depends - Graphic Designer STAGE3 AGENCY Employee Review

Stage3 Agency is by far the most ingenious and talented agency I have worked for.  Leadership takes a genuine interest in the employees success and growth, and always inspires continued excellence.  The work is always of the highest quality, produced by an intensely talented team.  The culture is fun and vibrant, with leadership and staff playing active roles in maintaining open communication and collaboration.

No cons to speak of

Creative projects are typically fun to work on. The Content, VFX, and Design teams are full of great people to work with. WFH 5 days a week was convenient, and they didn't require in-office days. Health benefits are typically fully covered.

The company structure is heavily bottlenecked because the founder has total control on everything. He acts as the CEO, CFO, Creative Director, and Head of Production all at once. Stunts any professional growth or upward movement. There are issues with certain people being put into management roles without the right qualifications or emotional stability. They contribute to a hostile work environment. Salaries tend to run about 15% below the industry average. On top of that, they don't start contributing to your 401k until you have been there for a full year. Most companies match or allow you to contribute immediately. Annual reviews lack any real, open dialogue -- the rating system is skewed by a scale that forces you to undervalue yourself. Management is not receptive to market-rate negotiations. If you try to advocate for fair pay, the response is defensive and came with threatening comments about my job security.