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Implico Communications

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The Devil Sells Benefit Guides - Communications Coordinator Implico Communications Employee Review

1.0
Oct 12, 2023
Recommend
CEO approval
Business outlook

Pros

There are very few pros of working for Implico, but I gained experience, they have generous PTO, free alcohol if you work in person, and opportunities to pretend that you are Anne Hathaway in The Devil Wears Prada.

Cons

Have you ever watched The Devil Wears Prada? Well, Implico is like that, except there are not glamorous parties, fabulous clothes, and exceptional networking opportunities. Unfortunately, I worked there for over a year and was one of their longest employees. The CEO and upper management have a tendency to be angry, calculating, condescending, critical, cruel, demanding, dishonest, disorganized, drunk, egocentric, erratic, irrational, judgemental, manipulative, passive aggressive, rude, unhelpful, unprofessional, unthankful, and uptight. The CEO constantly makes absolutely abhorrent comments about other employees. For instance, she joked that one of our employees is autistic and called another a beta male. I also wrote the following quote down the moment that the CEO said it: “I’ve hired black people before and they don’t make it.” Ultimately, the CEO and upper management lack empathy, treat employees like dirt, and are absolutely delusional. They never like any employee other than themselves for long and think that every other employee is stupid. They also talk about their illegal business practices (i.e. failing to provide FTE with benefits after 90 days or hiring employees in sanctioned countries). They desperately need to take a hard look in the mirror, question why everyone is incapable of meeting their standards, and finally realize why everyone quits. I genuinely deserve an Academy Award for working with these people for over a year. In January of this year, they suggested that I train to become the PM by summer. They offered me very little guidance, feedback, or training for several months. In June, the CEO casually told me that they were going to hire someone “older” to be the PM due to four mistakes that I had made. However, at least two of the “mistakes” were their fault (One of the mistakes was upper management’s fault, but they didn’t take responsibility for their actions so the mistake was blamed on me. In hindsight, I wish that I had advocated for myself, but I didn’t realize that I would not get the promotion and I was concerned about retaliation). They eventually hired their close friend to be the PM. They trained her poorly and she is not as knowledgeable as I am, but upper management is covering it up. The PM is also not performing the job independently or working excessive overtime as I was expected to. As you may have already realized, there is a toxic culture surrounding mistakes. Whenever they notice that someone has made a mistake, they immediately search for who is to blame and make them (even if they’re an intern) feel terrible. I honestly think that they feel joy when they notice a mistake and have the opportunity to berate someone over it. However, when they make mistakes, they ignore it and or blame their mistake on someone else. A few weeks ago, I found a Google Doc with my name on the title in the company Google Drive. It was a short list of mistakes that I made and I imagine how they justified not giving me the PM promotion. I tried to ignore it, but I began to obsessively open it over the following week. Unfortunately, this caused the Google Doc to appear higher on their Google Drive. They started writing petty complaints about me in it constantly. One time, they were even typing in it while I was sitting across from them. I immediately burst out of the office hysterically crying. If you currently work here or you need the money, please know that they will never see the error in their ways. Every step forward with them is two steps back. Also, every positive review on this website is either written by them or written by a current employee that they pressured into leaving a positive review. The best advice that I can give you is play the game, keep your head down, and don’t let them tear you down. If you do try to advocate for yourself, it will not be productive and they will hold it against you. The CEO and upper management should feel absolutely ashamed of themselves for bullying employees (typically young women at their first jobs). Ultimately, it would take days for me to summarize the abuse that I and other employees experienced. However, I will say that by the end, my responsibilities had slowly increased to what two people should be doing. When I tried to advocate for myself because the CEO was giving me an additional responsibility (that the PM should be doing), she told me to perform my other responsibilities in a sloppy manner in order to take on this additional task. I gave two weeks notice the following day, but she fired me for “Job Abandonment” because I didn’t arrive at the office by 8:00 AM that day (I always work from home in the morning and arrive at 9:00 AM). She also told me that I lack critical thinking skills and suggested that I find a job in HR in the future (she means this as a back handed compliment). At the end of the day, this was a terrible first job, but I learned how to recognize red flags in the workplace, how to work with difficult people, and I gained a lot of experience. The only reason I lasted over a year is that I actually enjoyed my job responsibilities and I have an incredible work ethic. It is truly unfortunate that they never recognized my worth (or paid me appropriately), but I wasn’t willing to sell my soul to the devil and neither should you.

