Great company for tenured employees - Anonymous employee OwnLocal Employee Review

5.0
4 Feb 2019
Anonymous employee
Recommend
CEO approval
Business outlook

Pros

Great benefits. Great people. Generous severance. I didn't leave a review when I first left the company because I was sad, but I understood why it was necessary. We were overstaffed and needed to scale back. With our departure, we were given a generous severance, a long timeline to transition, and introductions to new employment. I've never seen a company do this before. Now I've been working for close to 15 years so I've seen my share. Most of the bad reviews are from the kids they should of never hired in the first place. First job, entitled, wanted to be paid while watching Netflix. I wish I was joking, but it was common to see on the screens. It actually really bothered a lot of people who cared about the company. But one benefit, they trust you to do you job. Its sad to be coupled in with that bunch, but if it was my company, I would have done the same. OwnLocal is an actual real cash-flow positive business who's not bloated by VC money. They care about the bottom line and that's good if you want to work for a real business, not one chasing the next fundraising round. If you are lucky enough to get to work here, just know whatever happens you'll be taken care of.

Cons

The newspaper industry is rough. It's hard to be the most successful company in a dying industry. To grow we have to cover the natural decline and then some. Also, there's not much day-to-day oversight, which is great for natural leaders or self-motivated people, or real professionals who know how to be employees but not ideal for folks who need a lot of direction, guidance, and acknowledgment.

Explore other reviews about OwnLocal

5.0
20 Oct 2021
Anonymous temporary employee
Recommend
CEO approval
Business outlook

Pros

Best compnay work for. Hands down

Cons

No bad things to say about them

5.0
29 Mar 2016
Recommend
CEO approval
Business outlook

Pros

OwnLocal is the most upbeat environment I've encountered after twenty years in the industry.The people are smart, responsible, and fun-loving. Control structures are loose and egalitarian; executives sit on the floor with engineers and salespeople. The culture encourages and celebrates success. Most organizations this size are rife with gossip and office politics, so I keep expecting the other shoe to drop, but it hasn't. If you have a lot of industry experience, you will be able to make a strong mark at OwnLocal because senior management is incredibly open and responsive to feedback. Self-honesty reigns here. If you're more on the junior side, you'll enjoy the organization because your voice will still be heard and you'll be teamed with talented engineers from whom to learn. And, of course, the perks: 24/7 parking, infinite Starbucks, great location, and an endless number of celebratory events.

Cons

OwnLocal is still working to properly formulate its engineering and product organizations. Engineering has improved significantly in just a quarter - in particular, by clustering into small initiative-driven teams and streamlining their hiring processes a bit. While not exactly a con, the transparency at OwnLocal can be occasionally shocking. Financials are made available to every employee. Salary structures are also public, which is unusual at a company this size. Senior management will admit to mistakes and flaws. Leave your optical game at the front door.

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