I know several people who've had a knee-jerk reaction to everything that's been going on and left on their own, and now they're regretting their decisions and wanting to return if possible.
It might feel like anything is better than this place right now, but trust me when I tell you that it's not. Just check out other companies here on this forum - you'll get a better picture of the situation out there.
Just my opinion.
Glassdoor reviews are incentivized, so don’t believe the BS. I would say a huge majority of people I know who left RB are happier. Only a few miserable people, who were douchebags to start with, wanted to come back because their new employer found out how incompetent they were.
Lol, no, you haven't ran into anyone who has expressed this because they don't exist. This 100% has the appearance of some HR clown trying to manipulate the narrative.
Sinking ship this is, nothing you can do will change that perception on here lol
I'd point @OP to Proverbs 26:11 - "As a dog returns to its vomit, so fools repeat their folly."
I know of no-one who left Riverbed and went back. I've been there over 7 years, and people leaving do so in a joyous celebration of going to someplace better. The toxicity flows downstream. Riverbed has embraced the "Septic Tank Theory of Management" - all the really big chunks float to the top.
I also got an offer, and about to leave. There are too many coworkers at retire age doing not so much waiting to be laid off creating the most poisonous culture I know for engineers. Besides too many younger engineers and managers have left. I am not trying to persuade anyone here. Good luck to those who stay.
Flights back and forth from Montana are too expensive. Unless my boss agrees I can work remotely. I’m sure it’s pretty calm and peaceful there, and $150k goes a long way.
HR is well taken care of. That’s the only way I can imagine them posting genuinely honest reviews of the work life and opps at rvbd.
The grass is brown everywhere
I got bored working at RB. My department was able to work remotely and regularly worked much less than 40 hour work weeks. The base pay is good if you are in Eng, however I was able to get a job with RSUs and bonuses and I’m already ahead. I work harder but enjoy it more, and the PMs here are really good. There is some short term thinking but generally they are thinking years in advance. If you’re happy here, good for you-if I was closer to retirement age than I am, I would have thought about staying.
People in Fremont and Hayward complain about cost and (traffic) commute, let alone the challenges around mass transit safety in the neighboring districts. Even in those areas, to live safely (not well), it still costs a lot and requires dual income or passive income to sustain some semblance of a peaceful existence.
Either people are from TX or live in their parents basements in CA.
Why not commute from Montana?
You can always commute from Fremont or Hayward.
$150,000 in SF is the new poverty line. You must be from Texas.
What is money but a piece of paper. Why earn more when you can lead an optimized life with $150k
Work/life balance here is still great. As are the benefits and free drinks and snacks. There is uncertainty now as to how much longer this can all last. But that’s no different from most tech companies out there.
Every company has problems, it's just knowing what you're tolerances are is what will make the grass green.
The grass is always greener where you care for it.
I have been with Riverbed as an Engineer for almost 7 years now.
There have been a number of upheavals that I survived.
I know people who have left and cannot find a job. I know others who have left and did discover better opportunities. Riverbed 'feels' in decline judging by the abundance of empty cubicles.
Having said all that, I would absolutely recommend working here. I like the work that I do, the flexibility and responsibility that comes with it. Lastly, the folks at the company are all really great, polite, and friendly. I don't see myself leaving of my own accord.
I can tell you--the grass is greener.
Sure, you need to be selective and make sure that you leave for a better opportunity rather than the first thing that comes along. Where I have seen people fail is when they either get so fed up they take the next offer that comes along, or fall for empty promises from a c-appy company.
I have known several people who left Riverbed and came back. They ultimately left again. The first time just wasn't a good pick.
This was always true but things have changed more rapidly in last 6 months and current leadership has struggled to inspire confidence. People on this board obviously haven’t left yet. They just want things to turnaround and get better.
Riverbed is no longer competitive
If you want a bigger salary and better benefits, leave
If you are in Bay Area, the market is evergreen. Try try and I am sure you will find an offer. If you don't like it move on again. Key is to stay fresh, energized and find real problems to solve. Satisfaction, respect, accomplishment will follow. If you are shallow and into money and titles, those will also follow. After 40 - 45 those things matter less, since by then you are already at 90% of your final title. You have a nice car, halfway down the mortgage, teenage kids & a ~4-digit hike is not going to significantly alter the end result.
Too many a$$ clowns in upper management everywhere
I agree, the grass isn’t always greener, it’s probably purple. I know some folks that miss their old riverbed colleagues or miss the “more relaxed” atmosphere and (team) culture that they had. If anything, most have said their new company has similar, id--tic management as riverbed BUT their leadership is willing to take action and are more transparent.
I agree, HR damage control for sure
"I know several people"
Caution, the plural of anecdote is not evidence. There are, for example, some people who would be unhappy at any job, regardless of who they're working for.
Of course other companies on this board will also have negative comments. People don’t go to a site called The Layoff when they are happy and pleased with how things are going at work. Bias is built in. Maybe try for a job at one of the many, many companies that don’t have a presence here.
Is this a thread started by HR to do damage control? Maybe you should stick encouraging fake positive Glassdoor reviews from new hires.