Catalfamo Pleasures - Manager Thom Filicia Employee Review

-Great design team, you'll learn from so many talented designers. -Well published and recognized design company based in New York City.

-lack of leadership and mentorship -Office is too dark, not ideal for creativity -space is limited, some of the designers don't have a proper work station

- Working in the building provided strong networking opportunities, and many professionals nearby were supportive and helpful when I began exploring other opportunities. - Team celebrations and birthday moments could be enjoyable when leadership was not present. - The first month felt welcoming while learning the role and getting oriented.

- During my time at the company, I experienced a highly stressful and unpredictable work environment that negatively impacted morale and overall well-being. - The workplace culture felt heavily influenced by the owner’s management style, which often included raised voices, public criticism, and communication that I personally found discouraging and difficult to work under. - Feedback was frequently delivered in a harsh or confrontational manner. I regularly heard comments questioning employees’ competence or judgment, which created anxiety among staff. - The environment often felt tense, and many employees appeared to operate in fear of making mistakes. Over time, this contributed to burnout and high turnover. - Expectations were unclear and could change quickly, making it difficult to prioritize tasks or feel successful in the role. - Employees were frequently managing multiple roles at once, including operational and personal requests, which made workloads challenging to sustain. - While my written offer included a scheduled salary review, I did not receive the adjustment discussed despite multiple follow-ups. - Benefits enrollment and administrative processes were disorganized during my employment, which caused confusion regarding insurance coverage. - There was little formal onboarding or structured training; most responsibilities had to be learned independently while already managing daily operations. - Policies surrounding hours, lunch breaks, and time off felt inconsistent and dependent on leadership availability rather than clear systems. - Due to frequent staff turnover, employees often inherited unfinished work and backlogs, adding additional pressure. - Overall, I personally found the environment emotionally exhausting and not supportive of long-term professional growth.