|
private:square9softworks
|
https://www.glassdoor.com?employer_id=558656
|
Jan 27th, 2021 12:00AM
|
Open
|
Open
|
Square 9 Softworks
|
Marketing
|
New Haven, CT
|
|
"Great company with a great future..."
|
|
- Forward thinking company
- Management is always looking for ways to make the working environment better and takes employee feedback into consideration
- Great place for self-starters, new initiatives and ideas are welcomed
- Open, honest, and straightforward about various company operations
|
I have none at this time.
|
1.0
|
POSITIVE
|
1.0
|
POSITIVE
|
1.0
|
APPROVE
|
0.0
|
5.0
|
5.0
|
5.0
|
5.0
|
5.0
|
5.0
|
|
558656
|
Open
|
Keep doing what you are doing and appreciate the company-wide meetings.
|
0.0
|
[]
|
REGULAR
|
No
|
Yes
|
|
2.0
|
|
|
|
Apr 22nd, 2021 06:41PM
|
Apr 22nd, 2021 06:41PM
|
Square 9 Softworks
|
|
Software & Computer Services
|
|
private:square9softworks
|
https://www.glassdoor.com?employer_id=558656
|
Jan 8th, 2021 12:00AM
|
Open
|
Open
|
Square 9 Softworks
|
Implementation Specialist I
|
New York, NY
|
|
Square9
|
|
You work from home on fridays
|
I can't think of any downside.
|
1.0
|
POSITIVE
|
0.0
|
NEUTRAL
|
1.0
|
APPROVE
|
0.0
|
3.0
|
3.0
|
3.0
|
3.0
|
3.0
|
3.0
|
|
558656
|
Open
|
|
0.0
|
[]
|
REGULAR
|
No
|
No
|
|
2.0
|
|
|
|
Apr 22nd, 2021 06:41PM
|
Apr 22nd, 2021 06:41PM
|
Square 9 Softworks
|
|
Software & Computer Services
|
|
private:square9softworks
|
https://www.glassdoor.com?employer_id=558656
|
Jun 15th, 2020 12:00AM
|
Open
|
Open
|
Square 9 Softworks
|
Implementation Specialist
|
New Haven, CT
|
|
Same tasks different project
|
|
Amazing co-workers. Great to work from home on Fridays and yearly team building outings
|
Some project managers have no clue whats going on. Between sales and the PMs things get mixed up quite frequently.
|
-1.0
|
NEGATIVE
|
0.0
|
NEUTRAL
|
1.0
|
APPROVE
|
1.0
|
4.0
|
4.0
|
5.0
|
2.0
|
3.0
|
4.0
|
|
558656
|
Open
|
Be easier on your employees...
|
0.0
|
[]
|
REGULAR
|
No
|
No
|
|
2.0
|
|
|
|
Apr 22nd, 2021 06:41PM
|
Apr 22nd, 2021 06:41PM
|
Square 9 Softworks
|
|
Software & Computer Services
|
|
private:square9softworks
|
https://www.glassdoor.com?employer_id=558656
|
May 16th, 2020 12:00AM
|
Open
|
Open
|
Square 9 Softworks
|
Implementation Specialist
|
|
|
Great company to work for
|
|
I was employed by Square 9 Softworks for over 3 years and enjoyed my time. Through my employment the company allowed me to expand my skill set and knowledge of my field. The environment at Square 9 made it easy to collaborate with other employees inside and outside of my department. I was fortunate to work under a great leadership team that listens and values employees input. I personally recommend Square 9 to anyone looking for a new opportunity.
|
To future employees my best advice would be to reach out to team members of other departments and ask questions.
|
1.0
|
POSITIVE
|
1.0
|
POSITIVE
|
|
|
0.0
|
5.0
|
5.0
|
5.0
|
5.0
|
5.0
|
5.0
|
|
558656
|
Open
|
|
0.0
|
[]
|
REGULAR
|
No
|
No
|
|
4.0
|
|
|
|
Apr 22nd, 2021 06:41PM
|
Apr 22nd, 2021 06:41PM
|
Square 9 Softworks
|
|
Software & Computer Services
|
|
private:square9softworks
|
https://www.glassdoor.com?employer_id=558656
|
Apr 30th, 2019 12:00AM
|
Open
|
Open
|
Square 9 Softworks
|
|
|
|
Great place to work where employees are respected and valued.
|
|
-Significant opportunity for growth.
-Leadership that listens and considers employee feedback.
-Positive work environment that fosters collaboration between departments.
-Programs/steps to set up for success and growth within the company.
