Passionate team-members, true start-up culture. Left feeling defeated. - Associate CLI Studios Employee Review

2.0
15 Jul 2021
Recommend
CEO approval
Business outlook

Pros

Great benefits, paid holidays, company issued devises, access to all the online classes, passionate team-members. Management’s door is always open for feedback/questions. Hands-off management style. Great if you’re an independent worker. Small company gifts and fun team outings. Cannot emphasize enough how great the team is.

Cons

Below industry standard pay. 50-60 hr/week—mandatory. Was told by CEO to find another place to work if not willing to fulfill this requirement. Work loads are intense. Took a toll on my physical and mental health. Manipulative work incentives and almost no career building opportunities. Lots of empty promises of learning new skills, leveling up, and having a long career at the company. This is how they suck you in—classic start-up style. They get employees to consistently work 50-60 hrs/week based on these promises, then never deliver. Then they use plausible deniability to cover themselves. A truly defeating experience.

Explore other reviews about CLI Studios

5.0
11 Mar 2022
Anonymous employee
Recommend
CEO approval
Business outlook

Pros

Working at CLI has honestly been such an incredible experience that I am very grateful for! I have been often asked about what types of growth opportunities there have been being at a startup. I know this has not been the case for every employee (as an early stage startup ebbs and flows with needs/positions available) but I have had the opportunity to hold multiple roles in multiple departments over the course of my time at the company. I have learned so much over the years I have been here and am excited about the opportunities ahead! I have a lot of respect and gratitude for the leadership of our CEO and leadership team. No leadership is perfect, but I have experienced time and again leadership that is willing to listen, learn, and change. Being a small number of employees, there is a lot of ability to meet with top level leadership to be heard and share thoughts, opinions, and ideas! Above all else though, I would say the team of people at CLI Studios is honestly unbeatable! I am constantly inspired by our team and grateful for each and every one of them. Everyone on the team is so kind and very respectful of one another. We love to have fun together (virtually or together). Each team member is here because they are passionate about the mission we are accomplishing and that flows into the work done and the interactions held.

Cons

Startup life can be challenging. There is no way around that - there is a lot of work to be done. However, I will say that there has been a big reset about 6-9 months into the pandemic where I have seen a lot more focus on the need for R&R. Most recently there has been an increase in PTO days and push from upper management to ensure team members are taking time for themselves and not working 24/7/ I think with early-stage startups there is always an ebb and flow of workload. It's on the heavier side b/c we are a startup, so know that you're walking into a team that is smaller and that means being ready to wear many hats. That is not necessarily a con, but is just a reality for anyone who is considering working here! You should be open to that and like the type of fast-paced environment where you get to work on lots of projects and wear lots of hats! For me personally, being honest with myself about the boundaries I have has been very important. So my advice would be to be ready to work hard, but also know that work is not your end-all be-all, so be up front with boundaries and take advantage of flexible work environment of remote work!

3.0
10 Feb 2026
Recommend
CEO approval
Business outlook

Pros

-competitive salary -good benefits / health, dental, dance and yoga classes -positive, dedicated team members

Cons

-working over 40 hours per week almost every week.

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