Breaking the silence - Anonymous employee SolarWinds Employee Review

1.0
Dec 5, 2015
Anonymous employee
Recommend
CEO approval
Business Outlook

Pros

The SolarWinds products are solid (applause to the developers). And if a salesperson works hard - which should be a standard expectation by any company comprised of competent adults - he/she can earn a solid living. The kicker comes in the amount of emotional abuse and professional injustice this person is willing to endure to attain financial success. I was very successful at SolarWinds. I departed on my own volition after reaching a peak level of manager-induced stress that far outweighed the worth of my paycheck. The truth is that there are no pros, apart from attainment potential. But that will only last as long as a person can endure and/or tune out managerial noise and rhetoric. The smoke-and-mirrors nonsense begins with the CEO and drips down to his band of minions. I had to get out to maintain my sanity, as well as establish a true career path. As many Glassdoor reviewers have pointed out, there are all the unhealthy snacks you can stomach. If you like your snacks with a side of unconscionable rule by intimidation and treatment more suited for Marine grunts, then the whole SolarWinds gig might be one big pro!

Cons

Relentless bullying and condescension from all levels of management. It's what they're taught to do - and threatened to do - if they want to advance up the ranks of the fraternal order of tyrants. Nobody is truly happy at SolarWinds, including the CEO, who once needed bodyguards at his home because he has pushed a disgruntled employee to the brink of rationality. That should scream loudly about the climate that has been set. I regard myself as a rational person, and my good sense was tested daily near the end of my tenure. If you want an idea about the kind of individual who "thrives" at SolarWinds, read a review that precedes mine entitled "Haters Gon Hate" (that is, if you can get past the deplorable grammar from someone who clearly drank too much of the punch). Congratulations to the author; he has hit his professional ceiling. You see, respectable companies don't sink so low as your beloved SolarWinds in their corporate values and treatment of employees. You may make a good paycheck, but you won't ever know how good freedom feels in your career. And quite honestly, you're getting what you deserve.

Explore other reviews about SolarWinds

5.0
May 19, 2026
Recommend
CEO approval
Business Outlook

Pros

Stimulating work, great people, nice office space with good amenities, good work life balance and flexibility on in-office time, competitive compensation

Cons

siloed org which is very standard for this industry

1.0
Mar 11, 2026
Recommend
CEO approval
Business Outlook

Pros

Competitive pay, but very rarely worth it for the amount of work given.

Cons

In my experience, this was the least effectively run organization I’ve worked for. Core internal processes were inconsistent and frequently changed without clear ownership, which made planning and execution unnecessarily difficult. Decision-making authority was often unclear, and accountability for outcomes was limited. Several managers appeared under-empowered or insufficiently experienced for the scope of their roles, resulting in unresolved issues and shifting priorities. The culture felt highly political, with visibility and internal alignment sometimes taking precedence over delivery. Informal cliques appeared to thrive, which made collaboration and transparency harder than it should be. Suggestions for improving processes or addressing recurring issues did not gain traction and were perceived negatively, creating an environment where initiative felt risky rather than supported. I experienced the workplace as toxic, with low trust, limited psychological safety, and conflict frequently handled through escalation or avoidance rather than resolution. HR structures were not effective at addressing concerns or providing a neutral escalation path. Senior leadership frequently emphasized a unified company culture; however, in practice different parts of the organization operated with noticeably different norms and priorities, with limited integration into a cohesive whole. Overall, the environment did not support high-trust, high-accountability work, and sustained progress was difficult despite the efforts of some capable individuals.

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