Misleading PR agency image, poor workplace culture - Account Director Golin Ketchum Employee Review

I worked at Golin in 2024, and based on my experience, the agency was positioned as a PR agency, but in practice it operated much more like an influencer marketing agency. There was a significant gap between what employees were told they would be doing and the actual day-to-day work. From my perspective, the main priority of the leadership was client billing and revenue, rather than employee wellbeing, professional development, or building a sustainable team culture. The work environment felt highly transactional, with limited care for employees beyond their immediate output. One of the most concerning aspects was the salary and employment practice. In my experience, part of the salary process was handled in cash, and employees would wait outside the accountant’s office to receive envelopes one by one. This created a very unprofessional and uncomfortable atmosphere. I also had concerns about social security / insurance declarations not accurately reflecting actual compensation. There was also very high employee turnover. People were constantly joining and leaving, which made the workplace feel unstable and disorganized. This also affected team morale, continuity, and the quality of work. Overall, I would not recommend this workplace to people who are looking for a real PR agency experience, transparent employment practices, or a healthy agency culture.