RF Binder Reviews

The firms has a reputation because of its founder and gives off the impressions that it is one of the bigger industry players in the PR world. It's not. The firm is struggling and you can tell that just by walking around the office. There are more empty desks than employees. When interviewing they will cover this up with a story of how everyone is at an event, or a holiday, or how the firm is rapidly expanding. This is a complete lie I've heard perpetually being told. Client work is also lackluster. The firm sustains itself on a couple of major clients (ie: Dunkin Donuts and Wines of Germany), but other than that there is barely any new business coming in. It is very uncommon to hear about a client win. The situation is dire enough that in order to retain old client (and in some cases entice new ones) the firm substantially undercharges on their retainers and practically every client is on a "friends and family" discount. I have never seen retainers this low in our industry, even when working with startups. The good news is that because they are hungry for clients, they finally caved in and announced this year a commission bonus for anyone who brings in a new client (although the bonus amount was never disclosed). Another problem is the management team. There is a lack of trust between upper management and the CEO, as well as lack of training for the younger promoted managers. One set is too scared to lead and the other is incompetent. There is a reason why the firm lost so much senior staff between Nov 2017 and Feb 2018.

Favoritism here is insane. I can guarantee the only positive reviews on here are from 1) upper management members that are personally tight with the CEO and therefore get whatever they want 2) people who started here right out of college, got "in" with these managers and are now brainwashed and have no idea what other agencies are like 3) HR. Morale is so low. Good example of what this place is like: At the annual meeting, where they boast about making changes and being a tight-knit, open-door kind of place, no mention of people that were secretly laid off, some of whom had been with the company many years. They just seemed to magically disappear... The lack of recognition for hard work wouldn't be as soul-crushing if they made up for this in salary and benefits, but that is also impossible. I've had to sit down alone with the CFO to negotiate a raise, when he 1) has no idea what my role or my performance has been 2) obviously likes "winning" a negotiation more than anything. When I left RFB my salary increased a LOT, like, I couldn't believe it at first, and STILL my hours improved. That sums up how isolating and clueless they are as to who is really valuable and knows how to actually do good work efficiently.