Great place to learn... how not to run a business - Content Strategist Swan Studio Employee Review

1.0
20 Oct 2025
Recommend
CEO approval
Business outlook

Pros

Most of the other colleagues were really good people and the only reason we all survived each day was leaning on eachother.

Cons

- Workload is consistently unmanageable, most people end up working late nights or weekends to keep up, often on tasks far beyond their original role or pay grade. - Expectations keep shifting (and growing!) with little context, direction, or recognition. Feedback is always vague, inconsistent, or purely subjective from people with no more experience than yourself. - Performance reviews include unrealistic KPIs and “metrics” that don’t align with actual workload or resourcing (like impossible and also so beyond your pay when you are doing 50+ hrs pw). Some KPI’s are completely subjective too, so even when targets are met, there’s no real reward. - High-pressure culture with VERY poor leadership and honestly no EQ from the 2 top people. Saw multiple people burn out or have panic attacks at work. - Promotions and pay-rise promises are used as incentives to keep people around, but they rarely materialise (and if they magically do, it’s minimal). - Clear favouritism, a few “chosen” staff are treated differently (/they just are okay with the carrot dangle for their own circumstances eg. sponsorship), while others are undervalued. You will need to check your pay/super is correct each payslip (if expat actually check they set up the account instead of just pretending). - Client experience is inconsistent; smaller clients receive little to no attention while high-paying ones get all the focus. They also shifts hands frequently due to below point. - Extremely high turnover, more than a dozen people left within 12ish weeks, and continues to play out, which speaks volumes. - Few people were also let go a week or less before their probation ended (6months) with no warning or prior negative feedback (also just sent packing and pay wasn’t processed on the day as per legal requirement). - Just wouldn’t risk it. Every workplace has occasional crappy management and long hours, but you should at least find a place that you are paid fairly, have room for meaningful growth and be treated with respect. This is not here.

Explore other reviews about Swan Studio

5.0
26 May 2026
Anonymous employee
Recommend
CEO approval
Business outlook

Pros

Very ambitious business with leadership that wants to build something best in class in the industry. There’s a strong focus on raising the bar and bringing people along on that journey. The company is growing fast, which creates real opportunities if you’re someone who wants to take ownership and develop quickly. The team environment is social, inclusive, energetic and generally supportive. The level of organisation and processes has improved a lot over the last year.

Cons

Because it’s still growing quickly and has a startup feel, things can change fast and priorities can shift. For some people that can be challenging but if you like momentum and variety, it can be a positive.

1.0
7 May 2026
Anonymous employee
Recommend
CEO approval
Business outlook

Pros

There are some really nice people working here.

Cons

This is the most challenging workplace I have experienced, and unfortunately, not in a positive way. - Unsustainable workload: The volume of work is crazy. Many employees regularly work 50–60 hour weeks and still struggle to keep up. - Lack of processes and structure: There are no clear systems in place. Workflows are disorganised, timelines are unclear and completely unrealistic. - Poor client management: There is little boundary-setting with clients. Staff are frequently treated poorly, with minimal support or escalation from leadership. - Wellbeing concerns: The environment can be highly stressful, with employees often feeling overwhelmed. - No HR or clear direction: There is no formal HR support, limited strategic planning, and little visible effort to address ongoing issues. - Overloaded client roster: The focus appears to be on onboarding new clients rather than sustainably servicing existing ones, leading to dissatisfied clients and increased pressure on staff. - Reactive hiring and high turnover: Hiring decisions can feel rushed, and turnover is high.

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