Psychic prison - Software Developer Sage Employee Review

1.0
Apr 30, 2018
Recommend
CEO approval
Business Outlook

Pros

Holiday, pension, flexibility were normally competitive. Salary so/so to poor None of the benefits are worth it, though.

Cons

We're 3 years into the so called transformation, and what has Kelly got to show for it? A disenfranchised work force that's globally been cut to the bone. Technical support staff that have some how ended up being measured on sales performance figures. Sales teams being ripped off by mirage like sales targets. Reckless technical decisions which to all intents and purposes makes our competitors look like mirages because we're never going to catch up. Worst of all is what the process has actually done for morale and the mental well being of those of us that remain. I'm sure some of the practices that are in-play are actually illegal. For example, not being able to speak to colleages whom you would talk to before the transformation because they were either genuine friends or because they were involved in your work activities. It's a psychic prison. How about this for an analogy; the wasp that impregonates the catapillar to rear its own as the its eaten from inside out. That's what our CEO has done to people that were beautiful, but now are forced to toe the line while they die inside. Am I really over eggeing this? Really, am I? The transformation has simply turned into a crusade, doomed to fail. The mind that is leading it is ill. I could understand it / live with it if there was some cold calculated decision that would eventually reap benefit. But it won't. Kelly treats Sage as though its a simple machine; you can cut it and shut it anyway you like and it'll adapt to change. It won't It can't Why? Well its simple. It's a complex cybernetic organism. Read Checkland. Seriously – and this one's for you Stevie – read Peter Checkland, and his theory on cybernetics. The software, the people that support it and develop it- the people that use use it are all intimately connected. You can't disrupt that to the extent you have and expect it to adapt. It's too much. Before Kelly and his vultures got on the scene we had a healthy ecosytem. A fantastic employer with a motivated work force that was well regarded by its clients. So were are we now? A para management tier inserted above a successful management tier making them no more than puppets destroying the characters, confidence and abilities of everyone below them. What for? I must be missing something. Good luck with q3 and q4 – you're going to need it. You've bled the company dry and still expect results? When are you going to to the decent thing and step down. Let whats left of the place die in peace. You never know – you might be able to salvage body parts

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5.0
May 23, 2026
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Pros

Working at Sage these past 4 years has been both rewarding and energizing. I’ve really valued the opportunity to collaborate with talented teams across the business while helping evolve our Developer Content organization into a broader developer experience and AI-enabled function. One of the most meaningful parts of the experience has been seeing how open people are to innovation, collaboration, and continuous improvement. It’s been exciting to contribute to initiatives that improve both internal workflows and the experience for our developer community. I’m grateful for the relationships, growth opportunities, and trust I’ve been given throughout the year, and I’m looking forward to what’s ahead.

Cons

With so much innovation and transformation happening across the company, priorities can evolve quickly — but it also creates exciting opportunities to learn, adapt, and contribute to meaningful change.

3.0
Apr 15, 2026
Recommend
CEO approval
Business Outlook

Pros

-Pay’s decent -Benefits are solid -The Sage Foundation feels like proper philanthropy -Some genuinely nice people -If you’re happy treating work as just a payslip and don’t mind things being a bit dull, Sage is actually quite a comfortable place to be. That stability is a real perk

Cons

-Far too many layers of middle management and general bureaucracy -The Ai push is getting a bit daft -Not especially innovative, so the work can feel quite uninspiring. I’m grateful to be employed, but if you’re after something more interesting, Sage will probably disappoint. That said, some people prefer it that way, fair enough -The office / hybrid requirements feel a bit pointless -Sage doesn’t tend to do layoffs, which is good, but it does mean there are quite a few people where you’re not entirely sure what they do. A lot of meetings, essentially. Even the positives come with trade-offs

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Sage Response
1mo
Thank you for taking the time to share your thoughtful and balanced review. We’re pleased to hear that you value your compensation and benefits, as well as the work our Foundation do, among the areas you’ve highlighted. We also recognise the points you’ve raised around bureaucracy, innovation, and the pace and focus of change. Different people are motivated by different things at work, and it’s helpful to hear honest perspectives on how our structure, processes, and priorities can impact day‑to‑day experience and engagement. Feedback like yours helps inform ongoing conversations as we continue to evolve our ways of working, use technology more meaningfully, and improve the products and experiences we create for our customers. If you’re open to sharing further insight, we encourage you to do so through our Always Listening survey. Thank you again for your openness and for being part of Sage.
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