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      PLOS

      Engaged Employer

      PLOS reviews

      3.1

      49% would recommend to a friend

      (113 total reviews)

      Alison Mudditt

      72% approve of CEO

      38% positive business outlook

      Ratings by category

      3.7

      Work/Life balance

      3.5

      Diversity & inclusion

      3.3

      Culture & values

      3.2

      Compensation and benefits

      2.7

      Career opportunities

      2.6

      Senior management

      PLOS has an employee rating of 3.1 out of 5 stars, based on 113 company reviews on Glassdoor which indicates that most employees have a good working experience there. The PLOS employee rating is in line with the average (within 1 standard deviation) for employers within the Mídia e comunicação industry (3.7 stars).

      Ratings by demographic groups

      Reviews by job title

      113 reviews
      1.0
      Jul 8, 2019

      Stay Far Away

      Editorial
      Recommend
      Business Outlook

      Pros

      Work/Life balance, Friendships, WiFri. There aren't too many pros nowadays.

      Cons

      It's no secret that the current executive team hired all of her friends from UC Press. Sitting back as a staff member who was there during the last regime, knew that this would be a train wreck. They huddle in her office laughing loudly for all to hear. There is absolutely no transparency about how things in the business are going. They hold monthly "ask the execs" meetings, but we typically leave those meetings more confused than when we went in. Amenities are being cut left and right, and the workplace truly is not enjoyable to be at any longer. The upper levels of HR is also not effective at all. They there to please the executives, and not genuinely help the staff, as her job SHOULD be. If you go to ask them a question, they directs you to one of regular HR staff because they truly doesn't know PLOS policy and procedure, nor workplace law, quite frankly. People know not to go to them, because you won't get any help. Reviews like these are becoming more frequent, and like the staff engagement surveys, I'm sure the executive team will find a way to twist this in a way that makes them feel better. The execs cushioned the board to buy them all the time in the world to avoid the harsh accountability. I truly feel that the Board has no idea about what REALLY is going on. Sure, it's easy to sugar coat things but know that PLOS went through 3 rounds of layoffs last year. If you're seriously considering applying here, keep that resume polished.

      1.0
      Aug 1, 2019

      On Its Last Leg (Exsanguination)

      Anonymous employee
      Recommend
      Business Outlook

      Pros

      Commiseration can create bonds with any remaining good coworkers. That's pretty much the only positive. The mission, in theory, is positive but leaders cannot execute nor strategize effectively. Can anyone in a position of leadership even articulate the mission or current strategy? All signs are pointing towards 'no'

      Cons

      What's the plan exactly? Let everyone quit or be laid off and then hire cheaper, outsourced replacements? So much for what was left of the mission. The people making the decisions don't care about or listen to staff enough, while also lacking the skills and experience to fix things. Jobs will be outsourced or we will be bought out, if not both. It's a sad realization but the people calling the shots don't have the chops to turn this ship around.

      avatar
      PLOS Response
      6y
      Thanks for sharing your experience although I’m disappointed to read it - it certainly isn’t the employee experience we strive for at PLOS. While we’ve been through major changes over the past 18 months those have been designed to put us in a place to succeed and deliver on this mission we all care so much about. And we’re seeing the changes have an impact in our current positive results. There’s always more we can do and I hope that you will talk to your manager or our People Team if you have specific suggestions.
      1.0
      Jul 11, 2019

      why am i still here?

      Anonymous employee
      Recommend
      Business Outlook

      Pros

      Good mission but organization lacks alignment and executives won't or aren't capable of providing a roadmap to mission. Good people, but all seem lost and complacent. While it was a good decision to hire a head of HR and she seems to care with a better HR staff than before, the CEO can't shirk responsibilities to fix culture to that team while you the CEO earns top dollar doing nothing and barely have a vision or strategy to move PLOS forward. More focused training for managers, but in parallel, you have and hire directors that barely have any leadership skills and don't promote the people you already have.

      Cons

      I'm really not sure why i am still here, definitely not at PLOS for the money. And definitely not because its fun - it's far from fun, far from innovative, far from a solid team. I'm just waiting for the next job offer like most employees here. I'm embarrassed to say I'm an employee here with everything that has gone on. I don't want to have to have to explain that while we value transparency and open access, the organization itself is not. It greatly frustrates and angers me that executives and senior management don't care at all about workload, stress and mental health. Sure, work life balance is high, but that's because we still have to fight for our rights to have a life. But it makes us feel guilty because the backlog and having to have our co-workers suffer with our work when we are out isn't good. Honestly, I don't know why the CEO continues to bring her incompetent friends in. I would be embarrassed to be part of senior management, look - more than 80% of your employees don't believe you all are doing a good job and don't even see the value of those directors.

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      Glassdoor has 124 PLOS reviews submitted anonymously by PLOS employees. Read employee reviews and ratings on Glassdoor to decide if PLOS is right for you.