Pros
While my time at The Bay Club Company was ultimately disappointing, I’ll give credit where it’s due: the office environment was beautiful, bright, and modern, creating an uplifting space to work. They also provided free memberships, which was a nice touch, and the office snacks were a consistent perk that made the daily grind a little more bearable. The company also offers unlimited PTO, but let me be clear—unlimited PTO is a complete scam. While the policy sounds great on paper, it’s meaningless if leadership isn’t willing to actually approve your time off. I got my work done, but when I requested time off, it was either denied or ignored. Other teams within the company were able to take time off freely or leave at their leisure to come back and get it done, yet my leadership would not give me the same flexibility. It quickly became clear that while the company boasted of unlimited PTO, the reality was far different.
Cons
My time at The Bay Club Company was nothing short of disappointing. From the very beginning, it was clear that this company has serious leadership issues. As part of a small team, I quickly realized that the senior leadership was more focused on leaving early to walk their dogs, eating lunch on the company card, or indulging rather than actually leading a team. There was zero direction, and communication was virtually nonexistent. The lack of clear goals for the team was especially frustrating. I was told it takes six months to fully understand the company’s objectives and direction, but by month four, I was laid off—before I had a chance to even grasp what was expected of me. Being put into a new role that they did not fully understand left me confused in how I would grow at the Bay Club. Senior leaders seemed to be more invested in their own personal comfort than in developing a strong, cohesive team. This lack of leadership made me feel disempowered from the start, as if my role and ideas were irrelevant. No one seemed to care about empowering me or giving me the confidence to lead. When I expressed that I needed more direction and leadership, my concerns were brushed off. Any ideas I had were dismissed because leadership only wanted to do things their way. The culture was toxic—elitist and cliquish—where decisions were made by senior leaders who seemed to only hire interns they knew personally or were related to. Nepotism was rampant, and the divide between senior management and the rest of the team was palpable. The lack of inclusivity was suffocating. I was hired for my skills and ideas and personality, but they were disregarded. Instead of being given the chance to communicate and contribute meaningfully, I was consistently shut down. Even when I successfully completed projects, I received no recognition from my leader. The entire environment felt catty and dismissive, and it became clear that employees who weren’t part of the "inner circle" were just disposable. If you’re looking for a company that values communication, inclusivity, and real leadership, look elsewhere. The Bay Club Company may have some potential, but from my experience, it’s a disorganized mess that offers no real opportunity for growth or empowerment. It’s a place where leadership is absent, nepotism thrives, and employees are left in the dark.
