The Knot has lost its way and does not reflect an organization that values its employees (or customers), cares about culture, or in any way creates an experience in which employees can succeed. Leaders will celebrate profit margins and in the same breath announce more layoffs, another restructure, or whatever initiative they think of that saves money even if it’s affects the experience of our vendors and employees. The business isn’t growing, largely due to vendor sentiment & churn, an underinvestment in almost every part of the business (product, sales, HR), and a revolving door of employees which never seems to be a concern despite how much pressure this puts on teams to train up new team members. I can only imagine what the recruitment team must go through just to keep up with churn.
The past few years has seen the erosion of any reason why someone might want to work at The Knot. We have money to expand offices, throw lavish events and watch senior leaders travel every other week, but there’s never budget for salary increases that ease cost of living pressures especially on those who live pay check to pay check (which is most of the company). Benefits exist, but do not provide any level of support for physical, financial and mental wellbeing. Retirement contribution matching (4% matched with 1%) is the worst I have ever seen in my career. We talk a big game about developing employees and career progression, but unless you accidentally have a fantastic manager who supports this, it’s nothing but talk. Flexibility used to be truly awesome, but that has eroded too with Together@TKWW and a constant pressure to be doing more with less, working hours are extended into mornings and evenings, and leaders will find it perfectly acceptable to disrupt weekends and PTO for ‘urgent’ and ‘important’ actions that almost never are either of those things.
But perhaps the biggest sign of this business losing its way is in how leaders speak to us. All Hands are a rotation of scripted leaders (we can see you reading…), Q&As have pre-vetted questions and the most pertinent concerns are almost never covered and answered, and every communication we receive, from the CEO, the HR team, the Execs, and department leadership, is a carousel of corporate fluff and gaslighting that lacks empathy, preciseness or even just a basic tone that doesn’t sound like you are trying to convince children that vegetables are delicious. Please, talk to us like we are human beings. Don’t shy away from difficult messages. Be concise with your words and follow up with what you say. Trust and confidence in leadership is at an all time low (how are the VOE results going?), and the vast majority of people are wondering if this is a business that is just pumping financial metrics so investors and leaders can sell and exit, or is this a business that actually cares deeply about the success of vendors, partners and employees as well, and willing to do something about it.
