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Penguin Random House

Is this your company?

Please don’t work here!!! - Designer Penguin Random House Employee Review

1.0
Aug 30, 2022
Recommend
CEO approval
Business Outlook

Pros

You get excited at the begining because you are working on a big company like this, but that’s it.

Cons

They have a big name but they treat you poorly. They suck all your energy and talent, they give you a title but behind that title you have gazillions of other functions to do that is not directly related to what you applied for, and of course, they will not pay you more for that. They pay ridiculously, very under the market. You accept at first because of the name PRH, but later you will realize is not such a good deal. They have their favorites already, you don’t have space to say, you don’t have space to grow. When you try to ask for a raise they give you poor arguments saying why they can’t give you. They are a cheapskates. Who is on the top of the chain will only get higher, who is on the bottom will always stay there. They love to micromanage you, they make you go to the office even if you still feel uncomfortable with covid. They have the old mindset that, if the employee is not in the office building working from there he is not working at all. You bring ideas, you try to implement new stuff they, don’t look, they don’t give you any opportunities. Marketing is a joke, they are very desorganized, they don't meet the dates, they ask for things at the last minute and say it's due yesterday, they don't know how to keep a calendar with goals and dates, they don't know how to plan. They are very cold, you should trust no one. Very passive agressinve. At the same time they say they are a family they stick a knife behind your back. They are the perfect example of the old corporative world in America. Please, don’t work here, you will lose years of your life for nothing, and probably spend your years stuck here thinking you can’t find anything better. Anyone deserves a healthy work environment and this company is not this at all.

Explore other reviews about Penguin Random House

5.0
Jun 30, 2026
Recommend
CEO approval
Business Outlook

Pros

super friendly work environment, very understanding, very fun

Cons

in consumer marketing department, a large number of people work remotely

5.0
Jun 20, 2026
Recommend
CEO approval
Business Outlook

Pros

• Caring people. Psychological safety is emphasized by people at every level. I feel like leadership at each step of the reporting chain is very approachable and transparent. • Great work/life balance. • There is a lot of openness to trying new technologies or doing different things for such a large and established organization. There is very little "trend chasing," it's more like you're listened to. As the CEO started out as a technologist, he has a realistic view of what new tools (including, but not just, AI) can do for us. • Informal, especially for a company created by the merger of two nearly-100 year old publishing firms and was recently acquired by a nearly-200 year old company. • Company supports learning and development. • Free books! • I care greatly about the company's mission and it's clear how my work impacts the company's ability to execute on it. • Things often move slowly, which is both a pro and a con.

Cons

• Pay and insurance are very average, but I can live with that. This is a much bigger con for employees whose jobs require them to be on-site, especially in e.g. London and New York. • Said learning and development seem to have a ...deliberate pace. While this is fine and what I wanted, other tech people coming in from more "tech-y" organizations mightn't gel with it. • Things often move slowly, which is both a pro and a con.

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