Burning Man Reviews

3.5

37% would recommend to a friend

(32 total reviews)

Marian Goodell

23% approve of CEO

37% positive business outlook

Burning Man has an employee rating of 3.5 out of 5 stars, based on 32 company reviews on Glassdoor which indicates that most employees have a good working experience there. The Burning Man employee rating is in line with the average (within 1 standard deviation) for employers within the Arts, entertainment and recreation industry (3.9 stars).

Reviews by job title

32 reviews
1.0
1 Aug 2017
Recommend
CEO approval
Business outlook

Pros

Some aspects of self-care are taken quite seriously, including ergonomics, vacations and time off, and illness. Leave no trace is a very real thing in the office -- you'll probably never work anywhere else where folks do their own dishes and clean up after themselves. Women are basically in charge of everything. The staff does not take for granted in-office benefits are genuinely appreciative when food is provided or an in-office happy hour is organized. Outside service workers are treated well by the staff - delivery drivers, postal service, catering workers, etc.

Cons

Generally speaking, they are incompetent and have low standards for performance/work product relative to the rest of San Francisco. It is unorganized and Ludditism is commonplace. Business decisions seem more determined by nepotism, gossip, and lying than anything else. They encourage an "open door policy," wherein any employee *should* be able to talk to any other employee about anything. Be careful, this will get used against you. A not-that-radical radicalism is the red herring preventing much of the staff from realizing their employer is no different from any other employer -- their bottom line doesn't have to be cash profit in order to function like a corporation. They get away with a lot in the name of changing the world and transforming lives. The kool aid flows thick! The culture is insular, and despite claims about changing people's lives, it's painfully removed from people's lives and the realities of existence in the U.S. The staff is almost entirely white, like the event, and talking about racism is pretty taboo. There are only white people in leadership roles. Talking about roles and positions as "labor" or employees as "laborers" is also aggressively avoided. The CEO made some quite ignorant political statements at all-staff meetings. By "ignorant" I do not mean "I didn't agree with her." I do mean: uninformed and uneducated, poorly thought out, and, most importantly, entitled. "Entitled" is applicable to how the organization goes about changing the world in the first place --- by assuming they have found the answers to social change and are, therefore, experts on it. Historically informed radical social consciousness is not part of it. The "Philosophy Department, " responsible for coming up with the ideas behind the culture, consists of entirely white men who have no training in Philosophy. One member is the founder of Burning Man, who when in the office, regularly throws tantrums. The leadership body insists there are no hierarchies at Burning Man -- this is clearly false. I had a boss, who was a boss that made more money and decisions than me. That boss had a boss who made more money and decisions than them. That boss had a boss who..... It is disrespectful to tell all non-management staff, including those who are contractors, temps, or volunteers, that there is no hierarchy at Burning Man and expect them to believe it.

3.0
8 Feb 2021
Recommend
CEO approval
Business outlook

Pros

can be fun, definitely unique, good intentions, beautiful office

Cons

martyr culture, entrenched views, harmful to overall health, questionable impact, limited growth and no feedback loops

4.0
8 Feb 2018
Recommend
CEO approval
Business outlook

Pros

Being part of making the OG ‘transformative event’ each year has been incredible. Watching Black Rock City happen and learning how (and why) it rises from the playa each year has been worth it. I’ve met and worked for and with the best people I will ever have the privilege of knowing.

Cons

Budget process is a bit ridiculous; how the money will be spent on non-profit programs and initiatives should be more transparent during planning, not just after the fact when the previous year’s financials are reported. Technology team is self focused and not customer focused; tech is and should be accountable for systems failures.

Viewing 1 - 3 of 32 Reviews

Glassdoor has 54 Burning Man reviews submitted anonymously by Burning Man employees. Read employee reviews and ratings on Glassdoor to decide if Burning Man is right for you.