Great people, poor pay, abysmal leadership - Anonymous employee Forrester Employee Review

1.0
Jan 19, 2023
Anonymous employee
Recommend
CEO approval
Business Outlook

Pros

The people are genuinely great. They're compassionate, smart, and hard-working. Love working with them. The work-life balance is also quite good for the industry.

Cons

Compensation is laughably low for the industry, even taking the lower-intensity environment into account. Promotions follow little rhyme or reason and often feel timed for office politics instead of merit. Perks are almost non-existent. D&I is laughably behind where it should be, in large part due to lack of understanding of what is important to new hires and low pay. The highest levels of leadership are at the mercy of the CEO, who at best provides benign neglect and at worst makes decisions around massive issues like company direction and flex work solely on his whims and orders others to backfill reasoning. If you are a regular employee and ask very reasonable questions about why poor financial performance isn't leading to a reckoning for executives on stock buybacks and new direction, or why Forrester is taking away one of its biggest perks its own research asserts is great, you will either be ignored, brushed off with platitudes, or have your career suffer as a result.

Explore other reviews about Forrester

5.0
Jun 1, 2026
Recommend
CEO approval
Business Outlook

Pros

Forrester is a truly rewarding place to work. I feel like I make a meaningful difference every day, both for our clients and within the organization. The colleagues here are exceptional. They are smart, collaborative, and genuinely supportive. I’m constantly learning from a talented group of people who care deeply about the quality of their work and the impact it has. The culture encourages thoughtful problem-solving, professional growth, and doing work that matters.

Cons

The most challenging aspect right now is the current business performance, which can create uncertainty and added pressure across teams. At times, this environment can impact workloads, decision-making speed, and overall predictability.

2
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Forrester Response
1mo
Thank you for your many years of contribution to Forrester ! I’m really glad to hear how strongly you feel about your colleagues and the impact of the work. It's wonderful to see the combination of thoughtful problem-solving, collaboration, and meaningful outcomes reflected in your experience. You’re also right to call out the challenges of the current business environment. Periods of change and performance pressure can create uncertainty, and I know that can impact workload, pace, and predictability. I am confident we are on the right path towards growth this year and it wouldnt have been possible without great colleagues like you. Thank you again for your candid feedback, it means a great deal coming from someone with such deep experience at Forrester. Jobina Gonsalves Chief People Officer
3.0
Jun 23, 2026
Anonymous employee
Recommend
CEO approval
Business Outlook

Pros

Smart people work here, work-life balance is ideal if you have a good manager.

Cons

Morale is low, leadership is extremely out of touch with the sentiments of the workforce.

1
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