Not the best place for a woman - Anonymous employee DBD Media Employee Review

1.0
17 Sept 2016
Anonymous employee
Recommend
CEO approval
Business outlook

Pros

-Being the main point of contact for clients to develop client relationships. -Colleagues - though not management at the time.

Cons

-Uncomfortable working environment for women - at times sexist. -Petty office politics - you could cut the tension in the office with a knife. -Miscommunication with clients at a higher level that cause issues in terms of performance.

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DBD Media Response
9y
Thanks very much for your review, and apologies for the slow response. Firstly, I'm really sorry that you didn't have a good experience working at DBD, and hope that your current role is more satisfying and fulfilling. Over the last 16 years we've worked really hard at developing a fun, friendly and non-political culture at the agency, and we have always tried to deliver great results for our clients. The vast majority of people who have worked at the agency have left on a very positive and amicable note, and many are still friends. In your case it seems that we go this wrong somehow, and we are trying to do everything we can to make sure that our mistakes are not repeated. To address some of your issues: everyone now has a 121 meeting with their manager every couple of weeks, as well as frequent team meetings, and we hope that these provide a good forum to air any issues or concerns. Secondly, we have an HR consultant who is available one day a week for a confidential career clinic, to help understand any problems and help us get back on track. Finally, as MD my door is always open and I'm very happy to discuss issues with anyone in the company - we really do try to be transparent and open in this respect. Regarding the comment about sexism, we take this incredibly seriously. Our HR consultant has talked to all female members of staff - over half the company - and this doesn't seem to be something that others are experiencing at the moment - so we're sorry it's something you felt when you were at the agency. DBD has always had about a 50-50 male/female split, and the majority of our management team is female - we also actively promote from within where we can. If you'd like to discuss this aspect of your review with me, or with our HR consultant, we would be very happy to hear from you, and will try to resolve this.

Explore other reviews about DBD Media

5.0
2 Nov 2016
Recommend
CEO approval
Business outlook

Pros

I started at DBD when it was still a relatively small search agency. It had that “start up” feel to it, which was really exciting to be part of. You really felt like you were fully involved in the agency, and that you had a chance to influence the direction. There was a strong bond between team members; really smart people enjoying learning from each other at the same time as enjoying each other’s company in and out of the office. Everyone was really down to earth, from the bottom to the top, so this also helped create a great culture. We had an interesting mix of exciting and diverse clients to work on, and the location was excellent.

Cons

Although the location was excellent, the office itself wasn't great. It was too small and cramped once we started to grow. We had one toilet to share between everyone, and the temperature was always an issue... too hot in summer and too coled in winter. (The office has moved to a new location now though, so I'm sure this is no longer an issue) A good bonus structure would have been good to reward team members for going the extra mile and delivering additional revenue for the business.

1
4.0
5 Sept 2016
Recommend
CEO approval
Business outlook

Pros

I was fortunate to work for DBD Media in its early days, when it was a start-up business in the early 2000's to 2013 and have seen it progress to a well-respected Digital Marketing specialist who strives to deliver positive outcomes for their clients. I was still involved with the company despite moving abroad, and only due to the time difference was I unable to complete my working association. In my field of Accounts and payroll I found DBD Media to be one of the most professional and well run companies. The working environment within the company was always innovative and collaborative - with employees actively contributing ideas to improve internal processes and more importantly client performance.

Cons

The office space near the end of my time at DBD Media was not sufficient for the number of employees due to growth, but I understand that the company now occupies bigger premises.

2
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DBD Media Response
9y
Thanks for your feedback. The agency has developed a lot over the years, and we always strive to provide a collaborative and professional environment that is also fun to work in. Our systems are constantly reviewed, and we like to give our people the best tools to work with. Regarding office space, our Soho offices have far more room than the old Covent Garden ones, and are still in a really great location.
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