Pros
-Decent benefits, although they have been reduced since last year. -Unlimited PTO, although it can vary depending on the manager. -Opportunities to work on cool projects/clients -Work from home, office is optional -Potential for work-life balance, depending on the circumstances. -Talented people, although not always a chance to work with them directly.
Cons
In a nutshell, design and creativity produced by talented individuals at Media.Monks has been overshadowed by the festering toxic & inequitable environment. Overall -Media.Monks is not a people-first company. -The decline of Media.Monks in terms of fostering a positive work environment and prioritizing personal growth is disheartening. Some teams have become toxic, contrasting with the previous productive and positive atmosphere. No Opportunities/Growth -Unfortunately, there are limited opportunities for personal/professional growth and mentorship at Media.Monks. Being very eager to work, I hit a glass ceiling with my manager who failed to provide me with opportunities. -Excessive micromanagement and finger-pointing hindered constructive improvement. Managers fail to gather feedback and implement necessary change. There are no annual reviews. -High job insecurity in the US. The company has been laying off US employees and at the same time doing massive hiring in lower-cost regions, such as Buenos Aires. -Lack of diversity, equity, and inclusivity within the company. People who do stay have an "in" with upper management and constantly try to win their favor. This contributes to a predominantly white, non-diverse environment that fails to foster inclusivity. Toxic Culture -Its become the norm to have cliques and gossip, contributing to a toxic environment. Rumors circulate about colleagues, and the issue is not effectively addressed. Managers' participation in gossip undermines trust and creates discomfort. Inappropriate rumors are spread without being addressed. -Nepotism/Favoritism has become the norm and is rewarded. Higher management, executives, & their friends are treated in a peculiar celebrity-like manner, while those in more hands-on roles face micromanagement and unfair scrutiny. This misutilization of talent results in inefficiency. Employees "in the trenches" spending evenings and weekends working, unrewarded. -The toxic environment has created a cutthroat culture where employees feel the need to push others down to secure their positions. Work/Life -Working 12-hour days and weekends is expected as the norm, rather than in emergency situations. Attempts to establish work-life boundaries are met with passive-aggressive comments & retaliation. -The company as a whole is unorganized. Productions are unorganized, and timezones/handoff protocols are nonexistent. If you are a self-starter, collaborative, and organized, this isn't an issue however. -Lack of collaboration. Micromanagement and toxic culture leads to lack of collaboration and affects output negatively. Overall, if you are seeking a place where you can work on cool projects sometimes but are willing to accept low pay, endure long hours, and navigate a toxic work culture, Media.Monks may be the right fit.
