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Reader's Digest

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Reader's Digest Reviews

3.8

61% would recommend to a friend

(200 total reviews)
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Bonnie Kintzer

96% approve of CEO

48% positive business outlook

Reader's Digest has an employee rating of 3.8 out of 5 stars, based on 200 company reviews on Glassdoor which indicates that most employees have a good working experience there. The Reader's Digest employee rating is in line with the average (within 1 standard deviation) for employers within the Media and communication industry (3.7 stars).

Reviews by job title

200 reviews
1.0
19 Dec 2016

Wonderful people, shame about the senior management

Anonymous employee
Recommend
CEO approval
Business outlook

Pros

I worked with some really talented, motivated and warm people, some of whom will be lifelong friends. This contributed to a fun and creative environment.

Cons

At no point were the staff listened to, valued, motivated or treated in a manner that was in any way commensurate with their worth. No resources, no benefits, no strategy, no respect. Every decision was top-down rather than bottom-up. No way to run a company, and an appalling way to treat people.

1.0
5 Nov 2016

Bad management, no vision, no benefits

Anonymous employee
Recommend
CEO approval
Business outlook

Pros

Amazing people work here, it's like a family. Everyone works really hard and as a team and does a wonderful job, considering the cons. Great summer and Christmas parties.

Cons

First off there are minimum resources, you can't get money pumped into the brand without going through the owner, who believes the brand is dying and has no strategy or vision to keep it alive, instead he makes the management's lives hell. Consequently the management has a hard time in being effective. There is no overall vision for the company other than it has a 'digital focus' (with zero digital editorial or digital marketing team left), yet the owner isn't willing to invest in digital because he doesn't understand how it works and refuses to listen to employees or trust their advice. There is no strategy for growth. Employees feel they are merely treading water and going through the day-to-day. Very demoralising. Although the company is in profit this is subsidised by constant mass redundancies (at least once a year). The editorial team now consists of two people, design one, zero marketing. All these redundancies leave a bitter air for the remaining employees who have not only lost their friends suddenly (only given 30 minutes to leave the office) but their workload drastically increases and the brand sinks further. Be especially warned if you're entering this company in a creative capacity, as it's difficult to see and ROI on your role, your job is under constant threat. Even if you feel indispensable. There are no benefits to speak of. Long hours. Underpaid (considering lack of benefits). Minimum amount of holidays with no chance of it increasing. AND you have to use those holidays over the Christmas period.

1.0
27 Nov 2025

Sacked Everyone

Recommend
CEO approval
Business outlook

Pros

Work load and flexibility made work life balace good

Cons

Awful management and no direction or vision for the future. Us and them mentality

Viewing 1 - 3 of 200 Reviews

Glassdoor has 243 Reader's Digest reviews submitted anonymously by Reader's Digest employees. Read employee reviews and ratings on Glassdoor to decide if Reader's Digest is right for you.