Pros
- My co-workers were very friendly and keen to share knowledge.
- They took me on with no prior experience and allowed me the room to develop my knowledge... when times were good.
- Recruitment did a good job at hiring mostly nice artists and tech staff.
- Working from home was a life saver (though when I left they were cutting that down massively!)
- Lovely Pipeline and Tech staff.
Cons
Finding out that the name of the company was not born from their positive attitude towards being a unified workplace, or of unions in general, but from namesake of the founder’s favourite pub should tell you all you need to know about this company. They even displayed a red neon Hammer and Sickle in their foyer when I was there which added to the deception that they may be “for the workers” or that “we’re in this together.” But like the set decoration, it is all in fact a facade.
- You will be severely underpaid. I pushed for and received 3 incremental pay rises in my 2 years there, and still ended up on less than London Living Wage.
- Expected to work weekends unpaid at short notice.
- Very strong toxic hierarchy. Upper management see the workers as beneath them and dispensable, when they are the people who are creating the art that is getting you paid!
- Wild inconsistency of messages and treatment.
- Inability to take holiday as and when needed. Able to carry it over, but we all severely needed a break.
- Extreme micromanagement from people who know nothing, nor want to know anything about your job.
- No respect for, or understanding of disabilities or mental health.
- Diversity and inclusion? nowhere to be seen.