- Paid for only 35 hrs per week when I usually worked close to 50. Company claims to pay overtime but it is an unspoken rule that you do not fill out the timesheets for it. Also - don't expect to be taking those 1-hr lunch breaks that are worked into your salary unless you're upper management... we ate lunch alone at our desks almost every day due to the workload.
- High turnover. Sales Assistants rarely stay longer than 12-14 months.
- Received zero training upon starting my job. I had to teach myself how to use numerous unfamiliar computer programs.
- Extremely little, if any, positive reinforcement. Motivation by intimidation.
- Supervisors behaved unprofessionally and reproached employees publicly (ie: I was screamed at over a minor problem in front of my coworkers).
- Very high-stress environment in general. There is always some "crisis" going on and people seem constantly frantic.
- Expected to run personal errands frequently (ie: coffee, dropping things off at boss's apartment, etc) regardless of current workload
- Very low starting salary. I know this is New York, but it was hard to make rent
- Unreasonable demands... I was once expected to be able to change a flight reservation for one of my supervisors while she was IN LINE at the airport
- No room for growth, in terms of Sales Reps at my particular magazine, who are always hired from outside. With that said, I did have coworkers who made good contacts at other magazines in the building and moved up that way
- Expected to come in early and/or stay late to assist during events that were unrelated to my job.
