
Can't say without breaking anonymity.
They are friendly, and leadership is open about things up to a certain level. Executive level I believe does not share the whole story when talking about company status and direction, nor about how the lower level workers will be affected.
The once a year merit increase window idea is terrible. If increases are only done in march, but you were hired in May, it effectively makes it almost 2 years before seeing a cost of living increase, barring any position change. Ridiculous. Especially for non-hourly employees who have no overtime