Lazy leadership - Project Manager Monks Employee Review

1.0
May 18, 2023
Recommend
CEO approval
Business Outlook

Pros

The best thing about this company is their unlimited PTO, benefits and the ability to be completely remote. If you are looking for growth and hands on leadership this is NOT the place.

Cons

The cons are unlimited like the PTO. 1. The fast expansion of this company shows in every way. 2. Leadership is lazy and has NO clue what is happening on a day to day on their teams. 3. The work is not stimulating at all, the leads running are dated and have no idea what will resonate. Therefore creating boring work. 4. There’s NO onboarding process. Although everyone seems to believe there is one. 5. No company culture. They are trying but it’s falling flat. 6. NO DIVERSITY, especially from Upper management. You would think in 2023 running companies solely by old/middle age Caucasian men would be a thing of the past. Here is it not. 7. There’s no performance review cycles, meaning anyone can get a raise or a promotion for anything mainly favoritism. You will have to ask for a review repeatedly only to be lied to saying that it’s coming when it does. 8. Don’t tell them you need help, they will literally tell you to work harder to create and come up with solutions to solve your problem. 9. The upper management is obsessed with themselves, I mean if we have to hear about working at Beats one more time I’m going to throw up. 10. HR does nothing to help with ongoing issues. Listens acts like she takes notes, and cares while requests and issues go unresolved. 11. The PM department is ran POORLY. 12. They will only give you a raise if you get an offer letter from another company, then and only then when they are going to be inconvenienced do they see what they can do to provide you with opportunity. Not confirmed opportunities but possibilities. I.E. if you stay would you be ok with getting a raise/promotion at the end of the year? Lol, NO THANK YOU. 13. The creative leads are leaning solely on the younger people of the agency to pull their weight because they have ran out of cool things to say. They literally have NO CLUE what is going on BUT as we all know as you age out it becomes more and more difficult to admit that you don’t have a clue what’s happening. 14. The turnover is high, people are leaving left and right. 15. They do not prioritize providing support to their teams. 16. They do not utilize tools put in place to assist with growth I.E. Culture Amp The cons are literally endless. If you are young and want to get your feet wet come here. If you are in a space where you have other things to do and don’t really care to elevate then come here as well. But overall don’t waste your time.

Explore other reviews about Monks

5.0
Jun 29, 2026
Recommend
CEO approval
Business Outlook

Pros

It's been such a pleasure, joy and fresh air to work here. I'm respected, as is my work life balance.

Cons

Leadership hasn't always been consistent with their words and actions, making it feel scary and tumultuous at times.

2.0
Jul 10, 2026
Recommend
CEO approval
Business Outlook

Pros

At the time I came on board, EPs were paid well. There are good departments there, like the post department run by Andrew Bell.

Cons

I was interviewed for a staff EP role. After months of interviewing and scheduling delays, I was a final candidate...and then Monks had a hiring freeze and loads of layoffs. It was weeks later they said I should come in as a contract EP. Then, they promised a client something they've never delivered before, and I was lucky to be the person on the team who had actually done it before. But Monks gets in their own way, with antiquated agency hierarchy. Account Managers and Creative Directors are given great governance even if they don't know how to do the job. They disregard production, as if EPs are out to undermine them. They believe EPs are now allowed to be the creative leads, even if they don't have skill or experience to do their own job. There are no thank you's when you save them or solve their problems. Upper Management is useless and absent. You have to sort out how to get things done. Onboarding is non existing. No recognition is given to those who actually did the work, because Monks execs will take it as their own, even if they were absent throughout the entire campaign. Essentially, the main reason why it's a turnstile with layoffs and quitting (even today in 2026) is due to lack of organization, respect and kindness. Even the recruiters are awol and out to lunch. They can't be bothered to return calls. Clients seem unaware, which is another issue because somehow Monks continues to get client work despite the internal turmoil. Inside there is favoritism, clique behaviour, overabundance of bureaucratic unnecessary systems and management hires that are ill equipped to lead...especially at the very top. Kids deal with clients. Elders are those who never really mastered good leadership. It was a very disappointing run with Monks, and many former employees and contractors still have a bad taste from their time spent there, including me.

2
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