Amazing product, terrible toxic culture - Recensione dipendente - Software Engineer presso Planet DDS

Planet DDS is full of kind, talented, and motivated people who genuinely care about their work and about each other. Leadership is approachable and open to feedback. When people share ideas, you actually see them put into action, which says a lot about the culture. The company has grown in such a positive direction, with more focus on collaboration, recognition, and creating an environment where people feel supported and valued. It’s a place that trusts you to do great work, gives you the flexibility to make it happen, and lets you show up as your authentic self every day.

Like any company that’s growing fast, there are still a few areas catching up to the pace of expansion. Sometimes information lives in pockets, and communication between departments could be smoother. A bit more alignment and visibility would make things flow even better. The good thing is, leadership seems genuinely aware of this and is taking real steps to strengthen cross-team collaboration, which is great to see.

I truly enjoy how supportive my colleagues are at Planet. The environment is constantly evolving, which can be challenging for some, but I thrive in a dynamic workplace where there is always something new to learn and contribute to. It keeps the work engaging, rewarding, and never boring. I also appreciate the many opportunities to collaborate across teams and play a role in developing scalable processes that help drive the organization forward. I also appreciate the flexible time off model, which reflects the trust Planet places in its employees.

While I greatly appreciate many aspects of working at Planet, I am disappointed by the current paid parental leave policy for birthing parents. At six weeks, the benefit falls significantly below the standard offered by many established technology companies, where paid maternity leave often averages closer to 16 weeks. While a six-week policy may be more common among early-stage startups, Planet has grown into a well-established organization, and I believe our benefits should reflect that maturity. At a minimum, increasing paid leave from six to eight weeks for birthing parents would provide additional time for physical recovery, bonding with a new baby, and adjusting to the significant life transition that comes with welcoming a child. Research has also shown that stronger parental leave benefits can have a meaningful impact on employee retention. For example, Accenture reported a substantial reduction in attrition among birthing parents after enhancing companies parental leave policy. In today's economic environment, many families rely on two working parents. The prospect of taking unpaid leave can create significant financial hardship during an already challenging time. New parents are often faced with difficult decisions regarding income, childcare arrangements for a newborn, physical recovery, and postpartum mental health, all while preparing to return to work. Expanding parental leave would not only provide critical support to employees and their families but would also demonstrate Planet's commitment to employee well-being and long-term retention.