Flexible schedule but poor management and unclear pay - Independent Contractor Backyard Products Employee Review

Working at Backyard Products the past 4.5 years has been a very rewarding experience. Our company continues to grow by way of our product portfolio and demand, as well as investment into our people and technology.

No cons to speak of. We operate mean and lean, yet it feels like family.

There are some good people left (non-management)

The foundational issue at this company stems from top-down leadership practices. Executive management struggles with transparency, empathy, and objective decision-making. Furthermore, there are systemic cultural issues regarding diversity and inclusion, with an executive environment that lacks diverse perspectives and instead prioritizes compliance over accountability. Rather than addressing systemic issues highlighted in exit interviews and “anonymous” engagement surveys, leadership frequently dismisses feedback, labeling dissatisfied employees as "entitled" or "ungrateful." Driven by the executive culture, middle management faces intense pressure to maintain 24/7 availability. Boundary violations are common, including text messages, calls, and emails during weekends, evenings, and approved PTO. Consequently, this strain is frequently pushed down from middle management to individual contributors, manifesting as vaguely defined goals, shifting priorities, and unrealistic timelines that further compromise work-life balance across all levels. There is a stark division in the workforce between a small percentage of high-performing employees who sustain operations and a segment that remains unresponsive. When high performers request support or report communication bottlenecks, they are instructed to find workarounds rather than management addressing the root cause. Furthermore, when employees resign or are let go, positions are rarely backfilled. Instead, the workload is absorbed by remaining staff without adjustments to compensation. Employee turnover is exceptionally high, with numerous departures occurring within short timeframes—some without external roles lined up. Knowledge transfer during notice periods is virtually nonexistent, as departing employees are often isolated or ignored by management, leaving remaining staff unprepared for the transition and set up for failure. The company’s core growth strategy relies on acquiring distressed companies. However, the integration process consistently involves stripping standard corporate benefits (including PTO, healthcare, and parental leave). Following these acquisitions, there is typically a noticeable decline in product quality, customer satisfaction, and overall consumer trust. Because acquisition integrations frequently result in a degraded customer experience, the front-line customer service and call center teams bear the brunt of consumer dissatisfaction. This high-stress environment has led to a significant percentage of the support staff taking medical leaves for mental health and burnout. Management has shown a documented lack of empathy regarding these struggles, failing to offer adequate resources or operational relief. While the company enforces strict, company-wide "cost-cutting" measures that result in remote employee layoffs, executive travel expenses remain high. Frivolous travel for in-person meetings that could easily be conducted via Teams is common, creating a strong sense of hypocrisy regarding fiscal responsibility.