a lecturer for a university. They sought me out and wined and dined me for a couple days and did a few presentations on the university. The presentations were on a TV hooked up to a VHS. This was in 2014.
    via u/discostud1515
  • 20
    darksaber522 13h ago A permanent "Now Hiring" sign or Job Listing.
    via u/darksaber522
  • 21
    Fresh-Manager7331 . 13h ago Hiring you on the spot during first interview
    via u/Fresh-Manager7331
  • 22
    Cheezburger Image 9927594240
    via Andrea Piacquadio

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