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Penguin Random House

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Nothing Happening Outside of NYC - Data Management Penguin Random House Employee Review

2.0
Dec 20, 2019
Recommend
CEO approval
Business outlook

Pros

Industry is interesting. Free books. Top leadership is passionate about the business. Good benefits. Stable employment.

Cons

Front line and middle management tend to be promoted into the position due to familiarity with superiors and/or for having been with the organization for a very long time, not because of leadership qualities. Every office outside of NYC HQ tends to be forgotten - not as many benefits and perks; rarely highlighted in corporate communications; lack of investment in facilities, etc. Pay is low. Would trade in some benefits (that were never used anyway) for straight cash.

Explore other reviews about Penguin Random House

5.0
Jun 30, 2026
Recommend
CEO approval
Business outlook

Pros

super friendly work environment, very understanding, very fun

Cons

in consumer marketing department, a large number of people work remotely

5.0
Jun 20, 2026
Recommend
CEO approval
Business outlook

Pros

• Caring people. Psychological safety is emphasized by people at every level. I feel like leadership at each step of the reporting chain is very approachable and transparent. • Great work/life balance. • There is a lot of openness to trying new technologies or doing different things for such a large and established organization. There is very little "trend chasing," it's more like you're listened to. As the CEO started out as a technologist, he has a realistic view of what new tools (including, but not just, AI) can do for us. • Informal, especially for a company created by the merger of two nearly-100 year old publishing firms and was recently acquired by a nearly-200 year old company. • Company supports learning and development. • Free books! • I care greatly about the company's mission and it's clear how my work impacts the company's ability to execute on it. • Things often move slowly, which is both a pro and a con.

Cons

• Pay and insurance are very average, but I can live with that. This is a much bigger con for employees whose jobs require them to be on-site, especially in e.g. London and New York. • Said learning and development seem to have a ...deliberate pace. While this is fine and what I wanted, other tech people coming in from more "tech-y" organizations mightn't gel with it. • Things often move slowly, which is both a pro and a con.

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