No dream job - Anonymous employee Getty Images Employee Review

2.0
4 Oct 2009
Anonymous employee
Recommend
CEO approval
Business outlook

Pros

Office is in a cool are in Fremont and it is a cool industry to work in. There are some talented people working there.

Cons

There is an underlying class system at work at Getty Images and/or a 'good ole boys club'. Where people get promoted because they are on good terms with people and not based on performance. Also, the rules only apply to certain people despite what corporate policy dictates. Middle Management does not listen to their engineers nor do they invite engineers to meetings regarding technical solutions that are to be purchased. This has cost the company a lot of money on shoddy products with sub-par support. As stated below, there is a director level which is unneeded and costs the company a lot of money in addition to slowing down progress due to them holding things up or making bad decisions. Decisions are made by the management that cost the company money without any regard for business function. For example, director level and up in the company get a Mac Laptop which is basically a status symbol. We do not have any business applications that use Macs so there is no reason to have them other than people trying to feel important. Support for the unneeded Macs cost the company lots of money without reason. Management expects projects and/or tasks to be completed without providing the tools/equipment to get the job done. This just leaves things in limbo where management feels they are no longer responsible and so an engineer can be thrown under the bus. In the same vein, many teams are understaffed yet expected to get the same work accomplished as when their team was fully staffed. Benefits/Bonuses have been cut (401K matching) and raises have been denied due to the "economy". Getty does not have enough money to pay for these things any longer that were promised when people were hired, but they do have enough to purchase other companies and purchase expensive applications which end up being bad decisions. There is no room for advancement at Getty in IT. In order to save money, Getty is jamming all of its staff on one less floor which effectively is getting rid of all average size cubicles to be replaced by open desks stuck together with little dividers.

Explore other reviews about Getty Images

5.0
1 Jun 2026
Recommend
CEO approval
Business outlook

Pros

- fun culture where you get to hear talks by photographers - adopts new technologies relatively early in the game - a really great place to learn and grow as a developer

Cons

- can handle shifts/re-orgs poorly with communication, leaving employees feeling unheard and unvalued.

1
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Getty Images Response
1w
Hello! Thank you for your review! We’re really glad to hear that you have a positive view of our culture, particularly the opportunity to engage with photographers and our adoption of new technologies. It’s also great to know that you found our environment supportive with opportunity for growth - we always aim to ensure employees feel that they can learn and grow within their role, and others. We also appreciate your feedback regarding communication during shifts and reorganizations. We recognize that periods of change can be challenging, and it’s important that our communication is clear, consistent, and inclusive so that employees feel heard and valued. We will work to continue to uphold our Leadership Principle of being trustworthy, transparent, and honest. If you have any other feedback you'd like to share, please feel free to email me at sarah.dudley@gettyimages.com
3.0
6 May 2026
Recommend
CEO approval
Business outlook

Pros

- nice people - want to do good

Cons

- technology feels old - ai can take their livelihood

avatar
Getty Images Response
1mo
Hi, there - thank you for your feedback! We’re glad to hear you’ve had positive experiences with the people here and that our team’s commitment to doing meaningful work stands out. We also appreciate your comments about our technology and concerns around AI. We recognize that staying current with technology is essential, and we’re always trying to invest in efforts to better support both our employees and the people we serve. If you have any suggestions that you'd like to share, or anything else on the topic you'd like to discuss, please feel free to email me at sarah.dudley@gettyimages.com
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