Pros
• Kind and fun coworkers • Big name clients • Unlimited PTO (sorta) • Bi-annual Hawaii trip (incredible if you can make it this long!) • Decent pay (for some) • Remote work (for some) • Bonuses (for some) If you are one of the lucky few remote employees able to glide by without attention from management, this place can be easy and a tolerable place to work.
Cons
For being in the employee communication, benefits, and culture space, the owners do not focus on that part of their own company. Upon hire, it’s standard for employees to warn about the family that runs the operation. It’s common knowledge that no one likes one of the owners but are “trained” on how to tolerate. One owner/creative director has no formal education in design. They have never used any creative programs or show any indication that they even know how. They stand behind employees desks (or calls screen shares for remote employees) and says exactly what to type or “design.” They did not openly use a work computer until COVID and the company went remote for a period of time. The treatment from ownership was very degrading and disrespectful and felt skills were inadequate despite positive client and coworker feedback. All written and design output for any and all clients ends up being very similar. Designers are told to copy designs or writings closely or even exactly from other brands found online by the owner. Employees are told (or just assumed by past experiences) that it’s more important/easier to follow the owners requests than it is follow the clients requests. Work is sparse during the slow season and designers become competitive for work because of how much weight is put on billable hours. Designers have little to no control of how much work they get. Upon hire, designers are asked sign an agreement banning freelance. • Expectations feel unclear and with a very flat structure, many employees feel they have no one to go to for questions/concerns or have room to grow in their role • Onboarding was sparse and confusing. Many times, other employees end up doing it (or not doing it) which creates confused new hires who often feel set up to fail. • There was no project management system in place. The basic and failing system in place is outdated and not enforced. • It feels ownership see their employees as numbers, not people. • They appear to hire most in-office workers out of school so they can “better control them.” • Those verbally praised are those who have worked extreme overtime or are highly burnt out (read their LinkedIn series “the extra mile”). • “Unlimited” PTO is measured, tracked, and punished if you take “too much” (that number is not outlined and is seemingly dependent upon who you are). • Bonuses/raises are heavily based on billable hours which many employees feel they don’t personally have control over and I experienced no overhead to help distribute work. • Firings occur all year round and are unpredictable. • Ownership asks employees to do personal projects for their church, home, and other personal requests on company time despite their “no freelance” policy. • Obedience and compliance is essential for “success” here. • Business appears to be declining and morale is extremely low due to ownership tightening of the leash to all employees.