Penguin Group Reviews

Industry salaries are uniformly low, but entry-level salaries are SO low that we lose talent. Raises generally do not match the cost of living. No bonuses that I know of, except for upper management, and occasional discretionary corporate-wide bonuses ($500-600). Young staff hasn't a clue about how to manage their 401k investments. Management frequently rolls out new software and workflow procedures that can make working more, not less, difficult. At the same time, important, industry-wide software is often outdated. When software is finally updated, staff is expected to train themselves online while still maintaining workloads and deadlines. In editorial/production, unrelenting increases in workloads, with higher percentages of books on brutally tight deadlines. New imprints, but no new staff hires in years. Not too fond of the open-floor cubicle-pens and bright overhead lighting: no privacy at all, voices carry. No place to take a private phone call, such as a callback from a physician.

Many of Penguin's practices are antiquated - even for the generally old-fashioned publishing industry - and instead of helping productivity end up creating busy work. Promotions are slow in coming and happen haphazardly. Many editors are frustrated by publisher and management decisions, but there is no way to communicate dissatisfaction or problems within departments to higher level supervisors. There is constant pressure to publish "commercial" projects and to steer away from "literary" titles, and you can expect to work late or on the weekends a few times a month.