|
private:format
|
https://www.glassdoor.com?employer_id=1011314
|
Jul 15th, 2022 12:00AM
|
Open
|
Open
|
Format.com
|
Senior Product Manager
|
Toronto, ON
|
|
Sold to slaughter
|
|
The previously bootstrapped team over at Format were some of the most
caring, considerate, and kind people you'll ever have a chance to work with.
Folks there are seriously passionate about their jobs, and about each other.
|
Being acquired was probably the worst thing to happen to the company in its 10+ year tenure.
For the co-founders, they could cash out and call it a career, but for the folks who were supposed to continue to remain focused on work, it became nothing short of impossible.
The Zenfolio acquisition was just a disruptive and disingenuous experience for everyone involved on the Format side. There was 0 transparency, questions were constantly dodged, and ALL the culture that people working at Format worked to build and the inclusive community we fostered was basically torn down within a few weeks.
The compensation review was a slap in the face for those who have worked at Format. After the salary review gave me a 3% raise, about 40% below the market rate, and management felt proud of themselves and said I should be happy because it's a raise. Lol.
This combined with just the overall poor treatment of all the employees led to over 50% of the team either quitting within the next few months or being laid off due to the overlap in acquisition.
The lack of respect for LGBTQIA+ and BIPOC folks on the team who actively advocated for specific ways of support that existed in Format, with all requests basically ignored and still daring to rainbow was their logos during Pride month is just another strike on the new management of Format.
|
-1.0
|
NEGATIVE
|
-1.0
|
NEGATIVE
|
0.0
|
NO_OPINION
|
0.0
|
1.0
|
2.0
|
1.0
|
1.0
|
1.0
|
1.0
|
1.0
|
1011314
|
Open
|
Don't lie to your employees.
If you don't care then just don't.
Don't make an effort to pretend that you do, and spend 20 minutes wasting the time of 40+ people during all hands only to not answer the questions that were submitted.
Look, people understand that you are in it to just make some fast cash and flip the company that was purchased pennies on the dollar. Format was acquired to boost up the user count so some poor company somewhere else will skip due diligence and buy a user count and help y'all cash out.
Just be earnest about it, and stop lying to everyone.
|
0.0
|
[]
|
REGULAR
|
No
|
No
|
|
2.0
|
Open
|
|
|
Jul 16th, 2022 05:56PM
|
Jul 16th, 2022 05:56PM
|
Format
|
|
|
|
private:format
|
https://www.glassdoor.com?employer_id=1011314
|
Jul 11th, 2022 12:00AM
|
Open
|
Open
|
Format.com
|
Customer Service Representative
|
Montreal, QC
|
|
If I can give a 0 I would.
|
|
There is no pros I can give.
|
Slowest and rudest people you'll work around with.
|
-1.0
|
NEGATIVE
|
-1.0
|
NEGATIVE
|
-1.0
|
DISAPPROVE
|
0.0
|
1.0
|
1.0
|
1.0
|
1.0
|
1.0
|
1.0
|
1.0
|
1011314
|
Open
|
|
0.0
|
[]
|
REGULAR
|
No
|
Yes
|
|
1.0
|
Open
|
|
|
Jul 12th, 2022 06:56PM
|
Jul 12th, 2022 06:56PM
|
Format
|
|
|
|
private:format
|
https://www.glassdoor.com?employer_id=1011314
|
Nov 9th, 2020 12:00AM
|
Open
|
Open
|
Format.com
|
People and Culture Manager
|
Toronto, ON
|
|
Always improving!
|
|
People- The team is friendly, caring and very welcoming
Flexible- I have never worked at such a flexible workplace. They understand that you actually have a life outside of work.
Bootstrapped!
Willing to support you, you just have to ask for what you need to be successful.
|
The people are great and passionate, it means though that sometimes there can be a lot of pressure on support roles to go far above and beyond.
