Bad management, no vision, no benefits - Anonymous employee Reader's Digest Employee Review

First off there are minimum resources, you can't get money pumped into the brand without going through the owner, who believes the brand is dying and has no strategy or vision to keep it alive, instead he makes the management's lives hell. Consequently the management has a hard time in being effective. There is no overall vision for the company other than it has a 'digital focus' (with zero digital editorial or digital marketing team left), yet the owner isn't willing to invest in digital because he doesn't understand how it works and refuses to listen to employees or trust their advice. There is no strategy for growth. Employees feel they are merely treading water and going through the day-to-day. Very demoralising. Although the company is in profit this is subsidised by constant mass redundancies (at least once a year). The editorial team now consists of two people, design one, zero marketing. All these redundancies leave a bitter air for the remaining employees who have not only lost their friends suddenly (only given 30 minutes to leave the office) but their workload drastically increases and the brand sinks further. Be especially warned if you're entering this company in a creative capacity, as it's difficult to see and ROI on your role, your job is under constant threat. Even if you feel indispensable. There are no benefits to speak of. Long hours. Underpaid (considering lack of benefits). Minimum amount of holidays with no chance of it increasing. AND you have to use those holidays over the Christmas period.