Put energy into restoring the culture, not manufacturing positive reviews - Anonymous employee Connective3 Employee Review

2.0
1 May 2026
Anonymous employee
Recommend
CEO approval
Business outlook

Pros

The benefits package is strong. Wellness days are genuinely needed and appreciated. The summer and Christmas parties are always great. The beer tap and pool and tennis tables are appreciated, creating opportunities to meet people outside of your immediate team or clients. The company's own marketing events are a real standout. UpNorth (RIP) and Digital Bites are exceptionally well run and the kind of thing that makes you proud to be part of the agency.

Cons

It's worth noting that an internal email was sent around at the end of April addressing the negative Glassdoor reviews. Shortly after, a wave of positive reviews appeared. Draw your own conclusions. Look at the reviews in full to get the real picture. The agency has changed significantly over the last two years. What was once a fun, thriving and supportive place to work has noticeably declined. Micromanagement is not just common, it is actively encouraged, and there is a very clear "stay quiet or face consequences" culture across many teams. Despite directors claiming their door is open, meaningful conversation is rarely possible, particularly if your concerns involve someone they hold in high regard. Honest feedback doesn't land, it gets dismissed. One-to-ones and reviews have fallen away entirely, and with them any real path to progression. Advancement is largely determined by who you know. There is a well-documented dynamic where the right social circle accelerates your career far more than your work does. Raising concerns with HR or wider management does not lead to resolution. In many cases it works against you. Recognition goes to the loudest voice in the room, not necessarily the person doing the work. Hard work and late nights are expected as standard, and understaffing is treated as the employee's problem rather than a resourcing one. The recent Head of People hire has not had the intended impact. Communications feel impersonal and AI generated, which has done little to rebuild trust or culture. This was once a great agency to work at. Right now it is unrecognisable from that.

Explore other reviews about Connective3

1.0
28 Apr 2026
Recommend
CEO approval
Business outlook

Pros

Only really have to go into the office once a month. You get 5 extra days of holiday as ‘wellbeing’ allowance. Good health care.

Cons

Where do I begin… It used to be a decent place to work, but over the past year or two it’s turned into a very hostile and toxic workplace,full of micromanagement, unrealistic expectations, and a company that’s losing sight on ethics and creative thinking. There’s also a massive drinking culture. Most people churn out ai slop (a lot of the managers, which is BAFFLING) which makes the workload for others who aren’t using it. Creative and critical thinking has gone. Training sessions are reruns and no new ways of thinking. Some recently promoted team members have a very toxic approach to ‘collaborating’ with other members of the team. Prepare to be micromanaged and be expected to spend all day everyday each month on accounts that should be two day retainers - the result? The rest of your work slips with it to. Unfortunately, this company fits the stereotype of having cliques, which makes it very hard to speak up or feel like you’ll find a place to fit in. 1-2-1s are very few and far between with your manager. They’re extremely overworked and don’t have time to lend support that’s really needed. We had a new head of people join the company a year ago, but we really haven’t had much support or change from them. The fun and friendly culture is just completely gone.

3
1.0
16 Apr 2026
Anonymous employee
Recommend
CEO approval
Business outlook

Pros

Used to be a bunch of really intelligent nice people here Perks such as vitality are great

Cons

If you want to pump out mediocre ai work you’re not proud of you’ll be a great fit here! Management promise ridiculous KPIs and then make you feel you’re inadequate at your job when you can’t attain them. I’m pumping out campaigns I’m really not proud of at an alarming rate as sometimes we have to turn campaign decks around in a week, which when you’ve got four other accounts, extra curricular stuff you’re expected to do and people to line manage is ridiculous. Management encourage you to mass email and spray and pray journalists which means you really hurt the relationship and your credibility as a PR, I don’t feel inspired by my manager as I feel like they encourage bad practices, we barely have 121s, and the advice I’ve been given to pass down to the team is really toxic. The team are always behind on the ‘future’ of the industry and don’t listen to you when you raise a point on this, then clamber for your advice when they see other agencies doing it. Oh and culture? When you come to interviews they’ll sell the dream but it’s dead. No one comes into the office anymore, you constantly feel like you’re under surveillance by HR, and they’ve just hired a load of robotic people that fit their ‘vision’ if you can call it that.

3
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