Once-Great Agency Loses Its Way
Gut am Arbeitgeber finde ich
There is a strong bond between the colleagues of the same departments. People tend to look out for each other and also spend time together after work as friends.
Schlecht am Arbeitgeber finde ich
I feel there is obscene financial pressure on local office branches to generate profit and perform well. Profits flow to the holding company while losses remain with us. Growth fantasies of global leaders and stakeholder promises are the only real KPIs. Everything else seems expendable.
The holding company's cost-cutting mentality down to the bone and month-long approval procedures prevents quality work since everything is economised. Local management has no real authority or decision-making power over their staff or how to run the business. Nearly everything needs an approval from the far-away HQ.
My personal view is that a once-great branding agency network is being choked by its owners, and I felt this strongly in my everyday work.
Verbesserungsvorschläge
Given the economic structure, I'm not sure there is much they could do. It's more of a systemic issue:
At the top sits a global holding company regulating everything and demanding constant profit growth. Below is the agency group's HQ executing the holding's commands. At the bottom are local country branches that must deliver on these demands.
Arbeitsatmosphäre
Differs from day to day and depends on the people you work with.
Kommunikation
Communication suffers from significant delays due to the complex hierarchical structure. Follow-up clarifications are consistently late, and information is often incomplete or unclear.
Kollegenzusammenhalt
Same level colleagues tend to stick together and help each other.
Work-Life-Balance
Many work-life balance initiatives are there, but I had no real ability to use them due to high workload and responsibilities given to me.
Vorgesetztenverhalten
Differs extremely from person to person and situation.
Interessante Aufgaben
Due to international clients you will never get bored.
Gleichberechtigung
hits the industry standards
Umgang mit älteren Kollegen
hard to say, there are no real "old" colleagues in that industry.
Arbeitsbedingungen
Poor IT Support, at times unstable computers, software licenses expire often or are not prolonged. Very long and frustrating processes to get those running again.
Umwelt-/Sozialbewusstsein
Industry standards, nothing outstanding.
Gehalt/Sozialleistungen
Salary is fair for the creative industry.
Image
There is still strong identification with the company, stemming from its legacy as one of the world's pioneering branding agencies.
Karriere/Weiterbildung
In theory there are clear processes at hand but they are never used. Promised promotions can be delayed for months or years. Further trainings are often promised but mostly never take place due to high workload or lack of budget approval.