Automattic

• International-level compensation: The salary is competitive on a global scale, and especially generous compared to local standards in many countries. This was one of the strongest aspects of working at Automattic. • Unlimited time off: The time-off policy is truly unlimited and flexible. I was able to make meaningful use of it, which contributed positively to my work-life balance and overall well-being. • Talented colleagues: The caliber of the people at Automattic is very high. My teammates were not only friendly and collaborative but also highly skilled and independent. It was a stimulating environment where little effort was needed to bring people up to speed. • Global and remote culture: The company’s fully distributed nature and diversity made it an inspiring place to work and grow. • Transparency and generosity (historically): Automattic has been known for being transparent and generous in many areas, including internal communication and employee benefits.

• Lack of stable direction: The company structure often felt chaotic. Strategic plans changed frequently, which led to confusion and instability across many development teams.

• Weak leadership alignment: Leadership decisions sometimes appeared disconnected from the work on the ground, creating frustration and a lack of clear long-term vision.

• Transparency concerns during difficult times: While the company prides itself on transparency, recent layoffs and internal changes were handled in a way that felt opaque and inconsistent with its public values. This mismatch between stated values and actual behavior was disappointing.

• Financial uncertainty: In recent years, Automattic’s financial situation seemed to be under pressure, which contributed to internal tension and major organizational changes.