Pros
* Power lies with the devs * Incredibly Flexible * Good Pay (not amazing) / Mediocre Benefits * "Diversity" 1: Empowerment Working at Flexe is empowering. Meaning, every individual piece that I work on, I have the ability to change. I can impact the final product. I can design new features. Flexe puts the power in the hands of the developers. In a new feature, Sr. SDEs work with the UI team and product team to decide WHAT to implement along with HOW. So, if you don't like the design or feel like it's too narrow or broad... that is entirely in your realm to change. Decisions are not passed down from above, but are made from below. The decisions that come from above are involving steering the work (work on this product, not that). But if the devs make a strong enough case, even this can be swayed. 2: Flexible Working at Flexe, I can step away from the computer at any time to go run an errand or manage children. However, there is a right and good expectation that I make up any lost time. They expect 40 hours. However, NO ONE is watching this. Get your work done and make yourself visible and you'll be fine. However, they ONLY expect 40 hours. If you're repeatedly putting in 50+ hour weeks or weekend time, they will actually encourage you to take time away. 3: Pay / Benefits So, with a tech-first, dev-lead company, the pay is really good. Best I've ever had. However, compared to other companies like this, it's not the best pay out there. I could have made more money going elsewhere. But I believe in what Flexe is doing and I feel that the company has INCREDIBLE potential. Joining on and getting equity means there's a very good chance of pulling in a significant payout when it goes public. Also, the benefits are not amazing, but they are around the 50% mark. Many companies charge much higher rates, but other companies offer better rates. Don't expect the moon, but I'm happy enough. 4: "Diversity" If you are in the "minority", you will fit in here at Flexe and feel surprisingly comfortable. LGBT+ get to choose their own pronouns and name. Racial groups are fully supported and celebrated throughout the year. There's even a company-sponsored Rainbow Bingo hosted by a drag queen. (3 years running.)
Cons
* "Diversity" * Politics * Meetings 1: "Diversity" If you're in the minority, you'll fit right in and feel surprisingly comfortable, supported, and accepted. However, if you hold strongly to traditional values and believe that many of these LGBT+ groups are OVER supported and accepted, then you'll find yourself struggling with non-gendered pronouns, Rainbow Bingo led by a drag queen, and the host of "diversity" initiatives that make you feel like you are one in the wrong. Flexe is not a Jewish-Christian-Muslim company and it's definitely not an "aReligious" company. Leadership forces, holds to, and promotes a certain moral value system. 2: Politics Being based out of Seattle, the entire leadership team is of a certain political leaning. That shows up in very heavy-handed mandates that do not support the employees of the opposite political leaning. Furthermore, they have determined this political leaning to be morally "good" and "right", meaning they feel justified in forcing their viewpoints onto you. It does NOT show up often, but when it does--or if you try to challenge these views--they show up strongly and overbearing. Again, Flexe is not an "aPolitical" company. It holds values and promotes those values. 3: Meetings Because the developers have significant power, there's also significant meetings that go into this. Any design feature that lies in the hands of the devs will result in several meetings so that the devs can decide what to do. Also, because of the growth, there are numerous interviews that we--the devs--perform. The end result is that I spend about 50% of my time in meetings and interviews. It can be a struggle to adjust to this idea that you'll only be about 50% productive compared to other places.