-Encourages individuals to use the unique skills they bring to improve the whole.
|
-benefits are good, not great
|
1.0
|
POSITIVE
|
1.0
|
POSITIVE
|
1.0
|
APPROVE
|
0.0
|
5.0
|
4.0
|
5.0
|
5.0
|
4.0
|
5.0
|
|
558656
|
Open
|
|
0.0
|
[]
|
REGULAR
|
No
|
Yes
|
|
4.0
|
|
|
|
Apr 22nd, 2021 06:41PM
|
Apr 22nd, 2021 06:41PM
|
Square 9 Softworks
|
|
Software & Computer Services
|
|
private:square9softworks
|
https://www.glassdoor.com?employer_id=558656
|
Apr 17th, 2019 12:00AM
|
Open
|
Open
|
Square 9 Softworks
|
Solutions Architect
|
|
|
Can't get out of their own way
|
|
Fulfilling Glassdoor's 5 word minimum
|
When hired, they promised the world and then some in order to entice me to come on board. With a stated career growth path, I was all on board. Since I was remote, I unfortunately was at a disadvantage and the people in New Haven never forgot to remind me of this. The team I was on was also poorly managed and carried a sense of passive aggressiveness which was able to breed a toxic environment.
There were some great people that I worked with but unfortunately they were squashed by the C-suite as well.
It was a blessing in disguise when getting laid off when looking back on it. Since that occurred, the entire team has turned over (6 or so people in a year which shows how terrible the environment is).
|
-1.0
|
NEGATIVE
|
-1.0
|
NEGATIVE
|
-1.0
|
DISAPPROVE
|
4.0
|
1.0
|
1.0
|
1.0
|
1.0
|
1.0
|
1.0
|
|
558656
|
Open
|
Seriously evaluate your corporate culture.
|
0.0
|
[]
|
REGULAR
|
No
|
No
|
|
0.0
|
|
|
|
Apr 22nd, 2021 06:41PM
|
Apr 22nd, 2021 06:41PM
|
Square 9 Softworks
|
|
Software & Computer Services
|
|
private:square9softworks
|
https://www.glassdoor.com?employer_id=558656
|
Apr 17th, 2019 12:00AM
|
Open
|
Open
|
Square 9 Softworks
|
Sales
|
|
|
Living in the past
|
|
Nice people
Good office environment
Average technical support
Stable software platform
|
Lack of accountability
CEO is checked out and not in sync with other executives
Professional services is a nightmare
Living in the past, hoping for the same 50% growth from 2012-2015
Unrealistic expectations
Poor communication
Inexperienced sales engineers/engineer management
Doesn't take care of partner channel
|
-1.0
|
NEGATIVE
|
-1.0
|
NEGATIVE
|
-1.0
|
DISAPPROVE
|
6.0
|
2.0
|
3.0
|
2.0
|
2.0
|
3.0
|
2.0
|
|
558656
|
Open
|
Take advice from your employees
Be more open minded to change
Look at a realistic market
Take accountability for your own decisions
|
0.0
|
[]
|
REGULAR
|
No
|
No
|
|
2.0
|
|
|
|
Apr 22nd, 2021 06:41PM
|
Apr 22nd, 2021 06:41PM
|
Square 9 Softworks
|
|
Software & Computer Services
|
|
private:square9softworks
|
https://www.glassdoor.com?employer_id=558656
|
Mar 25th, 2019 12:00AM
|
Open
|
Open
|
Square 9 Softworks
|
Implementation Specialist
|
New Haven, CT
|
|
Great starter job, not long term
|
|
- Rank and file team members are helpful and very fun to work with
- Game room with pool table and ping pong, a Wii-U gaming area, and a candy room.
- You will get a large variety of experience. Especially in the Professional Services team. You will learn how to tell the difference between a poorly scoped project (most of them) and a well scoped project (the few and far between). You will learn Server Administration, SQL Server Administration, database scripting (T-SQL), payroll systems and procedures (the majority of customers are AP and AR). You will also learn HR processes, Javascript, and workflow design.
- Exposure to a lot of different technologies.
- CEO is very friendly.
|
- Company now slashing benefits to stay afloat.
During the time I worked with Square 9 they got rid of some of the perks that came with the job. Weekly company lunches were stopped 2 years ago to cut costs. 401k matching has been suspended recently in an attempt to flush out their cash reserves. The company is not doing well since most of their talent left for greener pastures. This comes down to 2 things. Respect and pay. Read on...
- Expect to by lied to, to your face, repeatedly.
On a monthly basis (in department meetings that are supposed to give you visibility into the company financial position) and a yearly basis (in your performance review and the yearly company meetings), expect to be lied to about the company's current financial position, the company's objectives, and your value as an employee to them.
During my performance reviews I was repeatedly and verifiably lied to. They tell everyone in their reviews that they are getting significantly higher pay increases than everyone else in the department (or in some cases the entire company) and then expect you not to discuss salary among your peers. They lie about there being a pay scale based on position title.
