Once Builders of Great Buildings, Now Demolishers of Morale
Pros
Occasionally able to leave early on Fridays (around 3:30pm) if there are no pressing deadlines Office trips are organised every year or two Annual visit to the RA Summer Exhibition Younger staff are generally sociable and create some sense of community. The firm had a prestigious reputation and was once known for their award-winning projects. The office participate in gingerbread city every year which is quite fun.
Cons
Leadership lacks diversity, being composed entirely of white-men, and can behave unprofessionally, including gossiping about staff in the office in front of other staff. Management at times displays immature and unprofessional behaviour, including shouting, stomping around the office, and occasionally throwing, kicking and breaking objects. The quality and creativity that built the firm’s reputation seem lost since the founder’s departure. Current projects do not reflect that legacy. Culture is rigid and unsupportive: no flexibility, no work-from-home allowance, and strict enforcement of timekeeping. Lunch must be taken exactly between 1–2pm. Unpaid overtime is often expected. Senior management is largely absent and disengaged. No investment in employees: no training, mentorship, or Christmas bonuses. New staff are treated as expendable. Staff turnover is high; the environment is stressful and profit-driven, with little regard for wellbeing. Creativity is stifled by micromanagement and lack of trust, leaving minimal room for professional growth. Before I joined, management presented a misleading picture of financial stability, despite having made redundancies the previous year due to a downturn in projects — a fact I only discovered months later.
