A C-Suit and Senior Leadership Team that respect nothing other than money! - Anonymous employee David Phillips Employee Review

2.0
14 Sept 2021
Anonymous employee
Recommend
CEO approval
Business outlook

Pros

David Phillips has for many years attracted great talent to the business through competitive salaries and (what would be seen to be) lucrative commission structures for sales staff. Almost all staff are honestly the most lovely people and beyond the management of the business have a genuine desire to make a difference to progress their personal skills and enhance their opportunities in life. This common ground has led to genuine friendships that go way beyond working hours. The business in the last 3-4 years (not including the last year - not because of COVID either) although having its financial difficulties, had a real spirit of determination to do the right thing by the customer and that always came before taking their money. The main reason I stayed for so long within the business!

Cons

The 12-18 months has seen the business take a huge step backwards. The C-Suit are fixated on pleasing and are genuine puppets to the shareholders of the business (particularly the CEO - who the staff know cannot make decisions), and as a result work for a bunch of people that may understand money, however do not have a clue when it comes to the interior design and furnishing market, that sits predominantly within the property industry. The CEO has unfortunately made a number of seriously negative hires within the business that has led to a 'rule by fear' culture and 'shut up and get on with it (that is a genuine phrase). If you are interested in a sales role, David Phillips will change your commission almost every year (always in a greater financial favour of the business - driven by the shareholders and the CEO unfortunately kneels and says yes to it!), commission is there to financially reward performance in sales and is designed to dangle a carrot for a motivated salesperson to chase and over achieve. Unfortunately David Phillips retain over performance commission and regularly will not pay it (as it is 'completely discretionary to the company') NOTE: check your contract when you join and don't sign your money away before you start. Seriously don't argue with the C-Suit or Senior Management, not because you will be wrong, but rather just that they will alienate you and group together to make you feel hugely comfortable. My advice to anyone who joins David Phillips (would certainly given the last 18 month be not to join) however if you do take the plunge, take your pay check (and commission when it is paid - remember is is at the total discretion of the business) keep your mouth shut, listen to orders, stay away from the CEO and wait until the clock strikes six so you can do what all people should do - 'work to live' and not 'live to work' (just the way DP like it).

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David Phillips Response
4y
Hi - clearly not our (or indeed my) biggest fan! I think the right thing to respond here is - that it would be not the right thing to bring private matters into a public forum (everyone can read that this is a dispute at heart about money). That’s not to make light of the issues raised, but I don’t think that a public tit-for-tat serves any purpose whatsoever. We try to treat all of our people fairly and reasonably and clearly this poster doesn’t think that we did, to which I would say that unfortunately, you can't please all the people all the time - Nick

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