Pros
As a small company, the access to incredible material and the autonomy each department enjoys is rare and absolutely something to be treasured. Colleagues are almost unanimously passionate about their specialized field. Quirky with a very anti-corporate vibe.
Cons
First and foremost, the casual environment has spiraled into laziness and complacency. The executive branch of the company is often callous and crude. Many of the long-term employees who have been grandfathered into the company are resistant to change and are shockingly inept when it comes to technology and efficiency. There is a massive lack of leadership -- this is a fact bemoaned by staff at all levels. The highest level of management appears to have little to no desire in attracting, supporting, and maintaining young, qualified employees who often hold higher educational degrees than himself. For the President, the company is his personal playground where the bottom line is his one and only concern. For everyone else, it is a crushingly demanding job with little to no reward. It is not uncommon for junior staff to spend their lunch breaks on job interviews or browsing job listings. Wages and annual bonuses are entirely arbitrary and well below industry standards by an average of 15-20%. They do not invest in talent. The day to day responsibilities and tasks expected of junior staff is pretty much identical to their directors. However, directors come and go as they please—sometimes with no regard to appointments the made with clients. Zero communication skills. Meanwhile, there has been a noticeable pattern of quickly promoting unqualified young white employees to positions which they usually abandoned shortly thereafter. Management frequently make false promises to loyal employees and favoritism is rampant. As long as you’re chummy with the higher ups, you can make as many egregious mistakes as you want and never truly be held accountable. Sexual harassment is an issue I hope the new HR person will try to address. Many of the women dread post-sale dinners due to his highly inappropriate and predatory behavior. Among the executive staff, one is so verbally abusive, tyrannical, and dismissive that the entire mood of the office shifts the moment he walks off the elevator. He is extremely unprofessional in his dealings with colleagues and clients alike. Through his actions and words, the President of the company has made it clear that he believes all junior staff are replaceable. Overall, it is a discouraging place to invest your time and energy into.