Pros
There are genuinely talented developers who care about producing good work and are always willing to help each other. Unfortunately, that collaborative spirit is often outweighed by poor leadership and constant pressure.
Kontras
Limited technical leadership within the web development team
Unrealistic deadlines and constantly shifting priorities
Little support or mentorship for developers
Coaching is often replaced with formal HR performance processes
Policies and expectations feel inconsistently applied
Developers have little confidence in raising concerns
Technical debt continues to grow while long-term improvements are deprioritised
High turnover and low morale
My experience as a web developer was disappointing and, over time, increasingly demoralising.
Developers are expected to deliver at a consistently high level, but the support needed to achieve that is often missing. Technical leadership was limited, and when deadlines or requirements didn't seem realistic, there was little discussion around scope, priorities or technical constraints. The expectation was simply to "make a plan" and find a way, regardless of whether the timeline was achievable.
Instead of addressing underlying technical problems, the focus often seemed to be on quick fixes that allowed delivery to continue. The same issues resurfaced repeatedly because there was little opportunity to improve systems properly or reduce technical debt. As a developer, it was frustrating to know there was a better solution while being expected to continue patching problems instead due to no technical understanding from the manager.
Constructive feedback and coaching were also lacking. Performance concerns often was formal rather than developmental, making it difficult to view feedback as an opportunity to improve. Regular technical guidance, mentorship and open conversations would have been far more valuable than formal processes after problems had already developed.
Another challenge was confidence in raising concerns. From my perspective, it never felt as though there was a truly independent avenue for discussing issues affecting the development team.
The close working relationship between management and HR made it difficult for me to believe concerns would be considered objectively, which discouraged honest conversations and reduced trust in the process.
I also found workplace expectations to be inconsistent. Some decisions appeared to be applied differently depending on the individual or situation, which created uncertainty and affected morale within the team. Whether intentional or not, consistency in leadership is important, and I rarely experienced it.
What disappointed me most was seeing experienced and good developers leave while many of the same underlying issues remained. Rather than addressing recurring leadership, planning and communication challenges, the organisation seemed to adapt around them. Over time, this contributed to ongoing turnover and the loss of valuable technical knowledge.
The company speaks positively about collaboration, openness and its people-first culture. Unfortunately, my experience within the web development team did not consistently reflect those values and failed alot of good workers! The developers themselves are talented and committed, but they deserve stronger leadership, realistic planning and an environment where raising concerns leads to meaningful conversations instead of hesitation.
