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BreakThru Radio

Is this your company?

A Nightmare Disguised as a Dream Job - Anonymous employee BreakThru Radio Employee Review

1.0
6 May 2015
Anonymous employee
Recommend
CEO approval
Business outlook

Pros

If nothing else, BTR allows its employees to work in a very creatively fulfilling environment, largely of their own initiative. Recently graduated students plucked straight from their college radio stations or newspapers will feel right at home in any almost role at the company. BreakThru is also a great place to build a resume, as it is easy to climb the ladder and build concrete management skills.

Cons

Most unfortunately, the office culture at BreakThru is irredeemably poisoned by wages far below market value and the thorough lack of transparency over questions as simple as how the company actually accumulates revenue. The measures in place to justify the company's existence (never mind "success") hardly appear to anyone inside the company as legitimate as all employees are made aware of how to "rig" them in case of logistical errors when operating the website. In other words, everyone knows how to make their online content appear well "liked," whether or not that is actually the case. The aforementioned logistical issues in website management run rampant at BTR and are almost never given any reasonable explanation to anyone with even a basic understanding of computer code or how websites actually function. Further, any kind of analytics from an independent, third-party source are a strictly forbidden subject at BTR. Many in the social media department suspect that the company's Facebook page is populated largely by fabricated accounts (a number of which belong individuals who claim to have been born in the last three months, interestingly enough). Among other touchy subjects that are difficult to discuss with upper management include insufficiently explained discrepancies in pay stubs from week to week; why employees are discouraged from learning and/or employing all-purpose computer coding for basic website maintenance (instead having to rely on an admin run by a "tech expert" whom most employees have never met or have ever corresponded with); the reason that some columnists are not compensated for their contributions to the blog; and why management pushes so hard for full-time employees to file tax forms as independent contractors (which in some states, is a form of wage theft). Much of the confusion surrounding these subjects is intentionally reinforced by nepotistic, divide-and-conquer tactics from a leadership that is ultimately uninterested in any criticism.

Explore other reviews about BreakThru Radio

4.0
18 Feb 2024
Recommend
CEO approval
Business outlook

Pros

The boss always came through for me, and prioritized me even when financially times were tough. Flexible time, good co workers.

Cons

A little bit chaotic at times.

2.0
25 May 2016
Anonymous employee
Recommend
CEO approval
Business outlook

Pros

- Gives college grads a chance to get writing posted and opportunities at making podcasts - Takes chances in hiring (i.e. posts on craigslist) - Short work hours - Interesting and fun co-workers generally

Cons

- Boss does whatever he can instill fear and power into young, naive post-grads - Writing/radio/video is kept in a self-contained bubble on the internet, offers little chance to grow - Cash flow is very cloak and dagger; it's never really clear where the money comes from (aside from the odd podcast sponsorship) though speculation says he is just a sad rich guy who needs a retirement project - There are hardly any objective standards to the work. If the boss doesn't like something, then it's wrong and you're a bad person for it. - Copious amounts of snacks and pizza every wednesday act as things you should be "grateful" for to work at a "cool job" when a salary bump and benefits would work just fine.

5
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