Just before the acquisition announcement, this was a place where I wanted to stay and progress my career. Without any exaggeration, I really loved working here. It is beyond me how is it even possible that in such a relatively short time this has become such an unhealthy workplace?
19 replies (most recent on top)
I don't want to work anywhere else.
Your cheese is about to be moved by Hock Tan. Take a look at what his protege is doing over at CSG, aka Citrix/Tibco on this web site. That is our future.
I don't want to work Full stop
Stay positive.
I don't want to work anywhere else.
Sounds like this scenario - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TzmpXz5d2z0
If you are so disappointed here , you should leave if not left already. Vmware still a very good company for many people far more than those who hate it. All are adults and can choose their destiny. Stop complaining and act or gtfo.
What a panicked rant. I started at vmw before the acquisition was announced and I've never been happier or more impressed with an organizations culture. I love it here. When the acquisition was announced, a lot of people left because they were worried there will be an impact of VMware's incredible culture. So those people left under the assumption that things would get worse, and presumably left to go to a company that already had an inferior culture. Nothing has changed here. It's impossible to say that it won't, but everyone should put down their crystal ba--s and take a deep breath, and carry on. I don't want to work anywhere else.
@1gdc+1kTjzzwO
Well said
From my POV, as an outsider to the culture, VMW is not run like a business; it is run like a gigantic non-governmental organization (NGO), that has piles and piles of cash to spend, does not need to form or grow managers, and does not need to turn a profit. Very strange situation, and frankly, no wonder that the company is being sold to Broadcom, which is basically a PE firm.
The managers I dealt with at VMW were some of the worst I've encountered in my 20+ year career in Big Tech. Managers at VMW are far more concerned with political agendas and with making themselves look good, than they are with developing their people. Managers will tell you that they care about you, and they want you to share your feedback/complaints/ambitions with them. But when you do that - you receive nothing in return. The managers who tell you that are simply using you as an information source: they just want to know what you are thinking, not because they want to help you advance, but because they just want the information to increase their own power. It is a toxic environment disguised as a caring environment.
It is interesting to note that the industry is turning away from VMW's product lines, and that even good managers - like the BU Leads - are jumping ship. This is a company whose best days are behind it. It needs some shock treatment and very serious surgery in order to survive in another form. It is no surprise, then, that at the moment, all that are left running the ship are bottom-feeders who would have to _work_ and produce _actual business results_ if they left to join another company. Sorry to be so blunt, but this is what I observed. At some point in 2023, VMW will get the biggest wake-up call in its history - I'll have my popcorn ready.
It's quite interesting how much words matter with emotions. I'm looking at all these phrases and they seem the same to me.
"it's a rumor" == "we cannot confirm" == "we don't know"
but it seems like they each have wildly different interpretations for each person here.
Though a straight "we cannot comment" can be taken universally as "it's going to happen".
VMware is a publicly traded company. Has been for quite a while. There are literal laws for what can and can't be said. Up front it was expressed very widely that they were not allowed to confirm anything. We all know it's just because they're not allowed to legally comment, but apparently some people here never got that memo ... I'm sorry that you missed out on that information.
Not confirm anything is fine. Lying about it is not. Shut up or say you cannot say anything. Kit did the same. As someone else said.
This leadership is beyond pathetic.
You have a CEO that told employees acquisition talks were rumours .
The day I decided to leave and lost trust in the leadership was when Kit said the same on Slack. Said people need to stop listening to rumours and do their job and the VERY NEXT DAY it was announced.
Making me wonder why Kit thought there is a need to lie. He could have just asked for people to wait or simply shut up. But no. He had to say something and lie.
And it is a lie because no one can tell me a day prior the announcement he wasn’t aware of it himself.
I literally updated my CV / Resume that weekend and have since left.
@esm+1kTjzzwO
You’re speaking to the obvious. He should’ve just remained silent until it was okay to speak on the matter. Instead an entire company was gaslighted.
A good ceo would have simply said “I can’t comment at this time” vs. “we are hearing those reports too…” or whatever the F he said that made it seem like he just landed on earth and was assessing the situation.
Whatever, it generally isn’t worth listening to Mr. Magoo.
You have a CEO that told employees acquisition talks were rumors.
VMware is a publicly traded company. Has been for quite a while. There are literal laws for what can and can't be said. Up front it was expressed very widely that they were not allowed to confirm anything. We all know it's just because they're not allowed to legally comment, but apparently some people here never got that memo ... I'm sorry that you missed out on that information.
You have a CEO that told employees acquisition talks were rumors.
I stopped listening at that point.
VMware has lost its integrity. Most of those remaining are the nightmares we read about in leadership books. You have a CEO that told employees acquisition talks were rumors. POD leaders using the platform for self gain or are racist obfuscating in plain site. Earnings are terrible. Products are obsolete. The company is one of the worse.
I loved VMware. I do not love the Frankenstein it’s become.
It's been toxic since Pat left and the Sphegetti guy took over, those Indians sure know how to ruin an organization.
tell us more!
How so? There have been minor changes to the day-to-day life here. Most of it due to budget, hiring, headcount, etc.
What has made it a bad workplace?