Small teams with a full client roster: This is one of the biggest cons at Palm and, while not uncommon in agencies, it’s particularly noticeable here. Teams are very small for the number of clients they manage, especially within the brand division, and are consistently pushed to capacity. The level of work expected (and genuinely wanted) by the team often becomes unrealistic, creating a high-stress environment. On top of this, everyone is expected to work on new business, with ongoing concerns within the team about resourcing if new clients are won.
The agency’s KPI structure is positioned as a USP, but in reality it leaves very little flexibility. This adds further pressure to teams already managing high workloads and factors largely outside of their control.
There is a clear need for leadership to listen to and support the team more effectively. When teams raise concerns about workload or burnout, the response is typically to focus on getting KPI points into a better place rather than offering a clear plan, guidance, or meaningful support.
