You can say no to additional opportunities, but may feel pressured. The communication and metrics you are being held to aren't very clear, which means that you can never just know that it won't be held against you. Usually it will not be, but depending on your personality type that can wear you down with worry.
Communication and metrics that you are held to aren't clear and employee evaluations are few and far between. I had 3 that I remember during over a decade. If you are worried about your performance, then this can be quite frustrating. The statement is that evaluations are constantly happening, but that is inaccurate based on my experience and the any employee that I have spoken with.
Advanced positions, beware. I've watched a couple ideas that involved hiring multiple high end individuals, then not get the return they wanted and those people are laid off. This is also true of any new initiatives if you are a current employee. Make sure that your position is creating enough income or that you are taking care of preparing for your next potential move.
Co-workers that are bad can stick around for months and months while you are struggling with all the excess work. If it isn't near a layoff time, which I watched 3, then make sure you are ready for OT or a hard conversation with your manager. This is especially bad if there is limited coverage for your position or area.
Direct Manager is very important. You will hear about how others are treated, but make sure you know how your direct manager operates. The company remains agile by allowing a lot of flexibility by the lower management, but that can be an issue if you and your manager don't see eye to eye. Mine was awesome for most of my time there. I heard many stories of people struggling with
There appears to be a focus on numbers and metrics around the time of the CEO swap in early 2017. I can't speak to the accuracy of this as I was never privy to these details. From what I saw while I was still there and hear from others, this is happening and communication is very limited. If you are employed there, make sure you figure out how to get a report on what value you bring to the company. That will keep you aware of if you bring in enough income to justify your position.
Downsizing means very little notice and coverage. I can speak from experience that after a decade of service, I was given 3 weeks of severance with no head's up that it was even a potential. I am doing fine and have employment now. I wanted to wait until I was fully and securely back on my feet before writing this, because I didn't want it to be from a place of anger. That also allowed me time to talk to old co-workers about their experiences after I was gone.
After over a decade with the company that called itself a family, being told that if there was ever to be downsizing I would be offered at least some alternative position within the company (didn't happen), and being given only 3 weeks of severance, I want to make the next part very clear. I was sent my letter indicating the end of my tenure and income from TSP and they highlighted that I had signed an agreement that I would not solicit any TSP clients. Now, I'm pretty sure that's not legally defensible, but that wasn't the point. I was told I was part of a family and told many others the same. Then, my ability to provide for my own family was removed with little coverage and it felt like a messy divorce when there was no need. It felt clinical and is why I'm wondering if the CEO change is the cause. (I only bring it up so that you can make your own decision with that potential clue.) This is perhaps the most sore piece of my tenure as I think of all the people I told that we are "actually" a family here and is the #1 reason I felt a glass door is required to make sure that there is some clear communication. (You can see from the length of this that I'm still sore on this area. I don't like being a patsy or hurting people or their career opportunities.)
Downsizing communication is very poor. I asked if there was an issue with sending a good bye email and was informed that they would prefer to be the ones to communicate. I had no issue with that, but have found out from previous employees that they were never told of who was cut and assumed that I had just found a different job.
Travel can be frustrating. The budges are constantly getting tighter and even staying within the vague allotment for dining can result in questions about specific choices, depending on your manager. It's one of the downsides of all that flexibility. You can be fully within the guidelines and still have to explain your dining or hotel choice. Or, you can go over the allotment and get no questions, depending on your manager. It is very worth talking to someone else that reports to the same manager that you will.
Raises are something you have to fight for. Do not expect cost of living increases.