Bolster Reviews

3.8

64% would recommend to a friend

(11 total reviews)

James Clarke, Anthony Zaccaria

86% approve of CEO

63% positive business outlook

Reviews by job title

11 reviews
1.0
20 Jan 2021

Toxic Workplace Stemming from the Top

Anonymous employee
Recommend
CEO approval
Business outlook

Pros

- Fun range of music and entertainment clients - Free tickets to gigs and events - Generally fun and intelligent team of people

Cons

- The culture of the business is fundamentally toxic to its core. You're given the impression that it's a cool music startup when in actual fact the employees are worked to the bone and completely expected to do that. - Management has absolutely no understanding of how to properly run a business, they are only interested in making more money even if it's at the detriment of their team's mental health. - There is very much so a bro culture between senior management, and if you're not one of their favourites you're not worth their time. - Hard work isn't valued only big work, people will work across as many as 50 campaigns and projects and never be recognised because their work simply isn't as flashy as a bigger client with one campaign. - The teams are highly siloed with some teams and team members frequently reminding you to stay in your lane because this is theirs which in no way fosters the idea of inclusivity and working as a team on a project. - There's no forum to raise concerns because the idea of raising anything negative/constructive is viewed by the business as an issue for you to deal with. - There is no secrecy when discussing private matters with senior management, you'll be made to feel like things are your own issue to solve. If the issue is with a member of management they will find ways to reverse this on to you to save their own reputation. - There is no opportunity for growth within the business, management will specifically try to avoid promotions or salary increase where at all possible. - For the work the pay is terrible. Employees are gaslit into thinking this treatment and their salary are fine because they're lucky enough to work in the music industry and "be a part of culture".

1.0
3 June 2020

Toxic culture

Anonymous employee
Recommend
CEO approval
Business outlook

Pros

Nice office space in primo location. Free tickets to gigs and festivals.

Cons

Bolster rely on the great people they hire and the great office space they rent to create the impression of a fun start up. In reality, the place has none of the great vibe you'd expect from a start up. It is constantly silent, as horrifically overworked employees plug in their headphones, switch off from their co-workers and try and get the job done. Management are absolute bullies. The culture is truly toxic. Employees are held in a tight fist - holidays are held back on the basis that it doesn't suit the directors rather than genuinely thinking about how that time might affect company strategy. Wage is terrible. Employees are gaslit into thinking it's acceptable because of the perks (free tickets to gigs and getting to work with the music brands you like).

5.0
14 May 2019
Recommend
CEO approval
Business outlook

Pros

- Tight knit team and clients are lovely - Space to grow and develop into new roles, upper mgmt very helpful with career development of staff - Mgmt take feedback very seriously to improve the business, e.g. newly implemented processes so all staff have regular 1:1 meetings with staff, line managers for bigger teams so no one is missed - Ability to move between teams across the business depending on where your interests and skills lie (not stuck on one career track if you don't want/change your mind) - Chance to work on incredible clients - 'Sky's the limit' attitude means there's space to try out new and innovative things in our day-to-day work - Nice office space in Collingwood with lots of dogs - Good company culture with team drinks and outings

Cons

- Short time frames with some clients/campaigns can be stressful - Still some work to be done around cross team project management to make things smoother

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Glassdoor has 12 Bolster reviews submitted anonymously by Bolster employees. Read employee reviews and ratings on Glassdoor to decide if Bolster is right for you.