Complete Lies - Anonymous employee Metrodigi Employee Review

• The people who work at Metrodigi are some of the best co-workers, supervisors, friends, and mentors you could hope for... Seriously! Most have a positive attitude, a strong work ethic, integrity, a sense of humor, valuable opinions and ideas, and a shared desire to contribute, connect, and make a difference in the world. • The location is unique and beautiful, situated in Marin County, steps from the Larkspur Ferry (to SF), adjacent to the Marin Mart with a dozen delicious lunch, happy hour, and dinner options, and the views of the Richardson Bay and Mt. Tam out of our 2nd floor windows are really spectacular. We are right above the Melting Pot fondue restaurant and bar, in the Historic Brick Kiln Building, with the tall red brick chimney. • The office environment is modern, classy, and vibrant, with brightly-colored accent walls, tall ceilings, huge windows, witty quotes and striking art throughout the large L-shaped space, a comfortable Employee Lounge, well-stocked fridges and multiple snack stations, a deluxe espresso / coffee / hot water dispenser for unlimited caffeine, hot cocoa, or tea, etc. There are plenty of areas for social and stress-relieving activities, like puzzles, coloring, cornhole, putting (golf), reading, movies, and playstation, as well as couches, stand-up desks, a kitchen table, a bike, and conference / call rooms to offer you a change of scenery. • The new management, led by our brilliant CEO, Kathryn Stewart, has worked hard to improve the morale, and has treated us to countless Mix & Mingle events with alcohol, food, and fun surprises like a bagpiper, for us to share on the huge outdoor deck that overlooks the water. It's a special place to eat lunch, watch the sunset, and get to know your co-workers. Holiday parties are fun and untraditional, and we all like to bring in goodies to share with each other year-round. We were also given a chartered boat tour of the SF Bay, under the Golden Gate Bridge, and then over to Angel Island, where we enjoyed a catered feast, unlimited drinks, games, hiking, biking, and optional segway rentals. Whenever they can, they give us unexpected events and perks that help us re-charge our batteries and enjoy life. We also have charitable activities and donation drives, to help lend a hand to others in need. • Chaucer, our flagship product, is a very helpful tool with various purposes. It is constantly updated and supported by an excellent team of collaborative Engineers, Product Specialists, QA, and Customer Success experts. It is easy for all kinds of users to learn and interact with Chaucer, it provides editing, authoring, and communication features, and it lets us and our Clients turn a vision or an idea into reality, which is really rewarding and exciting! Also, our incredible Digital Production team (Project Managers, Developers, and Quality Assurance), our innovative Interactive / Instructional Design team, and our creative Visual Design team have crafted a wide variety and extensive amount of products for the largest publishers and most well-known companies in the world. They are beautiful works of digital art, often with interactive components that engage readers of all ages, that support new methods of learning and testing skills or comprehension, and that even save lives!! For example, we created NoviGuide, which is a vital tablet-based aid for Nurses in some of the most neglected countries and remote communities, to help guide their care of newborn babies. Please visit our website for details, and watch the demo of this one-of-a-kind tool on Vimeo.

° The challenges in the past were significant, but both founders (the former CEO and former CTO) are now gone and there is a noticeably different and better energy in the air, more open communication from executives and investors to employees, and countless more amenities and freedoms. It also prompted many former employees to come back, which says a lot about the impact of that management shift! The con is that some changes or promises may take a while to really be seen and felt by all, and some employees are still a little wary or untrusting. Many were lied to in the past, were promised things that never materialized, or were disappointed by the actions or inactions of their leaders and peers. The new management has made great strides towards bridging that gap and addressing those concerns head-on, in a short amount of time. ° The way some former co-workers were let go, without much acknowledgment, or clear and direct communication to the remaining team, or even any time for those people and the rest of the staff to process it and say goodbye, left a sour taste in many mouths. It contributed to negative reviews on here, which are hurtful to the rest of the team, and it unfairly represents the current culture and all of the positive aspects that should be recognized and celebrated. We all deserve respect coming in the door, and going out, regardless of how fast-paced the next steps need to be. We put a lot of time, effort, heart, and soul into our work and our connections, so honoring that shows that we are valued. Obviously business is business, and tough decisions have to be made at a start-up company that wants to be as efficient and lean as possible, but how we treat other people is on display. There's been more of an effort made since new management took over, but there's always room for improvement. ° Our company has much more clarity and direction now, and it's important to recognize the accomplishments of all team members who are helping us reach our goals. Sometimes the attention is on a few roles or departments, which might make others feel underappreciated. Verbal or written praise and gratitude goes a long way in rallying the troops to go above and beyond, especially when times are hard or the working days are long. It also reminds us to be thankful for all of the past efforts that we are trying to build our future on. We have cool "Kudos" cards that aren't given out to each other enough, so I'd like to see more of that.

The energy at the company is fantastic. Fast-paced, fun, and lots of growth. Contrary to some other reviews, there is plenty of opportunity to learn skills that other companies would never give you a chance to learn on the job. The environment is demanding, yes, but you will find that the experience you gain here translates into a tremendous boost for your skills. Publishing is going through a lot of change at the moment and so it's challenging to keep up with the pace but the people here make it worthwhile. Process is in flux but it's part of the excitement to be able to help set it up and formulate some structure in the organization. Recent hires to management have made this a great place to be. New management listens and acts on suggestions made by employees. Really like the direction the company is going with these new approaches to teams. The future of publishing is here and being part of it is great!

No vision plan (dental and health benefits are otherwise very good). Would like more 401k options. Make sure you bring your lunch--there is nothing but candy to eat. Very fast-paced but that is also a plus if you like to learn!