Squarespace

Squarespace has a fundamental engineering culture of helping each other. Questions are never an imposition and folks are really dedicated to helping each other learn. Also Squarespace is one of the few bigger tech companies where our work doesn't feel actively evil. We don't track people all over the internet or suck them down misinformation rabbit holes.

Work-Life Balance is actually encouraged. Even from upper management. People use their Unlimited PTO and if you don't your manager might reach out and encourage you to take a vacation. There's little to no crunch here. Everyone signs in around 10 and dips around 6 but you can shift your hours based on your personal prefs, child care needs, what have you. I haven't heard of anyone getting micromanaged in their work. As long as you get your work done and show up to meetings you can shape your time however you need to.

There are a few managers that have known reputations for undervaluing the accomplishments of their reports, low-balling their raises and refusing to promote folks even when their senior teammates believe the promotion is deserved. I've been fortunate enough not to have such a manager myself, but the employees of those managers are constantly trying to switch teams or quit. Despite that pattern, all of those managers have been at the company for several years.

If you're considering joining SQSP, make sure you talk to the folks you'll be reporting to, both the Team Lead and the Engineering Manager. There isn't much team switching here and folks tend to stay here longer than the usual 1.5 - 2 years, so if you like your manager they'll probably stick around. You could have a great work environment. But I wouldn't walk in with my eyes closed.

Also Squarespace is a bit slower to update COVID guidance than other tech companies. We tend to follow what the FAANG companies are doing, but management will announce the changes several weeks afterwards. I've honestly started just making plans based on whatever policy a FAANG company announces in the news. Oh except anything that requires doling out funds to employees. Squarespace is stingy in comparison to other companies when it comes to things like paying for a WFH setup or compensating for the expenses we didn't have before, like increased utilities and groceries. You can get things like a monitor or a desk chair, but they tend to be pretty low quality. Many of the folks I know ended up just shelling out for their own.

Just because certain folks have been around for a while doesn't mean they're a positive contribution to the culture. Don't ignore folks' complaints about managers, even if those folks are on their way out.

Stop being so slow to announce WFH extensions. Parceling out WFH 2 months at a time is incredibly annoying when we all know it's eventually going to add up to the bigger chunk FAANG announced. We've already demonstrated we're productive when remote. What do you have to lose if you overshoot by a few months?

Treat your Team Leads better. They're taking on additional responsibility, and they should be compensated as such.