Beware - Anonymous employee Think HQ Employee Review

Think HQ presents itself as an inclusive, values-driven organisation, but the reality behind the scenes is quite different. Leadership often makes rash decisions without clear direction or communication, creating a chaotic and disorganised work environment. Despite branding itself as a "for-purpose" agency, profitability is without a doubt the primary driver of any decision-making. The company hides behind a facade of being an organisation that promotes positive change, but in reality, it operates just like any other profit-driven business. There’s nothing wrong with making money—just be upfront about it rather than pretending the business exists purely for the greater good. The culture is far from supportive—bullying is rampant within some teams, and nothing is being done about it. Worst of all, one perpetrator of this bullying was recently promoted despite their behaviour. Employees are expected to tolerate a high level of unpredictability, with little regard for staff well-being. Additionally, the lack of a maternity/paternity policy and overall inflexibility toward working parents make it particularly difficult for those balancing family responsibilities. The company’s structure is also completely dysfunctional. Employees are expected to "manage" more junior team members but have no real authority over their pay, promotions, or anything of actual importance. This is particularly harmful to junior staff, as any advocacy for their progression has to go through multiple layers of middle management—often two to four people—before it reaches the person who actually makes decisions. That person, in turn, is making calls on junior staff’s careers with little to no visibility of their work, goals, or progress. This system leaves junior employees without real support or opportunities for development, despite being told otherwise. In 2024, despite celebrating record revenues, the company made six staff redundant, highlighting a serious disconnect between its messaging and its actions. There was no clear explanation given for these redundancies, further emphasising the lack of transparency in leadership decision-making. It should be noted that, concurrent to these redundancies, Think HQ acquired another agency and hired several new staff. Transparency in general is a major issue. There is a noticeable culture of secrecy within senior leadership, with decisions being made behind closed doors and little to no communication to staff. Pay disparity is another major problem, with large inconsistencies in salaries for people in the same roles, yet any discussion about pay is discouraged. There is no clear structure around remuneration, progression, or salary banding, leaving employees guessing about their worth within the company. Information in general is tightly controlled, leaving employees in the dark about important changes that impact their roles and the wider organisation. While the company promotes a strong social impact narrative externally, the internal experience does not align with those values. For anyone considering joining, I’d strongly recommend looking beyond the polished public image and speaking to former or current employees before making a decision. Don’t take the reviews on here lightly.