So many mixed feelings - Marketing Associate Wiley Employee Review

2.0
20 Sept 2018
Recommend
CEO approval
Business outlook

Pros

Colleagues are, for the most part, smart, creative and passionate about the publishing space. For me, working in the publishing / knowledge sharing world was the driving reason I wanted to work here and I have never been disappointed in how interesting it is. It is a very large global organization so in the course of working there, you may find yourself working with smart people from every corner of the globe. Some new initiatives have been positive and had impact. Work-life balance has been exceptional and salary has been average.

Cons

Wiley just feels like it is running scared. Scared of competition, scared of disruption, scared of change - all while they loudly exclaim they embrace all those things. Maybe because they change direction and chase new initiatives at a pace which is dizzying and frustrating because the dust never is allowed to settle. Strangely, the more it is proclaimed they will communicate about all this change, the less anything makes any sense. It is interesting how they see it all as strategic but it feels so reactionary. Also, the turnover in management from the top down is extraordinary - I've seen three CEOs and 4 managers in less than two years and each time has had impact that was not positive. Reorganizations and restructurings ensue, causing all sorts of turf battles and scrambles to gain political positioning in each new round. I know that's common in corporations but it feels like Wiley's culture feeds it. I've also watched extraordinarily talented and devoted employees get treated poorly and unappreciated, while colleagues who play political games well rise right up the ladder. It saddened me how often credit for work is grabbed by others while some of the superstars aren't ever recognized. It is largely a very conservative company culture so that could be a con depending on what you're looking for. Financial decisions are made about technology which often have huge far reaching costs and impacts but the people in the trenches who are affected are not given a choice in the matter. Wiley's culture is simply not one of transparency or honesty or openness, no matter what they may say.

Explore other reviews about Wiley

5.0
29 May 2026
Recommend
CEO approval
Business outlook

Pros

good environment, good energy, free lunch

Cons

nothing really bothers me that much

2.0
3 June 2026
Recommend
CEO approval
Business outlook

Pros

Decent pay and benefits for publishing.

Cons

Once of the most toxic work environments I've ever worked at. Upper management tears editors down if you are not a favorite. Favorites are chosen by metrics that do not exist, and are subjective and arbitrary. Wiley is losing money because brilliant, young editors leave due to no support and toxic work environments. Wiley Trade is essentially a hybrid publisher. Author's put a lot of money into their book -- too much. There is very very little marketing and publicity support for authors. But they brand as more than there actually is. All in all a very sad place to work and sad for authors.

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