Pluspunten
The Job title, and a few colleagues.
Minpunten
I left Hatch several months ago and decided not to immediately post a review, so I could provide you a clear and unbiased assessment of this organization. I applied, and was hired by Hatch in 2016, following an process that consisted of four interviews, with senior level company officials. I was very impressed by the care and attention to detail they demonstrated during the screening process. Each member of the senior level team I met with sold me by exhibiting a passion to succeed and carefully grow an organization that is essentially attempting to mainstream a new language. In retrospect, I take full responsibility for allowing this ruse to utterly cloud my judgment, and complete my due diligence. I signed a salary offer and contract that purposely excluded details including but not limited to regular pay periods, reimbursement for company expenses, use personal equipment, the actual probationary period, and health and dental benefits. Not to sound completely out to lunch, I did enquire about these missing items prior to signing the contract and was given the “nod, nod, wink, wink” revision promise. The CEOs claimed to be a ‘new at this’ and promised that the revisions were forthcoming within a two-week period. That was in 2016. Against my better judgement and the advice of loved ones, I signed, and on day one, everything changed. I became an investor, as well as an employee. I was forced to use my personal vehicle, computer, credit card, mobile device and home office to conduct everyday company business. I did so without an agreement on monthly service, kilometer and maintenance reimbursement. Myself and other employees would regularly submit expense disclosure, which the company in one instance did not reimburse for 4 months. In fact, when they did pay the employees for their ‘investment’, it was at an amount determined by the employer. When training sessions were conducted on site, staff was advised to work from our home office, or Starbucks. When the time came to provide us with a T2200 form for purposes, they refused claiming the option to work from home was just that, an option, not a requirement. The office space located at 3202 Yonge Street quadrupled as recreation, program and training centre. Our work stations consisted of small round tables, and plastic chairs suitable only for young children over short periods of time. Myself and others immediately advised management about our health and safety concerns, and was willfully ignored. The building was contaminated with mold due to several floods earlier in 2016. This was particularly concerning to me because I spent an average of 30+ hours a week there, and after 4pm the centre was filled with children who too were exposed to the fungus without knowledge and or a warning. Management refused to deal with and quickly treat the problem, insisting staff put “bounce dryer sheets” in product stored in the basement to remove any odor caused by the mold. Hatch also has a bullying problem in management. One example is an email from HR giving an ultimatum regarding a gift contribution. I quote; “$20 for Gift (Yes or NO?) Hi, please note that we are presenting CEO’s gift at the party next week. Can you let me know if you are contributing or not so we can place your name on the card or not. Please provide the $20 to the office manager by end of day tomorrow. Please and thanks, HR.” This email speaks directly to the company’s bullying culture. It might seem reasonable, until you consider that there were only about 8 full time staff, and the card was missing 3 names. Please, draw your own conclusion. It became so comical, that I sent friends daily posts titled “Is this appropriate conduct for a “insert job title here” professional?” The most troubling of my experience occurred when the company attempted and succeeded in revising the employment contract of everyone in my department. The changes included extending the probationary period an additional 90 days due to structural departmental changes, and reducing average commission payouts by close to 80% percent. I will admit to not scouring the Employment Standards Act prior to reviewing this contract, or writing this review, but I’m pretty sure their actions conflict with at least the spirit of the act. That being said, I refused to sign the ridiculous agreement, worked for several months after, and was paid in accordance with the amounts stipulated under this new agreement. My most grievous of error prior to joining Hatch was not doing enough research on the employer. I could have simply inserted the CEO’s name into a GOOGLE search, and be provided with historical and specific information about my future boss. It was my oversight, and I’m writing this review in hope that anyone deciding to read this will not make the same mistake I did. I also chose to write this review after reading the gross number of fake reviews either written by management, or by an individual that gave them permission to defer a pay cheque by one month. I guess they hoped the money would go towards fixing the mold. It did not.