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Implico Communications Response
2y
Thank you for sharing your insights and concerns on Glassdoor. We appreciate the opportunity to address the points raised in your recent review and provide clarity on certain matters. Allegations of CEO Intoxication: We want to assure you that maintaining a professional atmosphere is of utmost importance to us. While we do enjoy occasional prosecco during the day, the claim that the CEO is regularly inebriated is not only baseless but also implausible. Successfully running a multi-million dollar business requires focus, responsibility, and strategic decision-making, making such allegations inconsistent with the reality of our workplace. Diversity and Inclusion: Our commitment to building a diverse and inclusive workplace is unwavering. Contrary to the accusations, our CEO actively supports hiring practices that embrace individuals from various backgrounds. Decisions are made based on qualifications and fit, with no bias against any group. The incident involving the African American intern was unrelated to discrimination, and we continue to actively seek diversity within our team. Author's Situation: We appreciate your detailed account of the situation – little did you know you were facing the possibility of being placed on a Performance Improvement Plan (PIP). While we acknowledge your positive self-perception, there were identified challenges with organizational skills, and occasional difficulty in comprehending basic client requests. Instead of opting for termination based on perceived competency gaps, we sought alternative solutions. In an earnest effort to provide avenues for your growth and improvement, we reimagined a new position—one that did not previously exist—with the intention of better aligning your skills within the company. This decision reflects our commitment to supporting our team members in their ongoing professional development. Your exceptional strengths in ordering lunches, coordinating breakfasts, organizing engaging activities like happy hours, bowling, and Painting with a Twist have been duly recognized. Your enthusiasm for suggesting dinner outings is noted as well. Therefore, when the idea of exploring a role in HR was presented, it was not intended as a back-handed compliment; rather, it was an acknowledgment of your demonstrated skills and potential in areas such as HR or event planning. We value your contributions and remain dedicated to fostering an environment where each team member can thrive and find fulfillment in their unique strengths. Benefits We appreciate your feedback, especially on the topic of benefits, and we want to provide clarity on this matter. While as a small company with fewer than 50 employees, we are not required to offer benefits, we have chosen to go above and beyond to provide comprehensive and affordable options for our team. Currently, we offer two medical plans at absolutely no cost to our employees, and for the other plans available, we actively offset a significant portion of the costs. In addition to medical coverage, we provide dental and vision plans at a low cost to ensure that our employees have access to holistic healthcare options. We understand the importance of financial planning and security, which is why we offer a 4% match on our 401(k) plan, providing a valuable opportunity for our team members to save for their future. Our commitment to the well-being and satisfaction of our employees is a priority, and we continually strive to enhance our benefits package to support the diverse needs of our team. We value your input and remain dedicated to fostering a workplace that prioritizes the health, financial stability, and overall satisfaction of our valued team members. We want to highlight another aspect of our commitment to our employees' well-being. In addition to our comprehensive benefits package, we also contribute $40 per month to provide employees with access to Class Pass. Understanding the importance of a holistic approach to well-being, we believe that physical fitness is a key component of a healthy lifestyle. By contributing to Class Pass, we aim to support our team members in their pursuit of various fitness activities and classes that suit their individual preferences and schedules. We are proud to provide this additional benefit to enhance the overall health and wellness of our employees. If you have any further questions or if there are other areas where we can improve our offerings, we welcome your input and are committed to continually enhancing the employee experience. Addressing the Mention of Autism: We want to address the mention of an employee potentially being autistic. The CEO made this observation not as a criticism but rather in an attempt to contextualize certain behavioral nuances. It's important to clarify that such observations were not intended to discredit the employee's abilities or contributions. In fact, the CEO values diversity, including neurodiversity, and celebrates individuals with learning differences. The intention behind highlighting this was to foster understanding and empathy among team members. The CEO aspires to create an inclusive environment where everyone, regardless of their unique qualities, feels respected and valued. It's crucial to note that the mention of a potential autism spectrum condition was not meant as a critique but as an acknowledgment of diverse perspectives within our team. Workload and Company Growth: Recognizing the complexities of managing workloads amid rapid company growth, we've taken proactive steps to alleviate this by expanding our team. We truly value the dedication of our current staff, and your commitment has not gone unnoticed. As promised, I've swiftly expanded our team by hiring two additional members. Regarding the issue of working outside regular hours, our policy has consistently discouraged such practices. While we understand the challenges you faced, it's apparent, especially in your absence, that the backlog was linked to certain difficulties. Even with the increased project load, our team now efficiently completes tasks within standard working hours, typically concluding by 5:30 – 6:00 p.m., eliminating the need for late-night work. In closing, we appreciate your dedication to certain aspects of your role, it's crucial to address the concerning issue of crank phone calls and inappropriate use of communication platforms, such as sending photos via text flipping off fellow employees. This behavior is not aligned with our company values and professional standards. We kindly urge you to cease such activities immediately to ensure a respectful and collaborative workplace for all team members. Open communication is paramount, and we are here to discuss any concerns you may have. Our goal is to create a positive and inclusive work environment for everyone, and we appreciate your cooperation in achieving that objective.

Explore other reviews about Implico Communications

5.0
Feb 20, 2025
Anonymous employee
Recommend
CEO approval
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Pros

ICI Creative Solutions is a great place to work for anyone looking to develop their career in a collaborative and motivating environment. The team culture is incredible — everyone is eager to help, share ideas, and support each other to succeed. Leadership is engaged and approachable, providing mentorship, guidance, and opportunities to grow both personally and professionally.

Cons

There can be long hours during the busy season but being part of a team where everyone is driven, takes initiative, and genuinely cares about the company makes a huge difference.

1
5.0
Oct 31, 2024
Recommend
CEO approval
Business outlook

Pros

I truly loved working for this company! I swear I learned more in their six month internship program than I did in one year of school. The CEO is involved enough for you to know she cares, but not TOO involved if you know what I mean. No one is breathing down your neck for you to learn faster. They help you grow and give you time to learn how you do best, while being accessible enough for you to ask as many questions as you want.

Cons

I did receive some pretty harsh feedback on a few things that I didn't know I was doing wrong. I feel they should have a review or something to tell you where you are failing so that you can fix your methods. I also feel "awful" is not the kind of language an employer should add to a piece of constructive criticism. However, for the most part my feedback was positive and encouraging while also being informative.

2
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