Toxic, nepotistic, and unsafe Creative leadership — avoid - Anonymous employee Chewy Employee Review

The Creative team is dominated by the Head of Creative and Principal Copy Director, whose close personal and professional relationship has produced a culture of nepotism, favoritism, and abuse of power. This has created a toxic and psychologically unsafe environment. Employees live with the perception that the Head of Creative can have someone removed simply because she doesn’t like them. This fosters fear, silence, and disengagement. Hiring and promotion practices are not transparent or equitable. Roles are often handpicked outside of standard processes, making interviews a formality at best. Candidates should know: positions may already be decided before they even walk in. The Principal Copy Director provides no meaningful coaching, mentorship, or support, despite being in a role where that should be their core responsibility. Instead, they are known for being verbally dismissive and undermining writers, which further erodes morale. Feedback is weaponized: improvements are ignored, while minor issues are exaggerated into “patterns of failure.” Employees outside the favored circle are placed on PIPs that function as paper trails to manage people out, not good-faith improvement plans. Talented, creative individuals cannot thrive here. Many are let go suddenly and cruelly, while those who remain are demoralized and fearful of being next.