Electronic Arts

EA is well known, and its games are played by millions around the globe.

Great gym and sports facilities.

Discounted games (not free).

Cafeteria has good quality food (although not for free).

EA has some of the worst middle management imaginable. Managers are often promoted based on metrics outside of their actual performance, which results in unqualified people making horrible decisions. Most managers I encountered at EA had little to no skill at managing engineers in a way that allowed them to be happy with their jobs.

EA should carefully consider the value each manager adds to the organization and if they are actually qualified to do their jobs and promptly remove those who aren't.

Management is often hypercritical, providing almost no positive feedback or acknowledgement when positive events or contributions occur. Any new ideas you may bring to the table will be shot down by your manager, and you will be reprimanded for speaking up. EA's top-down decision structure makes it impossible for engineers to feel as though they have control in their work or any voice in the organization.

Promotion always feels out of reach. Management will constantly enforce the feeling that you're not performing well, even though by all available metrics you are. If you work for EA, you should expect to constantly feel as though your job is on the line with every act you make.

Salaries are not competitive given the expected output of an engineer. EA pays engineers well below what they should be paying, and the effects of this are felt throughout the entire company. EA should pay employees more and make bonuses more frequent to ensure employees are motivated to do quality work.

Employees throughout the company feel burnt out and hate their jobs. This is extraordinarily difficult to work around if you actually enjoy what you do. I found the resounding negativity so draining that I had to start mental health treatment, as I found myself depressed.

Flatten the company structure and remove unnecessary managers.

Foster a culture where ideas can rise from the bottom-up.

Promote employees when they deserve to be promoted.

Encourage positivity and happiness among employees.