employer cover photo
employer logo
employer logo

Crain Communications

Is this your company?

Crain Communications reviews

2.8

39% would recommend to a friend

(292 total reviews)
avatar

KC Crain

45% approve of CEO

39% positive business outlook

Crain Communications has an employee rating of 2.8 out of 5 stars, based on 292 company reviews on Glassdoor which indicates that most employees have an average working experience there. The Crain Communications employee rating is 25% below average for employers within the Media & Communication industry (3.7 stars).

Reviews by job title

292 reviews
2.0
Dec 4, 2013
Recommend
CEO approval
Business Outlook

Pros

* Award-winning magazines and websites. * Beautiful downtown Chicago offices.

Cons

* Poorly managed * Outdated computer systems

2.0
Feb 19, 2026
Recommend
CEO approval
Business Outlook

Pros

Collaborative Team Culture: The marketing team fosters strong collaboration, where colleagues are approachable, supportive, and willing to share knowledge. Effective Communication: Internal communication within the team and across departments is clear and consistent, helping to align priorities and projects efficiently. Structured Workflow: Processes for campaign management, content creation, and project execution are well-defined, enabling smooth coordination and timely delivery.

Cons

Organizational Instability: At the corporate level, decision-making can sometimes be chaotic, with restructuring and departmental changes occurring abruptly. Impersonal Layoff Processes: Certain departments have experienced layoffs delivered via conference calls, which felt cold and lacked transparency or the opportunity for meaningful dialogue. Limited Visibility in Large Group Interactions: During corporate-wide calls, it was often difficult to engage or see who else was participating, creating a sense of detachment from broader organizational communications.

1.0
Nov 24, 2025

Real bad.

Anonymous employee
Recommend
CEO approval
Business Outlook

Pros

They paid me for a job? That’s… something? The remote job I was hired for stayed remote for a while? That’s… good?

Cons

This company literally broke me. They made promises from the jump that were never executed. There was no exit interview. There was no review of management failings that, in turn, failed me. This company has little if any integrity. I’d personally recommend that job seekers seek elsewhere if you’re interested in actually growing and developing as a professional in the field. The publication I was at seemed better than most but was still run by an incompetent old white man who embodied the phrase “failing up”. I guess, if you’re a white man who’s cool with relying on privilege rather than talent or skill, disregard that last statement: you’ll fit right in.

Viewing 112 - 114 of 292 Reviews

Glassdoor has 320 Crain Communications reviews submitted anonymously by Crain Communications employees. Read employee reviews and ratings on Glassdoor to decide if Crain Communications is right for you.