Pros
Great clients, good work experience
Cons
LPi has a bad reputation within the Calgary creative community and it is fully deserved. When I first started it was a fast, fun and vibrant job. Working on huge clients for international accounts is initially exciting but over time, the job and environment changes to a passive aggressive, toxic, homophobic, and sexist. When people leave the room the managers and the owner talk behind everyone's back. Initially the owner is really friendly and gives you the impression that he has an open door policy. As time goes by you realize the owner's town hall speeches are empty. He makes promises and rarely delivers. The owner surrounds himself with yes men managers who he gives no control or authority over the employees they manage. When employees become frustrated and try to voice concerns, the managers gas light you. The owner then engages in a deceptive conversation that results in you admitting being frustrated and steering you to a voluntary resignation. I've seen this scenario happen to 5 people from every area of the company, creative, accounts and administration. The owner doesn't like to deal with employee issues so he avoids them or just doesn't deal with them at all. He let's problems fester until there are real issues and then he gas lights employees and he convinces them they are the one with issues. I worked there a long time and hardly seen people rewarded with promotions or raises, even for people who worked for 10 years or more. There are people he rewards but they are usually on the "executive team". The company has a profit share program but it's really just a structured bonus and has nothing to do with profits. If you are junior and are offered a job at LPi, take the job to get the experience but keep looking until you find another one. Do not work there for more than 2 years, any longer and you are wasting your time. You will not get a raise, you will not be promoted. You will be told to just be patient it will come, you will hear all the excuses in the world why it cannot happen now. If you currently are there and it's longer than two years, start looking for another job.