Toxic Work Culture Driven by Favoritism and Surveillance - Avis employé Software Engineer Primathon

During my time at Primathon, I experienced a highly toxic and disturbing work environment. The workplace culture seemed to revolve around favoritism, gossip, and micromanagement rather than transparency and merit. It was disheartening to witness how certain individuals, who appeared to be in leadership's good books, were used to monitor and report on others. There was a clear expectation that employees should disclose not only their own personal matters but also the affairs of their colleagues under the guise of “friendly conversations.” I was even questioned informally about a peer’s decision to resign—as though it was my responsibility to keep tabs on their career choices. What was even more alarming was the consistent pattern of passive-aggressive behavior towards those who didn’t conform to this culture of blind loyalty. Those not favored would often be subjected to humiliation, exclusion, or undue pressure until they either quit or were disciplined under questionable circumstances. These actions were often masked as concern for "quality work" but felt more like a cover for personal bias or vendetta. There was a particularly troubling case involving an employee who, despite receiving praise from clients, was allegedly mistreated repeatedly. I've heard from multiple sources about instances that crossed serious ethical boundaries—enough to warrant legal concern. If leadership had genuine concerns about this individual’s performance or behavior, it would have been more appropriate to address them through formal HR channels instead of resorting to humiliation or worse. In summary, while Primathon promotes itself as a forward-thinking tech company, the internal culture tells a very different story. If you're considering working here, I suggest doing your due diligence and asking former employees about their experience beyond what’s shared publicly.