2.3
39% would recommend to a friend
39% positive business outlook
Pros
Nearby fields you can scream in.
Cons
Focus is one of those companies that calls itself a family, which in today's world is a huge red flag. Business is never family. Workloads are high with minimal training. Whispering, gossip, being rude to people, and exclusion tactics are common. Certain members of senior management have never worked anywhere else, so they have no idea that they are out of touch and that as an agency, Focus falls well behind its peers. Others are incredibly rude, swearing on calls, making terrible remarks about clients (!) behind their backs, and even halting interviews so they can shout at someone walking past or swear at something inanimate. The teams brag if they 'beat' another agency on a pitch, when in reality, the agencies beating them don't even pay them any mind. Being graceful and professional is not something that even enters the vocabulary at Focus. Staff turnover is insanely high, but they mask this by promoting internally. The problem here is that most staff are in their early 20s, with very little experience, so they think they are doing really well. If they tried to go somewhere of substance, they would probably really struggle. Daily reminders of how much money the teams need to make keep the pressure on, with statements like “if you want your bonus you know what you have to do” and “remember that referral bonus” thrown around often. This might be ok if they invested in staff, or heating. There are sad offers of pizza or an alcoholic drink, which apparently are considered more incentivising than fair working hours and appropriate deadlines. The office is cold as it's essentially a poorly converted barn with single glazing, and there's nothing to do on breaks (if you take them, which most people don't). The car park is hazardous and you get patronising emails about it a lot. You may even spend 30 minutes of your day 'shuffling' cars around so people can leave. They don't support WFH post-pandemic and staff must be in the office at least three SET days a week. Flexibility isn’t encouraged in any way. This is not the place for anyone worth their salt in marketing, and could potentially seriously damage someone's mental health.
Pros
Nice clients Some of the work is interesting Money is okay
Cons
The good money is not worth the misery Very clique-y, unfriendly and gossipy atmosphere You get given far too much work for you to complete and are expected to do overtime if you can't finish it Processes completely backwards and nobody addresses them or listens to your opinions Very quiet, hostile office atmosphere, not friendly Made to feel very lonely Office is in the middle of nowhere Those at the top aren't nice, and business owner isn't nice, very condescending man No recognition for work completed, whatsoever I wasn't properly trained when I first started so it didn't start off on the right foot. The people whilst I was there weren't friendly at ALL, everyone was over stressed and out for themselves, didn't want to talk to you, very awkward and hostile atmosphere. People used to whisper to each other at their desks behind your back and giggle etc. which was horrible. Some groups used to go out and never invite anyone else, but then say 'oh, sorry you can come too if you want' (very insincerely) at the last minute.. which obviously means you're not invited. Very high staff turnover. Nobody cared one bit if you were overworked. Senior staff would constantly make mistakes and never take the blame, leaving me and others to pick up the workload, where they would then take credit. A handful of people were lovely, unfortunately I didn't really get to work with them, they still kept themselves to themselves. Some of the staff were extremely rude and made you feel like a huge inconvenience to them when you give them work, don't think they enjoyed working there either. People crying in office not uncommon, people didn't get recognition they deserved. Lots of gossiping, talking about people behind their back, whispers of people losing their jobs, not a comfortable environment or one you could settle into. Office was absolutely freezing in winter. We would sit at our desks in our coats and gloves and there was one little fan heater between 4 people. They had favourites and left you out on meetings and out-of-office trips (even if they should have included you as it's your project). When I handed in my notice I gave my reasons, that I didn't enjoy the work I was doing and that the office environment wasn't for me. There was then an email sent round to everyone in the office telling them I was leaving (didn't include me in the email, I saw it on someone else's monitor) and I saw they had lied about why I was leaving saying I couldn't juggle multiple projects and couldn't handle the work load. I then got told by the Owner that I would never find a job as good as this one and that I was stupid for leaving. When I left I said 'bye everyone!' and got completely blanked. As soon as I started my job at Focus I couldn't wait to leave, never been so miserable in a work environment.
Pros
Focus work with a number of decent clients and have a creative team who know their way around a brochure template. The office is tucked away in the country, so if you like things quiet, you'll enjoy the location. Pool table in the breakout room draws a crowd.
Cons
CS teams are hugely overworked, so staff turnover is very high. Almost no training is offered, and the management team rule by fear. Tears in the office are common.
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