Some people are harder to work with than others but that comes with every workplace. I honestly think Format is a great company to work for!
|
1.0
|
POSITIVE
|
1.0
|
POSITIVE
|
|
|
0.0
|
5.0
|
5.0
|
5.0
|
5.0
|
4.0
|
4.0
|
4.0
|
1011314
|
Open
|
|
0.0
|
[]
|
REGULAR
|
No
|
Yes
|
|
0.0
|
|
|
|
Nov 10th, 2020 08:34AM
|
Jun 30th, 2021 08:36AM
|
Format
|
|
|
|
private:format
|
https://www.glassdoor.com?employer_id=1011314
|
Apr 6th, 2018 12:00AM
|
Open
|
Open
|
Format.com
|
|
|
|
Freedom to be creative and take ownership
|
|
- The leadership team is extremely caring and trusting
- You get lots of autonomy to make decisions and own your area of the business
- There are fun perks like catered lunches, pizza parties and tons of company-wide events like Lunch N' Learns, Hackathons and events offsite
- The team is friendly and approachable, there is no bro culture here
- The office space is beautiful and inviting
- The work is challenging and impactful
- You are able to see the outcomes of your decisions and are given the freedom to try new things, innovate and learn
- The company has strong values that it leads by and the vision and mission are clear
- The business is growing and you have the ability to carve your own career path and shape your department (there are team members who have continuously grown and been promoted from within)
|
- There is a lot of autonomy so you need to be able to work independently without much direction
|
1.0
|
POSITIVE
|
1.0
|
POSITIVE
|
|
|
0.0
|
5.0
|
4.0
|
5.0
|
4.0
|
4.0
|
5.0
|
0.0
|
1011314
|
Open
|
- Keep putting your people first!
|
0.0
|
[]
|
REGULAR
|
No
|
Yes
|
|
0.0
|
|
|
|
Oct 25th, 2018 07:56AM
|
Jun 30th, 2021 08:36AM
|
Format
|
|
|
|
private:format
|
https://www.glassdoor.com?employer_id=1011314
|
Feb 28th, 2018 12:00AM
|
Open
|
Open
|
Format.com
|
Product Design Director
|
Toronto, ON
|
|
Livin' The Dream
|
|
Design Culture
I never have to 'fight for design' – The CEO is a designer. Developers care about UX and type. Customer Success team members are artist and photographers themselves.
As a designer once said to me, "That sounds like a dream world." Yes. Yes it is.
Flexibility
Need to pick up a package? Is the kid sick? People at work understand that you have a life outside of work. As long as you get your stuff done, no one's going to bug you.
Professionalism
Every company claims they have a work hard / play hard culture, but this is the only place I've worked at that that's actually true.
Change
"That's the way we've always done it" is not a phrase that you'll ever hear here. The company is always evolving. Feedback is always taken seriously.
Talent
Everyone is passionate about what they do and super freakin' nice. We even hang out after work!
No Overlords
Self-funded! No investors or crazy runway. We do what's best for our users.
|
Growing pains - lots of changes. This is normal.
|
1.0
|
POSITIVE
|
1.0
|
POSITIVE
|
|
|
0.0
|
5.0
|
5.0
|
5.0
|
5.0
|
5.0
|
5.0
|
|
1011314
|
Open
|
Keep the culture alive!
|
0.0
|
[{"countHelpful": 0, "userJobTitle": "Format", "__typename": "EmployerResponse", "countNotHelpful": 0, "responseDateTime": "2018-03-06T12:26:35.633", "response": "Thanks for your clear and detailed feedback. It is great to hear that you appreciate that we are a design driven organization. Being design-led is not only important to me but it is critical to our success as a company particularly as our community of visual artists expects this from us. I\u2019m proud that this has been your experience, among all of the other positive things you shared about our culture and work environment. As we grow we are committed to keeping this culture alive - the feeling is mutual. \r\n\r\n-- Lukas, CEO"}]
|
REGULAR
|
No
|
Yes
|
|
1.0
|
|
|
|
Oct 25th, 2018 07:56AM
|
Jul 21st, 2019 03:14AM
|
Format
|
|
|
|
private:format
|
https://www.glassdoor.com?employer_id=1011314
|
Feb 27th, 2018 12:00AM
|
Open
|
Open
|
Format.com
|
|
|
|
Fun + Caring + Impact = Awesome!
|
|
It all starts at the top: The fact that the founders are so deeply and authentically committed to serving their customers and market and to building a company full of people that have that same passion is what really drives the great culture here. Their long term commitment to staying self-funded is also a testament to their commitment to building a great service, business and company vs chasing capital and valuations. It also means they know how to grow a profitable business and keep the business model and engine humming.
