Left this job and never looked back - Anonymous employee Studio PCH Employee Review

1.0
21 Mar 2026
Anonymous employee
Recommend
CEO approval
Business outlook

Pros

Your coworkers will be a diverse, hardworking group and honestly the best part of working here. The shared experience of grinding through impossible deadlines has a way of forging real bonds with the people around you. The projects look impressive on paper and can add some weight to your portfolio or resume, which is about the only silver lining when it comes to the work itself.

Cons

WFH is an option, but it comes with a catch. Expect long hours and a constant flood of Slack notifications that never really stops. Meetings are frequent and eat into time you could actually spend on your work. Deadlines are set arbitrarily by management with no input from the team, and when one hits, work-life balance goes out the window. The salary is mediocre, and that doesn't change regardless of the hours you put in. The projects can seem interesting on the surface, though the firm's design sensibility leans heavily derivative. And if you are on a work visa, be warned: you will feel like you are being taken advantage of.

Explore other reviews about Studio PCH

5.0
9 Sept 2025
Recommend
CEO approval
Business outlook

Pros

Full of incredibly talented people who are passionate about design and nice to work with. The projects are high-end and exciting, and there are great perks in the office. It’s a place where you can really grow if you’re motivated and take initiative.

Cons

The pace can be intense, but that’s expected when working at a top-level architectural firm with high-end clients.

2.0
13 Mar 2025
Recommend
CEO approval
Business outlook

Pros

Amazing co-workers; some of the sweetest people I have met in the field who are all unfortunately trauma bonded by the horrible working conditions/office environment

Cons

The office has a tendency to hire immigrants who are reliant on visas and will trap them there for years without pay raises or growth opportunities since they cannot leave. Most American nationals who join the company leave soon after they find out the reality of working at this office. The work life balance is absolutely horrible! There is no concept of a 40 hour work week and you are shunned if you leave on time. The expectation is to always stay late even if there is no work to be done! You are constantly micromanaged on a daily basis by upper management. There are way too many office wide meetings solely to keep an eye over everyone's every move. People are let go on the spot without a moments notice so there is always the fear that you can be let go at any second (I saw so many amazing employees let go off without any particular reason). If you care about your emotional/mental well being I do not recommend working here. Also please note all 5 star reviews are by management themselves trying to keep up a fake front. 100% agree with all the other negative reviews that are actually real!

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