A lot of potential, abbhorent work environment - Contractor SurvivorNet Employee Review

1.0
Jun 19, 2020
Recommend
CEO approval
Business outlook

Pros

The employees are incredibly talented, sweet, and helpful. The mission behind the company is great.

Cons

Again, SurvivorNet’s mission is incredible. Soon after beginning working for the company, however, a multitude of alarming things began transpiring. Let me preface this by saying that I’m used to working with difficult personalities yet have always been able to adapt to the unique situation at hand. Moreover, I was warned before coming on board at SurvivorNet that the CEO was “an acquired taste” — I heeded those warnings but thought that the company’s mission was so great that I would be able to adapt like I have in the past. However, after working under him for a little over a week, the environment proved to be fearmongering, demeaning, and contemptuous not just to me but to the majority of individuals I was working alongside. The way the CEO runs the company borders on illegal — the egregiously long hours with minimal pay, the lack of a managing editor or of a proper medical review process, and the covert racism that becomes more and more clear each day you work there. Oh, also, if you're a contractor and do something the CEO doesn't like, he might not pay you at all. Again, I have no doubt that this site has a great intention: to do amazing and significant things for cancer survivors. However, the way that the CEO treats his employees is unacceptable. I've never had someone demean, devalue, and abase me as much as this man has. Even when you do exactly what he says, he still manages to humiliate you, often publicly in front of the rest of the team. I know that many more of his employees have been the victim of his ruthless bullying, as well, but are too scared to speak up because of the fear of being fired because of the dictatorial way he runs SurvivorNet.

Explore other reviews about SurvivorNet

5.0
May 9, 2025
Recommend
CEO approval
Business outlook

Pros

SurvivorNet’s mission is no joke—it really does feel good to work on something that helps cancer patients and their families. It’s rare to do media work that actually matters, and even rarer to see your efforts have a direct impact. That part is real. You’ll get to do meaningful things fast. There’s very little red tape, and if you’re smart and motivated, you’ll be trusted with major projects early. The team includes some very sharp and creative people, and you’ll learn a ton just by being in the mix. Also, if you like Slack banter, this place is an Olympic-level :mindblown: emoji at least twice a day.

Cons

expects startup-level speed with enterprise-level polish... and occasionally psychic abilities. not a chill job.

5.0
Jun 23, 2021
Recommend
CEO approval
Business outlook

Pros

The video team is small, but mighty. We produced a lot of great mini-docs/first-person style packages that were used across the main SurvivorNet website and social media platforms. I really enjoyed writing scripts and working with the video editors on the production aspect. I also got to do field work in different states, which was exciting! Be prepared to learn a lot about the health space, including different types of cancers and scientific advancements. Everyone is friendly, including on the writing side. Ideas and pitches are always welcome, and there's a lot of editorial flexibility when it comes to video production. I enjoyed collaborating with the CEO on projects because his input and experience as a long-time journalist enhanced the content that we, the video team, were putting out. While I was on a full-time freelance contract (AKA a permalancer), the CEO graciously allowed me to take about a month off to go on the Biden campaign trail for a TV network. He recognized that my passion and background as a hard news journalist was important to me. If you work hard, are enthusiastic and come with the right attitude/new ideas, you will gain the respect of the CEO and senior management.

Cons

Being a freelancer is always challenging because you don't get any benefits. Paying for health insurance on your own can be very expensive. Also, it may be harder for some people who don't come from a news/journalism background as you have to be great at multitasking, work well under pressure and always be "on" even when you're off work so that you can stay on top of great story ideas.

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