Growing pains as company reaches new markets - Director of User Experience Real Chemistry Employee Review

4.0
Jan 22, 2014
Recommend
CEO approval
Business Outlook

Pros

W2O is going through a lot of change currently. Most of it is for the better, but there are occasional bumps in the road as the company matures. Senior leadership is attempting to create newer, healthier relationships with their client base, and as they do so are sloughing off the dead skin as both poorly conceived client engagements and employees that no longer fit within the organization. While there has been some turnover, there has also been some incredible new talent to better fit within the growing company. I consider this an important part of the company as they go forward. The hiring of middle management has certainly created some confusion at several levels. I was a Director for example, until they hired another Director to do my job, leaving me with the same team, but an added layer of management that wasn't creating any value (to the client nor the team). In one review here I read about power struggles between creative leads and I can confirm that this has happened on a few occasions leaving people uncertain about personal agendas, etc.

Cons

Communication within the organization needs help. Not in the amount of it, which seems to happen often enough. But in the quality and consistency of it. Too many last-minute company meetings seem like a home team football rally, with people doubting the sincerity (perhaps probability) of the announced strategy or plan 10 minutes later. Bringing in so many managers and staff from that other agency has in fact brought a lot of their problems, bad habits, and attitudes. (Pointed out in the review about a merger). The initial group were very smart people looking to do something different. Then came waves of people that were just wanting to join the party. I think that there were probably better candidates out there, I know I had several in the pipeline that were superior, and local. The first thing my new boss did though was to stop all of that recruiting I had been working on for months. As another reviewer pointed out rather caustically, the company had promised to make smart and infrequent RIF's, however forecasts fell short, and some last minute reductions (mine included) had to happen. They do this pretty quietly, and with less than ideal communication. The dog policy changed (Okay, I know this is trivial, but still important). But it used to be that there were some really great 4-legged personalities that would wander from room to room saying hello. They've created a leash-law of sorts, keeping animals tied to desks, or not brought in at all. I guess its part of maturing, but it was sad to lose all those puppy kisses.

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5.0
Jun 1, 2026
Recommend
CEO approval
Business Outlook

Pros

Remote work and flexibility, good work life balance

Cons

Can be disorganized and not many vacation days

1.0
Apr 20, 2026
Recommend
CEO approval
Business Outlook

Pros

- none. this company is soul suckingly inefficient and they prefer it that way

Cons

- the most dishonest and toxic work environment that I have ever been a part of - the most unqualified management that I have come across (I have worked across numerous agencies - the work is sketchy at best and clients are grossly over billed. Pressuring employees to over bill clients and trying to force inaccurate or incomplete work through the purposely inefficient review processes is common practice at RC - if you do not over bill your clients your managers will begin to micromanage you in a manner that hints at you not doing enough. - Account teams know nothing about media or advertising and make the most uninformed promises to clients and that media activation is constantly on the hook and being blamed for - they hire very little or no men in general. this place is like a toxic middle school atmosphere, it is truly exhausting to be a part of. - managers will routinely insult you in a way you've never been insulted before at work and nothing will be done about it - information is usually gate kept and teams will prevent you from doing your job while management is asking that you contribute more.

7
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