No salary is worth it - Social Content Strategist Swan Studio Employee Review

1.0
28 Oct 2025
Recommend
CEO approval
Business outlook

Pros

- The only pro was (most of) the team thanks to our shared disdain towards the work and management. They made the work day bearable.

Cons

- Overworked and underpaid for the amount of work (task distribution was terrible and made zero sense - certain colleagues were doing more than others but were paid less). - Expected to juggle 6+ clients at once and consistently overdeliver beyond scope - often required to create extra assets the client wasn’t even paying for, just to keep them happy. - Leadership lacks empathy and emotional intelligence. Genuine support is non existent. - Staff were made redundant or dismissed without warning or valid reason (multiple were right before their 6 month probations!). Witnessed staff being let go EOD and having to just pack up and leave. - Minimal onboarding. Be prepared to build out multiple decks and present to clients within your first few weeks, with little to no guidance or training. - Payroll errors were frequent: myself and others were underpaid super, taxed incorrectly, and had to chase up missing pay and miscalculated leave. - Promotions and pay rise promises were made to staff and rarely delivered (and are still being used to keep naive employees around). - You’re only recognised when you produce results, otherwise, you’re invisible (occasionally, not even a hello in the morning). - Very obvious favouritism. Certain employees received leniency or special treatment (including discreet sponsorship arrangements and hush hush leadership promotions). - Unclean and poorly maintained office. The fridge was a crime scene. Cleanliness is the bare minimum, but clearly not a priority. - Embarrassingly high turnover - 13 people left within 5 months and all were employed for less than a year. Need I say more?

Explore other reviews about Swan Studio

5.0
26 May 2026
Anonymous employee
Recommend
CEO approval
Business outlook

Pros

Very ambitious business with leadership that wants to build something best in class in the industry. There’s a strong focus on raising the bar and bringing people along on that journey. The company is growing fast, which creates real opportunities if you’re someone who wants to take ownership and develop quickly. The team environment is social, inclusive, energetic and generally supportive. The level of organisation and processes has improved a lot over the last year.

Cons

Because it’s still growing quickly and has a startup feel, things can change fast and priorities can shift. For some people that can be challenging but if you like momentum and variety, it can be a positive.

1.0
7 May 2026
Anonymous employee
Recommend
CEO approval
Business outlook

Pros

There are some really nice people working here.

Cons

This is the most challenging workplace I have experienced, and unfortunately, not in a positive way. - Unsustainable workload: The volume of work is crazy. Many employees regularly work 50–60 hour weeks and still struggle to keep up. - Lack of processes and structure: There are no clear systems in place. Workflows are disorganised, timelines are unclear and completely unrealistic. - Poor client management: There is little boundary-setting with clients. Staff are frequently treated poorly, with minimal support or escalation from leadership. - Wellbeing concerns: The environment can be highly stressful, with employees often feeling overwhelmed. - No HR or clear direction: There is no formal HR support, limited strategic planning, and little visible effort to address ongoing issues. - Overloaded client roster: The focus appears to be on onboarding new clients rather than sustainably servicing existing ones, leading to dissatisfied clients and increased pressure on staff. - Reactive hiring and high turnover: Hiring decisions can feel rushed, and turnover is high.

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