They give a near perfect performance review, tell you that you are the most valuable or technically skilled person on the team and then nitpick little things like your desk not being clean enough or you not putting in enough unpaid overtime or you dare to take your full lunch hour to keep from giving you a decent pay raise.
The reality of this company is simple. They will offer you half or less of the going rate for your position and hire you for the absolute minimum you are willing to take. They will then keep your salary as low as they can get away with and when you leave they won't even bother trying to keep you because they can get the next recent graduate at a lower pay rate.
- The pay is abysmal. Easily 30-40% lower than industry standard sometimes even lower.
Development team members will start in the low $40k range (less if they can get you to take it). I had a Senior Developer friend who currently makes $150k a year elsewhere apply for a position to see what they would offer him. They offered him $48k.
- Do not expect raises during your yearly evaluations (and don't expect those performance reviews to happen on time). Force the issue during hiring if you want better pay.
During my time at Square 9, my first review was 7 months late and every one since has been at least 3 months late. Each had substandard raises that didn't even cover cost of living adjustment. 3% will be the high end of what you see offered to you. Your performance will NOT impact this. Three of the highest performing people in the department quit last year mainly due to pay rate and instantly got positions for double the salary offered at Square 9.
- Very poor internal communication.
In spite of having monthly department meetings and yearly company meetings (though they claim to want to do quarterly ones), the company does not communicate well internally. Issues that arise in Professional Services due to bugs in the software take 3-4 levels of verification before they even get to the development team and the software hotfixes/patches don't even go through QA testing. You won't know an issue exists or that it has been fixed until you run into it and have wasted a day or two troubleshooting it.
- The company is a labor mill. They will grind you up until you burn out or quit for a better paying position elsewhere.
- They expect you to travel for work on your own time (they schedule your travel for weekends so they don't lose your productive time).
- They do not reimburse you for all related expenses for your travel.
- The PMs regularly state that "you are a salary employee" as a justification for expecting you to work unpaid overtime every week.
- No upward mobility. You may get advancing titles in Professional Services as you learn the product (Implementation Specialist 1, 2, 3, Senior) but you will not see a pay raise from it and you will not be moving out of that department.
The company is so desperate for talent in Professional Services that once you are there they will not let you move elsewhere internally. However, if you are on the upper end of the pay scale for that department they will happily watch you walk out the door to cut margins.
Unless you are a member of the upper Management's clique, don't expect to go anywhere with the company.
- Expect to see them breaking labor laws.
They will threaten your advancement if you talk about salary with your peers. They will pressure you to work unpaid overtime. They will pressure you to work through lunch to get projects done. Expect this almost daily.
|
-1.0
|
NEGATIVE
|
-1.0
|
NEGATIVE
|
1.0
|
APPROVE
|
7.0
|
2.0
|
1.0
|
1.0
|
1.0
|
1.0
|
1.0
|
|
558656
|
Open
|
Treat your employees like humans again. You used to, but something definitely changed in the last 4 years.
You need to respect that they are working extremely hard to deploy your product with high quality to your customers and that they are giving you their personal time to do it. Time they could be spending with their families. Respect that.
Do not force them to travel on their personal time without compensation (either in comp days or in pay). Do not expect them to work overtime without proper compensation for that and try to justify that kind of slave labor as "salary work."
Respect the fact that they are human beings with families and lives. Pay them as such. You have been repeatedly screwing your workers out of fair wages for high quality work. Correct that and you will be able to keep your talent. Do not correct that and your business will fail.
|
0.0
|
[]
|
REGULAR
|
No
|
No
|
|
4.0
|
|
|
|
Apr 22nd, 2021 06:41PM
|
Apr 22nd, 2021 06:41PM
|
Square 9 Softworks
|
|
Software & Computer Services
|
|
private:square9softworks
|
https://www.glassdoor.com?employer_id=558656
|
Feb 5th, 2019 12:00AM
|
Open
|
Open
|
Square 9 Softworks
|
Implementation Specialist
|
|
|
Fun and Fulfilling Company to Work For
|
|
The company cares about their employees, and values their feedback. They do a good job of mixing in fun with coaching and enrichment activities. Lots of opportunities to grow. Flex time and work from home provide flexible options to build your ideal workday. Very good benefits for a smaller company.
|
The workload can be a bit overwhelming at times. Often asked to juggle many things at once.
