Pros
- benefits became better near the time I left - diversity is high - Originally I learned a lot, but I don't think that the position promotes growth and education anymore the way it used to
Cons
Rampant sexism due to difference in cultural values and intense pressure to be constantly available. I was told that by taking a two week vacation (using PTO that I was 100% entitled to) that I was abandoning the company in a time of need. When I came back from vacation, I was immediately demoted and a man that I had trained myself from scratch, with the least amount of graphic design experience in the entire department, whose entire knowledge of the packaging industry came from my training and guidance, was promoted over me, simply because he was a better "soldier" and didn't stick up for himself or the team the way I would. While I was managing prior to this, I was forced to keep incompetent workers due to my superior taking months to let them go; yet when someone would do nothing wrong, he'd pressure me to fire to them. It seemed like everything was based on mood rather than actual data. I was subtly cut off from other designers around me, and we were all pitted against each other as we were told different, conflicting things in private meetings. Then when we would talk amongst ourselves, we'd realize we were being "played". I was also told I had a "big mouth" when some of us were discussing salaries and punished for it, despite this being absolutely illegal. When I pointed out that was against the law, I was told, "okay, then sue me. Stop talking about money." Every time I asked for a raise I was treated as if it was a personal insult, and it often would result in me being told that I was "poor at managing my money" (not true, but even if it was - none of their business), that I was "too emotional" because I was stressed about student loans and increasing cost of living, and sometimes this would devolve into a shouting match, at which point I requested that the CFO participate in these conversations to keep them objective - ie, NOT asking what I'm doing with the money or trying to manage my bill schedule (yes, I was actually asked for a list of my expenses). As time went on, management treated me more and more aggressively, falsely accused me of freelancing on the clock, started requesting that I was the only person in the entire department who had to go into a new office 2 hours away once or twice a week when it was completely unnecessary, and allowed another staff member to scream, curse, and harass myself and others simply due to the fact that they brought in the most sales. Overall, this is the type of company that will con you by saying you're part of the family - meanwhile, no one is paid or treated like family. A pizza party every three months is not a fix to low morale and manipulation tactics.
