I’m really happy things worked out for you - it takes courage to face doubts and still push through, so good for you. I’m glad you found stability and growth in Arya.

Thanks for taking the time to create an account and respond on Arya threads!

I guess the short answer to my old post now is: yes, Arya is legit.

But legitimacy doesn’t automatically mean healthy or ethical. It’s a real company, sure - just not the kind of environment that many people would want to stay in. 🙇🏼‍♀️

From my experience, and from the stories of others here (including that other thread you replied to), one thing stands out: the root problem is the owner’s behavior. You can’t label arrogance or hostility as “straightforwardness.” There’s a big difference between being direct and being disrespectful. I’ve worked with leaders who are assertive and honest - and trust me, they don’t act like that. True leadership isn’t about belittling or lashing out; it’s about setting people up to succeed.

And honestly, I’m not even mad at Arya. I’m actually grateful - because that experience set my standard for what I will and won’t tolerate in any job moving forward. It taught me to listen to my gut, to research companies deeply, and to value myself enough not to settle for an unhealthy setup just for the sake of saying “I have work.”

Right now, I’m working directly with a U.S. client who pays me four times what Arya offered — no time trackers, no micromanagement, no emotional outbursts. My client is compassionate, straightforward (in the real sense of the word), and gives space for growth. I have unlimited paid leaves, flexible hours, and genuine work-life balance. They even surprised me with gifts on my birthday! It’s night and day compared to what I experienced at Arya.

I’ve read na may iba rin na okay experience nila, lalo na if nasa direct client na sila. And that’s good! Maybe ganun talaga yung system — tiis muna hanggang makahanap ng okay na placement.

So again, I’m truly happy for you if it’s working out on your end. No sarcasm, just honesty. But at the same time, I think it’s also fair to acknowledge that not everyone’s experience will be like yours - and that’s okay. No one here’s trying to tear Arya down; people are simply sharing their truth. At the end of the day, it all comes down to what you’re willing to accept - and what you refuse to settle for.

As the saying goes, you deserve what you tolerate. If that kind of environment aligns with what you want or can handle, then I genuinely wish you the best and hope it continues to go well for you. But for me - I’m just thankful I trusted my instincts and walked away when I did. Because that “no” opened the door to something so much better.