|
1.0
|
POSITIVE
|
1.0
|
POSITIVE
|
1.0
|
APPROVE
|
0.0
|
5.0
|
5.0
|
4.0
|
5.0
|
4.0
|
5.0
|
|
558656
|
Open
|
|
0.0
|
[]
|
REGULAR
|
No
|
Yes
|
|
0.0
|
|
|
|
Apr 22nd, 2021 06:41PM
|
Apr 22nd, 2021 06:41PM
|
Square 9 Softworks
|
|
Software & Computer Services
|
|
private:square9softworks
|
https://www.glassdoor.com?employer_id=558656
|
Dec 3rd, 2018 12:00AM
|
Open
|
Open
|
Square 9 Softworks
|
Professional Services Engineer
|
|
|
Sales Above All Else
|
|
Nice New Haven Office
Startup-like Perks (Game Room, Candy Room, etc - Frankly, not worth it if actual compensation not to par)
Work from Home on Fridays
|
Insane turnover - In the 4 years I was here, I saw a single sales position turnover 6 times. I consistently heard complaints of unreasonable goals and expectations without providing tools to reach those goals.
Far below market compensation, unprofessional review process. I consistently had to bother management to get any form of performance review, and even then it would take MONTHS to get any sort of real response. Beyond that, compensation is rarely adjusted, and never based on cost of living or inflationary adjustments. In 4 years, my real income failed to keep up with inflation.
Communication is practically non-existent between upper management and lower employees. I was constantly blindsided by changes, and my input never felt valued.
Rushed sales process - always pushing to close deals quickly leads to poorly qualified, overpromised, underscoped projects. These projects are rarely even remotely successful, and sales never seems to be held accountable.
Rushed release cycle - quarterly releases lead to major bugs in almost every release. This is to the point that I would not recommend existing customers upgrade unless they have a specific issue. QA team is woefully understaffed for the size of software.
Documentation / Training - There are signs this is improving, but is still painfully lacking. New features are often released without proper documentation, provided to Professional Services to install without any real instructions.
Travel - You are regularly expected to travel on your own time without compensation. Fly out Sunday, fly home Saturday, no extra PTO or anything. I have heard numerous complaints from Sales Managers that they were outright lied to regarding travel requirements at time of hiring - BE CAREFUL.
Equipment / Technology - I was provided a laptop when I started that was several years old at the time. That laptop was never replaced and barely functional by the time I left. In-house IT reimaged the laptop about a year before I left, and did not provide licensing for Office. Licenses for their remote access software is 5 versions behind current. Web conferences are ad-hoc - you are left to your own devices to find and choose a service - they don't pay for licensing to technicians. Despite frequent issues with the free hypervisor they used, they have refused to purchase paid licensing for one with support infrastructure.
Lack of Respect for Employees - This is harder to quantify, but even employees who have dedicated years of service to the company are treated as utterly disposable. One of the chief developers, who was responsible for 80%+ of the current codebase, had moved out of state short-term (16 months). Without any prior communication, he was relieved of his development team, and dropped to a rank-and-file developer. When he asked about why, or if he would be able to get his team back when he returned, he was told, "I don't need to run decisions past you." Completely toxic. That developer has since left.
Management Perspective of Product - Management does not seem to have a realistic view of the competitive marketplace. S9 Products are not outstandingly unique. There are dozens of products that use the EXACT same OCR engine, and the same database backends. Frankly, for their feature set, products need to be much more stable and high performance, and much better documented in order to compete. As it sits, consistent bugs and slow workflow performance make for a less-than-stellar solution when presented to a customer.
General Management Culture - There is what I see to be a MAJOR flaw with the entire philosophy of upper management. A quote from the CTO at the most recent conference encapsulates the problem: "If you can sell it, we can build it." For a company that positions itself as a development company, that is entirely backwards. Develop software, sell that software. Don't sell promises and try to develop to match them. Beyond that, management doesn't take criticism well - at a recent department meeting, they dismissed a majority of negative reviews on here as 'sabotage'. Further, management continues to indicate their focus going forward is on developing off-the-shelf installable packages (thus minimizing the need for Professional Services at all). This is a major mistake, in my opinion. These solutions are not something that will work well in an off-the-shelf environment, and lowering the importance of ProServ says exactly where management's loyalties and priorities lie.
|
-1.0
|
NEGATIVE
|
-1.0
|
NEGATIVE
|
-1.0
|
DISAPPROVE
|
15.0
|
1.0
|
2.0
|
2.0
|
1.0
|
1.0
|
1.0
|
|
558656
|
Open
|
Slow down releases and test them more thoroughly; Care more about quality of deals rather than quantity; Keep sales accountable for inflated customer expectations; Compensate your employees, or continue to lose them to competitors; Stop setting goals based on exponential growth;
|
0.0
|
[]
|
REGULAR
|
No
|
No
|
|
4.0
|
|
|
|
Apr 22nd, 2021 06:41PM
|
Apr 22nd, 2021 06:41PM
|
Square 9 Softworks
|
|
Software & Computer Services
|