Low salaries and lack of bonuses for editorial team in my department. Negligible, and really rather insulting, salary raises over the past several years (about $800 to $1000 per year). This despite an ever-increasing workload. Over the past year, several talented staff members have left of their own accord due to dissatisfaction and lack of support from upper management. Goes to show how unhappy they were to leave voluntarily in this kind of job climate.
Absolutely zero opportunity for growth within our department, and unfortunately, very fragmented company divisions make moves to other magazines and departments very difficult.
Very secretive environment. Lack of trust between managers and employees. We often learn about new developments in our magazine from the New York Post before we hear from our managers. Excessive micro-management that leaves employees frustrated and incapable of accomplishing anything. Endless new procedures, memos, "workflows." New projects and ideas thought up by management are constantly tossed onto the employees without consulting with us about the feasibility or practicality.
Perks have been slowly eliminated: the company Christmas party, which used to be wonderful, was canceled and not replaced with anything, health insurance has been getting more and more expensive each year. Co-pays are through the roof and like nothing I've ever seen at any of my previous jobs.
Managers seem more worried about their own positions and this nervousness has affected the work environment negatively. There is more pressure on the employees to write up needless and redundant reports just so the managers have something to show bosses. They take off, work from home, take long lunches, while employees are left working long hours.
Talented and hardworking temp workers are kept on freelance basis much longer than they should, even when permanent openings are available, just to save money on salary/vacation/sick pay. We have watched several truly talented freelance workers leave, simply because our bosses won't offer them a permanent position in time. Frustrating for us, particularly as we are understaffed and could really use the help of those people.
Finally, it's fruitless to express these complaints to managers (or even HR) as they simply raise their arms and insist their is nothing they can do. The "economy" is used as a frequent scapegoat, even when we're aware of promotions and salary increases among the bloated upper-management.
