My first day, I was asked to come into the office to collect my laptop as they were concerned it would break in the post.
After travelling on 3 trains, my first work day there was underwhelming. There was no team lunch, no welcome from my manager (who decided not to come in), and no suggestions about where to eat or how to settle in. I didn't feel very welcomed.
I often felt that my department lacked visibility within the wider company. It was rarely mentioned in company updates, which impacted morale. Combined with working on low-end client accounts, it sometimes felt like our contributions weren’t fully recognised or valued.
Supporting this notion, the company hosted a 'two-day hackathon' that was designed for those with app development skills (not my department). Unfortunately, it wasn’t inclusive of team members without a technical background, leaving many unable to contribute and had to continue their daily work. No alternative was offered.
I had concerns about transparency with clients. On a few occasions, clients were being mis-sold services, which could have long-term impacts on trust and retention. It felt wrong.
Some employees who were meant to support our department didn’t seem particularly effective in their roles. For example, the collaboration with sales and line management wasn’t as productive as it could have been, which occasionally created confusion, inefficiencies and work gossip.
Working remotely, I didn’t feel especially welcome or included. There was little effort to integrate remote employees, such as being left out on comms. Additionally, I wasn’t offered reimbursement for travel, despite having to take 3 trains and being contracted to work remote. When I queried this, I was met with annoyance and the suggestion that as a remote worker I should "value the time spent with colleagues". I never got reimbursed.
The software and tools we used were often free alternatives that didn’t fully meet the needs of the job. Atomic seemed to prioritise cost-saving over productivity, and it made certain tasks more difficult than necessary.
I found it increasingly difficult to deliver content while being asked create 'low-quality' content because of the lower-paying clients. Despite raising concerns about undercharging clients, this remained a persistent issue, which often affected the standards and expectations placed on myself.
I was disappointed to learn that compassionate leave was unpaid. With a relative passing away in my time at Atomic, paid compassionate leave would have demonstrated a more supportive and empathetic approach to my wellbeing. Seeing the reduction in my pay after grieving and managing a funeral really added salt to the wound. They offer 5, unpaid 'compassionate' days.
On a many occasions I felt disrespected. One example a senior colleague highly criticised a live blog post that I managed. Expressing it wasn't up to his expectations. However, he approved this blog post prior upload, in email. When I pointed this out, he did not acknowledge the mistake or offer an apology. This kind of interaction made it difficult to feel supported.
Leaving the job, I was told they had seen I was 'unhappy for a while'. This surprised me, because it was true, yet not a single manager asked me whether I was 'okay', or asked what they could do to support me more during this time. When I asked why nobody has reached out to me, they responded with 'I don't know'.
I was told I did not seem 'willing' to work on projects outside of my contract, and they would prefer an 'all-rounder'. There was no communication on this during interview, it simply was expected once I started. Although I put 100% into my contracted work, it seemed they only cared about the work that was thrown on me. I admit, I wasn't that interested in the work outside of my contract and perhaps in hindsight I should have communicated that clearer to them. Lesson learned for me. But, while on the topic, positive feedback was rare, it seemed management focused more so on what teams were not doing over what value they did bring.
Lastly, on a smaller note, The 30-minute lunch break policy felt quite limited and didn’t provide enough time for a meaningful rest during the workday. A longer break could have contributed positively to overall wellbeing and productivity. (I arranged to work earlier so I could have a longer lunch break).
Overall, I began this role with a great deal of enthusiasm and optimism. I saw real potential to elevate the department and contribute meaningfully to its growth. I committed fully, bringing my expertise and giving the role my best effort. However, the experience was significantly hindered by a consistent lack of support, guidance, and basic professional courtesy - ultimately making it one of the most challenging and disappointing work environments I’ve encountered.