Empowering: Just about the only thing done top-down here is vision and values - which is exactly how it should be. Everyone is involved in creating their own goals and then empowered to make it happen - in fact, it's counted on!
Caring + Collaboration: It's great to be in a place where everyone shares a passion for our customers and our space and that's a key factor in what makes it such a collaborative environment.
Super Friendly: Everyone here is super friendly. There are no egos and everyone has a voice.
Bootstrapped doesn't mean cash-strapped: We're continually hiring and investing in all areas of the business from engineering, to product, to support to marketing and $$ has never been a growth constraint.
|
Like any growing company, you have to be comfortable with continual change that comes with growth. For many though, that's what makes it all so exciting!
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
0.0
|
5.0
|
0.0
|
0.0
|
0.0
|
0.0
|
0.0
|
0.0
|
1011314
|
Open
|
Continue to focus on the clear vision and values as we continue to grow and keep bringing in more inspiring employees to work with.
|
0.0
|
[]
|
CONTRACT
|
No
|
Yes
|
|
0.0
|
|
|
|
Oct 25th, 2018 07:56AM
|
Jun 30th, 2021 08:36AM
|
Format
|
|
|
|
private:format
|
https://www.glassdoor.com?employer_id=1011314
|
Feb 23rd, 2018 12:00AM
|
Open
|
Open
|
Format.com
|
|
|
|
A culture of respect and maturity
|
|
Really, really awesome people. It's hard to communicate how nice it is working with a group of people who are genuinely nice, respectful, know how to have a good time, and best of all are great at their jobs.
|
Sometimes management are too accommodating of the staff, this can have negative side effects sometimes.
|
1.0
|
POSITIVE
|
1.0
|
POSITIVE
|
|
|
0.0
|
5.0
|
5.0
|
5.0
|
4.0
|
4.0
|
4.0
|
0.0
|
1011314
|
Open
|
|
0.0
|
[{"countHelpful": 0, "languageId": "eng", "userJobTitle": "Format", "__typename": "EmployerResponse", "originalLanguageId": null, "id": 1587956, "responseDateTime": "2018-03-06T12:28:12.617", "translationMethod": null, "response": "Thanks for your note and taking the time to leave feedback about working with us!", "responseOriginal": null, "countNotHelpful": 0}]
|
REGULAR
|
No
|
Yes
|
|
0.0
|
|
|
|
Oct 25th, 2018 07:56AM
|
Jun 30th, 2021 08:36AM
|
Format
|
|
|
|
private:format
|
https://www.glassdoor.com?employer_id=1011314
|
Feb 23rd, 2018 12:00AM
|
Open
|
Open
|
Format.com
|
|
Toronto, ON
|
|
Best place I've ever worked!
|
|
- The team at Format is truly the best. You will not find a more devoted, talented and driven group of people who enjoy working with each other. They all care about the product, the customer and the company; always working to achieve top results but having fun while doing so. I wake up grateful that I get to come into an amazing office with awesome people each and every day.
- The culture at Format can’t be beat. You have a management team that listens to their team members. It’s a culture of feedback and constant improvement. There are no egos. From day one, people are trusted to get their work done and given much autonomy and ownership over what they do.
- Don’t expect to work in the office 24/7. Format knows that we all have lives outside of work and they respect that. There are flexible office hours and generous health and wellness benefits; everyone cares that you have a good balance in your life and you can focus on the important things.
