Toxic work environment - Marketing Creative DICK'S Sporting Goods Employee Review

If you are in the creative field, e.g. designer, creative manager, writer, etc., you should think long and hard before joining the marketing dept at DCKS Sporting Goods Store Support Center (AKA DCKS CORPORATE). In league with a corrupt HR department who deceptively claims to be about developing employees while they only serve to protect upper management with lies and reprisals, the creative wing of the marketing department is rife with incompetence and cronyism. The hard-working, talented employees are usually the ones who suffer the most, from stagnant career development to stagnant creative opportunities. Sycophants and lazy employees are rewarded much more than those are not. It is not uncommon for an employee to be in relatively the same position for 7-10 years, with little more than a small raise every year, if lucky. Furthermore, many of the creative decision makers lack not only the knowledge and talent to better the company's overall message (some don't even know or care about much of the sports or products they cover), they have an almost pathological resistance to new, innovative ideas and those who have them. Keeping the status quo is what keeps them in power, thus lower employees in the chain of command, no matter how loyal they are to the company or desirous they are to create standout work, are either put in their place or cast aside. NOTE: For years, it has been department policy that DCKS creatives (Not Field & Stream, Golf Galaxy, etc.) are forbidden to submit any work for ad awards, because "the CEO doesn't want to the company to be seen as bragging." Most affected employees believe this just to be another way of keeping their talent where they are, and not further their careers in any way with awards, and most likely leave for greener pastures. The HR dept. knows the goings on of the marketing creative dept., as well as the cronyism brought in by their current C.M.O.; they just don't care, or more likely, feel powerless to change things. This is the definition of a toxic work environment. Take heed, if you're a young, talented creative, and you have another option, don't waste any of your valuable career years in an anti-creative, anti-employee work environment.