Too many generals, not enough soldiers... - Engineer Xylem Employee Review

1.0
May 31, 2019
Recommend
CEO approval
Business Outlook

Pros

There are still (even after several rounds of layoffs and restructuring) some talented people that work here.

Cons

Xylem is in the process of transitioning from a utilities products company to a technology and IoT company. In this process, management has vertically stretched the company (with many layers of middle management) based on politics and hiring of previous coworkers from dumpster fire companies like Nortel and Sony Ericsson. If you are lucky enough to have worked at one of these companies or get an executive/VP role, maybe you will like it here. Otherwise, you will have no incentive to go above and beyond because the cards are stacked against you. To start, no bonuses, no equity awards, no profit sharing, no ESPP, and a yearly “salary adjustment” which is just on par with US CPI inflation (2-3%). Managers are forced and encouraged to not give out high ratings for salary adjustments because the standard merit is offered in a bell curve like distribution and is a component of leftover spend from a growth center’s budget. There are too many people pointing fingers and not enough action. HR will promise you many things during the interview and on-boarding which are outright lies or materially false. Just remember - if it’s not in writing, it’s not happening! Healthcare plan is a high deductible plan which covers nothing. Consolation prize is given in the form a $500 contribution to your HSA. Vision is the lowest plan that EyeMed offers. Overall, you are basically a contractor with little to no benefits. Even in the midst of a hiring freeze, no recruiter or HR positions were cut. Instead, engineering numbers continue to dwindle as does funding for engineering activities — not how a “tech” company typically operates! The company has drastically changed over the past three years. No one stays past 5 and most people arrive well after 9. Upper management and executives have one interest - the equity. Pretty obvious with equity based compensation up 50% YoY and refusing to finance the business by doing a equity offering. Overall, staffed employees and upper management are completely out of touch. Instead of fixing failures, everyone is looking for someone to blame. Marketing calls all the shots in the product development phase and is completely disconnected from what is scientifically and financially practical.

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Xylem Response
7y
Thank you for your comments. As we strive to have an open and collaborative workplace that fosters talent and team work, we will share your feedback and suggestions with stakeholders across the company. It is our goal to continuously improve our organization and develop talent across the globe.

Explore other reviews about Xylem

5.0
Jun 6, 2026
Anonymous intern
Recommend
CEO approval
Business Outlook

Pros

Nice managers, supportive, kind environment

Cons

None really, would recommend for internship

2.0
Jun 25, 2026
Anonymous employee
Recommend
CEO approval
Business Outlook

Pros

Good pay, unlimited PTO, and the occasional free lunch when leadership is in town. There are also volunteer activities available if you want to get involved.

Cons

Only 12 paid holidays, and Veterans Day and MLK Day aren’t included. Expectations shift constantly, creating rework, wasted effort, and frequent overtime that leads to burnout. The environment is highly political, with a small group gatekeeping information, unclear ownership, and perception often outweighing results. The business is volatile, with heavy, frequent restructures and ongoing headcount cuts. Technology and systems are outdated, processes aren’t documented, and training/onboarding is weak. The culture leans toward a boys’ club, and it’s easy to feel sidelined or disrespected—so you’ll need a thick skin. Decisions are driven by short‑term goals, and the future often feels uncertain.

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