Zones reviews

I was an AE here for over 10 years and left on my own once I realized the direction they were taking would make it nearly impossible to continue increasing my paycheck. So these cons are not based on me being bitter for being laid off or fired. In no particular order: 1) Non-compete - If they didn’t enforce these, this would be a great place to get a start in the industry. However, they DO enforce them so once you have outgrown their model you have limited choices of where to go next. They have changed the pay plan multiple times and still try to bind you to a non-compete signed ten years ago. You basically have to hire a lawyer to have the freedom to choose where you will work next. It’s like being in an abusive relationship, they don’t want you but they don’t want anyone else to have you either. 2) Retroactive comp changes – This is flat out illegal, yet they continue to do it. Last year they tried to pull this and it would have cost people tens of thousands of dollars. The new VP told me “it may not be right, but it IS legal”. After that conversation I emailed HR and outlined how it was not only illegal, it violated their own comp plan. After that, they told everyone they would “do the right thing” and pay everyone based on the previous pay plan. Even then, they screwed a couple people and cost them thousands of dollars. The State needs to investigate their compensation practices. 3) Low pay – They pay their sales people low wages and continue to lower the commission structure and find ways to not pay the sales people what they have earned. They outsource any support position they can to Pakistan since India apparently was becoming too expensive for them. The partners will pay them to hire someone and they’ll bring someone on for half that amount and pocket the rest. No wonder you can’t keep good talent, once they get some experience they move on to a company that pays them what they’re worth. 4) Poor leadership – This covers everyone from the top down. There were many customers that I should have been able to bring in that didn’t happen due to arbitrary decisions by directors and VPs. Instead of empowering their people to excel, they are more concerned with enforcing their power and leading with fear.

Micromanaging is Zones' business model. There is ZERO trust in their employeees. Everyone claws over each other to reach to the top and will throw you under the bus at a moments notice. I pray for the people that drink the company kool-aid. There has been so so much turn over in my position and I wasnt about to change that. People get promoted based on their time there not on a job well done. Which shows seeing how management is unfit to actually manage people and even if you want to suggest better tactics to your manager, be ready for backfire. It is expected not to go against the grain and to keep your mouth shut. Heaven forbid a "technology" company evolves and actually joins the rest of the tech industry. Management will preach all day long that Zones' is going places and are competitive. Straight. Bull. Zones' numbers are consistently low with the rest of the industry and partners. I know theyre trying to change the culture. They have done this before. They sent out a survey to get employees opinions. Firoz sees the negative feedback and ignores it and doesnt act on it. If this company were to actually change, it would have to come from the top. Most of management expects to you to know who they are even if you havent met them. And will NOT be nice if you do not know who they are. When i interviewed i was told i would be busy but after starting i realized everyone around me was busy becuase they were busy doing everyone else's job. My manager was concerned i wasnt as busy because i actually got my work done on time and asnt trampling over everyone else. The least efficient work environment. I also tried to negotiate salary when i started. The recruiter acted like she had never heard of negotiating before, come to find out my male counterpart negotiated his salary high when he started and they did not hear me out at all. Unbelievable. Also HR writes the good reviews on here, so dont be fooled.