Don’t work here or partner with them!
Working at Peckwater Brands was one of the worst professional experiences of my life. From the very start, there was a complete lack of care and direction for new starters. No sustained onboardings, no sustained targets, no frequent one-to-ones, and no clear path for progression. It was like being thrown into a pit and left to fend for yourself, only to be blamed later for not magically meeting unspoken expectations. The environment is brutal and incredibly toxic. The CEO, Sam, is at the center of everything, and not in a good way. He micromanages every decision, leaving no room for other leaders to have opinions or make impactful contributions. Reporting and decisions are driven solely by the need to appease Sam, who strikes fear into everyone around him. Senior leadership is essentially a group of people too scared to challenge him, with the exception of a rare few. There’s no collaboration or real strategy, just fear-based decision-making. The retention rate is abysmal, which speaks volumes. There’s a constant churn of employees, and the solution to every problem seems to be firing or sacking people rather than addressing the root issues. No effort is made to support or develop staff, which makes it clear that worker well-being is not a priority. It’s a “churn and burn” culture that leaves employees mentally drained and undervalued. For future investors, I’d seriously urge you to reconsider putting money into this company. If the workers are not happy (and I guarantee you, they’re not), the business will ultimately fail. Workers are the backbone of any company, and Peckwater Brands seems to have forgotten that entirely. Sam, you need to take a long, hard look in the mirror. Your ego is driving this company into the ground. Your way is not always the right way, and until you learn to trust and value your employees, Peckwater Brands will remain a toxic and unsustainable workplace. This was truly one of the worst companies I’ve worked for in any industry. If you’re considering joining, I’d strongly advise against it unless there are massive changes in leadership and culture. I would also take all the glassdoor reviews very seriously before joining, as it was a massive mistake on my part to avoid these and join this toxic company anyway! Advice to Management Advice to Management: 1. Focus on Employee Well-being: Prioritise the mental health, development, and satisfaction of your workers. Without a happy, motivated team, the business will crumble. Stop the cycle of burnout and high turnover by creating a supportive and nurturing environment. 2. Empower Leadership: Allow senior leaders to have a voice and make decisions without fear of retaliation. A company cannot thrive if all decisions are dictated by one person. Foster collaboration, trust, and transparency within the leadership team. 3. Improve Onboarding and Support: Establish clear processes for onboarding, setting targets, and regular one-to-one check-ins. Give employees the tools, direction, and feedback they need to succeed rather than setting them up for failure. 4. Address Toxic Culture: A culture driven by fear and ego is unsustainable. Conduct anonymous employee feedback surveys and actually act on the results. Encourage open dialogue and create a safe space for employees to share concerns. 5. Reduce Employee Churn: Evaluate why employees are leaving and focus on retention strategies. If you keep firing and losing talent, it reflects poorly on the business and drains resources that could be better spent on development and training. 6. CEO Self-Reflection: Sam, you need to step back, assess your leadership style, and make changes. A CEO should inspire and lead by example, not instill fear and micromanage. Recognise that no one person has all the answers and trust your team to contribute meaningfully. By making these changes, Peckwater Brands could begin to repair its reputation and build a sustainable, thriving company. But without these critical shifts, it’s difficult to see how the business will succeed in the long term.
By M.T