- Management does not want to put efforts into build-up business on local markets in Europe nor to embrace opportunities other than outstaffing to "blue chips" (large enterprises) - that creates high risks that delivery will be moved fully offshore, and limits amount of projects in the pipeline.
- There is also some constant stress and a lot of suboptimal time spent, because you always have 2 bosses (one from the client and another one EPAM) to build trust with, to report to, and to become engaged into processes and tools.
- Compensation. Limited opportunities to get salary increases and bonuses, because they can only be paid from the project margin, that is too thin now due to economic downturn and the fact that many
companies are cutting IT costs and postponing new projects in current macroeconomy situation.
- Promotions. While there is a process for getting the next grade (aka performance review), but in practice it is associated with a lot of difficulties (you need to be billable for the client, you need to show achievements worthy of the next grade, then collect very positive feedback from all client and colleagues and finally pass an internal exam) - as a result, people sit in the same grade for many years, and when they finally get the next one - the salary increases by a symbolic 5% (after all, to increase more - company has to to sell you to the client at a higher price, and this is more difficult with each new grade).
- EPAM is still an "Eastern European/post-Soviet company" by the mentality. Nepotism is very strong among the management, national connections and personal preferences prevail over meritocracy, the position in the corporate hierarchy (grade and title) are of most importance, and not at real skills and knowledge.
- You have to pass Client Interview before you get to next project. Means: non-professionals are deciding if you are a good fit to be a consultant for them, not EPAM.
- Senior leadership is a "white heterosexual men's club" where it is harder for women or people of color or LGBTQ+ to make a career or be noticed (they have a similar saying to Carroll: "You have to run as fast as you can just to stay in the same place, and to get somewhere, you have to run at least twice as fast!" ).
- After the start of a full-scale war in Ukraine, top management is constantly busy putting out fires and stabilizing operations, seems they have no time to revisit strategy.
