I Was Suppressed as a Creative in a Creative Industry - Anonymous employee Evoke Solutions Employee Review

I worked at Evoke Solutions for less than a year. While I had several reasons for leaving, one significant reason was for the management style at EvokeSolutions. After reading several reviews on Glassdoor, I was hesitant to join the company since they seemed to have a high turnover rate. I expressed my concerns during my interview, but was assured by the management team that the business was headed in a new direction and the culture had changed. I was also told during my interview many things about the company, which is what inspired me to join. I really felt I’d be in a position that would allow me to harness my skills and deliver original work while collaborating with a group of passionate creatives. Unfortunately, this was not the experience I had. I feel that the management team at Evoke Solutions lacked the leadership I had expected for a company in this industry. I found the way in which they addressed their employees to include nonconstructive criticism, be harsh at times, as well as discourteous. I felt that at times the behavior was unprofessional and unacceptable. There is a difference between offering critical feedback that supports employee growth and development and being disrespectful. It was very normal to watch management address fellow employees and staff using harsh words or direction, then have them follow up with an apology; reasoning they are “stressed” and “frustrated”, as a means to validate their actions. Management spoke a lot about the Studio being a space where creatives can come and work at their passions while having the freedom to exercise their ideas and deliver high level work, but I felt that this was not consistent with the manner in which they supported their staff. Every person, be it a Designer, Developer, Copywriter, or SEO Specialist, was told what to do and how to do it and given very little leeway in their craft. This is not only disempowering but it doesn’t help a person evolve in their craft or in the industry. While I recognize the management team has a lot to do to keep the business afloat, the leaders were out of touch and disconnected from the employees. They focused instead on their personal agendas. The fact that we're in a creative industry, it's odd that the management team is pushing a “one-size-fits-all” solution. It’s evident this is simply a way to get more money and get tasks done quicker rather than explore innovative options. This goes completely against the industry and what the field is about. Lastly, when an employee leaves a company, thus ending their employment, management is required (by law) to administer a final payroll. It is the employer’s responsibility to ensure that the exiting employee receives their final pay and any outstanding amounts owed (i.e. vacation pay, commission, etc.). This was not the experience I had at Evoke Solutions and allegedly known among staff that management has a habit of withholding what is owed from employees pay. This is an employee's last impression of your company. Not only are these actions against the law and lack principle, but it leaves the employee to believe they were not valued. This behaviour is unprofessional if management is hoping to grow the business and obtain a memorable reputation in the industry.