I have never worked in a business environment that was so grim and depressing. A very sharp contrast from the previous employer. A few bullet points about this experience:
- Santander cancelled access to the building's cafeteria and all employees have to be cramped in small break rooms.
- Right off the bat the company fired one out of every four employees and their work spread among the rest, substantially increasing the work load.
- Bonuses were cut by 75% and management went to great lengths in finding little details in order not to pay it.
- The only meetings we had with the new management were always filled with threats and their favorite go to phrase "if you don't like it, you can always leave".
- We were required to work every other Saturday and calling sick on that day (as oppose to a week day) was considered a "no show".
- The new management was very abusive in their communications, demanding people to work overtime and publicly chastising those who didn't.
- Every week people were quitting their jobs because of the working conditions.
- I personally approach my manager and two of the directors to bring this sudden change and was dismissed with their favorite line "if you don't like it, you can leave anytime".
- The working culture was to collect money at any cost and whatever means necessary.
Overall Santander brought a worsening of the working conditions; a reduction in pay and increased in work; and management that was abusive and unresponsive to even some basic good practices of a working environment.
Even our customers noticed this sudden change and started referring to Santander as "Satan-der" for how abusive their collections practices became.
Shortly after I found a new job and left, they closed the office and laid off everybody.
In all my years doing work inside and outside of the financial system, Santander takes the gold medal as the most abusive company I've ever worked for.