- Format wants the team to celebrate together: catered lunches, All-Hands presentations, Show n Tells, Lunch n Learns, sporting events, MANY social events, holiday parties, Hackathons, and much much more! And the office is amazing too. Beautiful, spacious, great location, and a rooftop patio!
|
The company is growing fast. So there are many changes (exciting changes!) happening.
|
1.0
|
POSITIVE
|
1.0
|
POSITIVE
|
|
|
0.0
|
5.0
|
5.0
|
5.0
|
5.0
|
5.0
|
5.0
|
0.0
|
1011314
|
Open
|
Keep doing what you’re doing—listening to your employees, making the tough decisions, and being so open and approachable.
|
0.0
|
[{"countHelpful": 0, "languageId": "eng", "userJobTitle": "Format", "__typename": "EmployerResponse", "originalLanguageId": null, "id": 1587953, "responseDateTime": "2018-03-06T12:27:49.337", "translationMethod": null, "response": "It is wonderful to hear that you feel like management values your opinion and respects your work-life balance. Thanks for noting all the things we do to have fun and celebrate our accomplishments together. Looking forward to all the BBQs we will be having on our Format patio this summer!", "responseOriginal": null, "countNotHelpful": 0}]
|
REGULAR
|
No
|
Yes
|
|
0.0
|
|
|
|
Oct 25th, 2018 07:56AM
|
Jun 30th, 2021 08:36AM
|
Format
|
|
|
|
private:format
|
https://www.glassdoor.com?employer_id=1011314
|
Feb 20th, 2018 12:00AM
|
Open
|
Open
|
Format.com
|
|
|
|
Great people, great product!
|
|
- There's a strong culture of continuous improvement.
- Everyone is approachable, friendly, and keen.
- Feedback is encouraged and taken seriously; wellbeing and career growth are discussed frequently at monthly one-on-ones.
- There's a lot of opportunity for fun, challenging work.
|
- Format isn't as well-known as it should be.
- It's a growing business, so direction and goals can sometimes change quickly.
|
1.0
|
POSITIVE
|
1.0
|
POSITIVE
|
|
|
0.0
|
5.0
|
5.0
|
5.0
|
4.0
|
4.0
|
5.0
|
0.0
|
1011314
|
Open
|
|
0.0
|
[{"countHelpful": 0, "languageId": "eng", "userJobTitle": "Format", "__typename": "EmployerResponse", "originalLanguageId": null, "id": 1587957, "responseDateTime": "2018-03-06T12:28:26.79", "translationMethod": null, "response": "Our people and our product are number 1! Glad to hear that you feel supported in your career development here. Thanks for the feedback.", "responseOriginal": null, "countNotHelpful": 0}]
|
REGULAR
|
No
|
Yes
|
|
0.0
|
|
|
|
Oct 25th, 2018 07:56AM
|
Jun 30th, 2021 08:36AM
|
Format
|
|
|
|
private:format
|
https://www.glassdoor.com?employer_id=1011314
|
Feb 16th, 2018 12:00AM
|
Open
|
Open
|
Format.com
|
Customer Success Director
|
Toronto, ON
|
|
Long-time worker, first-time poster.
|
|
- A startup culture that has really found the right balance of work/play.
- 1on1s are taken seriously and contribute meaningfully to both your and the company's growth and direction.
- Everyone is encouraged to develop their technical chops to add to their skill-set.
- Personal development is backed with budget.
- Amazing Parkdale office with every conceivable amenity.
|
- There could be a tighter bond between Toronto and remote workers.
- Big players like Facebook continually poach amazing younger talent.
- Brand not as widely recognized as it should be.
|
1.0
|
POSITIVE
|
1.0
|
POSITIVE
|
|
|
0.0
|
5.0
|
5.0
|
5.0
|
4.0
|
5.0
|
5.0
|
0.0
|
1011314
|
Open
|
|
0.0
|
[{"countHelpful": 0, "languageId": "eng", "userJobTitle": "Format", "__typename": "EmployerResponse", "originalLanguageId": null, "id": 1587959, "responseDateTime": "2018-03-06T12:28:50.6", "translationMethod": null, "response": "We are happy to hear that you feel we\u2019ve struck the right balance of work and play - we work hard to make this a reality for our team members. Our remote team members are part of the Format family despite the different time zones and distance. Thank you for your feedback. We are happy that you are enjoying our move to Parkdale; we think our new office is pretty sweet, too!", "responseOriginal": null, "countNotHelpful": 0}]
|
REGULAR
|
No
|
Yes
|
|
6.0
|
|
|
|
Oct 25th, 2018 07:56AM
|
Jun 30th, 2021 08:36AM
|
Format
|
|
|