Leadership lacks the professionalism necessary to run an agency and develop young talent. All corporate policies are put into place to benefit the bottom line and not support the employee. For example, employees are required to share rooms and even beds on work trips. CEO does not sleep alone, so often employees are required to share a bed with her - even entry and mid-level employees. Even when clients provide individual rooms, leadership suggests they share rooms instead.
Upwards feedback is encouraged but met with hostility and defensiveness. “Anonymous” surveys are traced back to the individual employee and addressed as incorrect or unappreciative complaining. If employee has a concern about their work environment, they are told they are being unappreciative and should be happy to work through anything because that is was the CEO and COO did during the first year. Additionally when Negative feedback is given to employees, it is done in an unprofessional manner. For example, negative feedback given to a group of individuals instead of one on one. And negative feedback given to an individual at 10 pm after an event while the CEO changes clothing.
There is a serious lack of trust between management and employees. All offices include cameras that sync to the CEO’s phone, which is something she openly talks about at happy hours. Employees in some of the offices were never informed there were cameras... Managers often ask to be BCC’d on media pitches to make sure enough are going out.
Managers are loyal to the ceo and executive team, not their teams. Managers will often screen shot conversations to report to CEO without any communication to the employee. Managers fear the executive team and will turn on their team in order to appease executives.
In general, bizarre office policies. If you are more than 15 minutes late, you are required to email a notice- not sure how that is safe when fighting traffic. For doctor’s appointments, you are required to take two hours of sick time. Lunches are only allowed during a certain hour unless there are work conflicts. During PTO, employees are required to check their phones and cannot put an OOO response. And many more...
Please do not comment and say you wish I would have said this while employed. Because I did. And I was told I was unappreciative and needed to work on my attitude. Even when giving my two weeks notice, I was told I was a disappointment and unappreciative by the CEO and also blasted to the entire company. Please don’t tell me that is showing concern for your employees.