Disappointing Experience – Would Not Recommend

My time at Teleperformance in Gqeberha as an employee was a period of significant professional growth, though it came with a unique set of challenges. While every role has its ups and downs, this experience was particularly defined by dysfunctional communication and an unsustainable work culture. I rarely write reviews, but my experience there was so disheartening that I feel compelled to warn others. From the moment I joined, it was clear that this workplace thrives on dysfunction rather than collaboration but because of scarcity of jobs in Gqeberha people stay and endure working conditions people shouldn't have to.

Some of the issues that people face while working for this company:

1. Toxic Work Culture: Management operates with a top-down, fear-based approach that would threaten the safety of your job when challenged. Constructive feedback was discouraged, and favoritism ran rampant. There was a clear double standard in how employees were treated. Those with close relationships to management operated with complete freedom—acting however and whenever they pleased, without facing any consequences. Meanwhile, the rest of us were held to strict behavioral expectations at all times, knowing that even minor missteps could result in disciplinary action.

2. Lack of Communication and Support: Management was often unresponsive, and feedback was either ignored or met with defensiveness. There was little transparency around decision-making, which created a culture of confusion and mistrust.

3. Low and Short Pay: Agents were (and still are) expected to work long hours, often covering multiple roles, yet the compensation was shockingly low. The pay was barely enough to cover basic expenses, and incentives were either misleading or impossible to achieve. Overtime was expected but rarely rewarded and when you submitted a pay query request you would have to wait for months on end before you get your money and that would be after you've exhausted all the "available" channels.

4. Poor Facility Conditions: The physical building was neglected—leaky ceilings, broken kitchen taps and lifts that were not in good conditions, and unsanitary restrooms were the norm. Basic amenities like heating, cooling, and clean communal areas were either malfunctioning or nonexistent.

5. Toxic Metrics-Driven Culture: Every second was monitored, every word scrutinized. Breaks were timed to the minute, and the pressure to meet call quotas created a high-stress, low-trust environment. Management cared more about numbers than people.