Good 'ol boy environment with semi-good intentions - Anonymous employee Grayling Employee Review

2.0
18 Jan 2016
Anonymous employee
Recommend
CEO approval
Business outlook

Pros

Liberal vacation policy. Flexible work environment.

Cons

Sexist approach to internal staff and client management - clients are allowed to speak demeaningly to female execs and are accommodated with no question when they prefer to deal with male executives. Top executives are predominately white men. Two major U.S. offices have cycled through female leaders and comments are often made about it not being possible to lead an office and have a family. Agist comments about female leaders as well - being "out of touch" after taking time off for family.

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Grayling Response
10y
The lack of gender diversity at the Executive level is pretty well documented in our industry and I'm proud to say that it doesn't exist in Grayling. I attended our annual Executive Planning session last week in San Francisco and was surrounded by 8 of the most dynamic leaders in this industry. These women represent over 60% of the Grayling US leadership team. Among them, professionals that lead our largest US office, oversee our Latin American operations, manage our largest, most prestigious client, manage our Government Affairs practice in Washington DC, lead our Technology practice, manage our finances and develop and execute the strategy for our most important asset, our people. A powerful network, by any standard and I'm proud to be in the company of these women and I'm proud to call them my colleagues. I'm equally proud of the policies that exist at Grayling to help facilitate a seamless work/life integration. Policies usually found at technology giants and companies exponentially larger in size than us, you can find right here at Grayling. Included in our industry leading benefits package are: flexible working from home/ telecommuting options, unlimited vacation and paid parental leave for both moms and dads. We continue to look at ways to further advance our objective of empowering our team to bring their "whole-selves" to work- their talent, skills, families, points of views in a safe, risk free environment. ALL voices are heard and Grayling and there is no room for disrespect and it will never be tolerated by clients or anyone, for that matter. We are not perfect by any means, but we truly believe that the best thinking comes through a diverse workforce and we will work tirelessly to promote a progressive, inclusive culture that is reflective of our values.

Explore other reviews about Grayling

5.0
15 Aug 2022
Recommend
CEO approval
Business outlook

Pros

Management is encouraging and working on building a strong close-knit team

Cons

It is a smaller team, but growing

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Grayling Response
3y
We're delighted to hear this! Thanks for taking the time to review.
1.0
28 May 2013
Recommend
CEO approval
Business outlook

Pros

- Flexibility, including working from home at least one day and week and closed for the week between Christmas and New Year's - Great opportunity to build technology reporter relationships - You do not have to record and enter time at this agency

Cons

The work is entirely tactical and not at all strategic. The firm represents its success to clients in the number of stories placed and so the day to day is composed almost entirely of pitching. At one point I was told that the expectation was that I would come up with and push out two proactive pitches a week per client if they did not have news to announce - it was very alienating for my reporter contacts and personally stressful for me to constantly be coming up with pitches with no news or new content. Further, clients are encouraged to take any interview secured, regardless of whether the publication or topic is beneficial to the client's business ROI (and without regard to whether there's a potential risk in giving the interview). Last, the digital department is not at all integrated with the PR teams and there is no opportunity to plan and carry out integrated outreach campaigns, events, online activations or really anything that deviates from smile and dial traditional media outreach activities - it's clear that the founders do not come from a PR background and don't have a robust understanding of the services that other firms offer. As an employee, the work is not challenging or engaging on an intellectual level.

3
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