Wolff Olins reviews about "benefit"

Too much favouritism of certain personality types Unnecessarily difficult to get promoted unless you're one of the favourites Cliquey Management not leading with integrity or transparency Hard work often goes unnoticed Chaotic leadership and lack of consistency

- Having set hours including a set lunch hour could sometimes prevent flexibility - The commute was a bit tricky and finishing at 6 meant late evenings

- Orwellian approach to flexible working, to put it mildly. The number of days we do in the studio (3 minimum is required) is being closely monitored by the number of times we tap in to the building in a week, when we connect to the wifi and possibly in other ways. - We’re essentially being taxed for our contractual benefits. You are required to ‘make up’ for weeks we haven’t done 3 days in the studio by doing extra days in following weeks regardless of whether we’ve taken a sick day, public holidays, annual leave etc. It’s making me think twice about taking time off in the first place. - Representation of women is great across almost all seniorities and teams. Ethnic groups and neurodivergent representation is shocking. - Booking a desk is challenging due to the 3 days per week return to the office mandate. People are often booking desks with screens when they are working from their laptop. But if you don’t need a screen, the options for where to work from in the studio are limited.

Many of the criticisms in previous reviews resonate but to a lesser extent now. Other agencies offer more extensive, fully inclusive benefits like healthcare that Wolff Olins discounts. There is a sense of presenteeism and a feeling that working on site, 0930 to 1800 (and beyond) is the best way to get ahead. Perhaps more could be done to embrace flexible working for all. Many practitioners are promoted to leadership with little formal management or leadership training. There's an over-reliance on 'on the job' and in house devised training.

discrepancies and divisions across the 4 offices

Compensation if you are not in UPPER MGMT, not many raises, operates like an inverted pyramid so there are a lot of high high salaries at the top and that's why people at the bottom don't get raises often.

Could be more ethnically diverse but they are making steps to address this both at Wolff Olins and even in other creative agencies through collaborations with the Brixton Finishing School and other programmes. Parent company can sometimes make the ease of work a struggle.

Living off past glories. No competition for newer, independent agencies who offer better working environments and better benefits. New building is awful and makes it feel very corporate. There’s a lot of self praising and smoke blowing which creates arrogance. Some very rude people, particularly people in higher positions. (The no hierarchy claim is a lie)