Refinery29 reviews

Everything you've heard about R29's brutal workload is true. There is NO work-life balance. Employees (even junior ones) are reprimanded for not answering emails/doing extra work at all hours of the day, night, weekends and days off. V. high turnover. Talented people jumping ship left and right for more structured, corporate environments that don't demand 24-7 work. Huge pay disparities for people doing similar work. The vertical you're in, how much you speak out, and looks matter a LOT to how you're paid. They will absolutely try to get away with underpaying you if your a shrinking violet. Talk to your coworkers and make sure you're being paid fairly. Also, get promises of bonuses from management in writing — major shenanigans going on there (bonuses promised then taken away, promises of a "great" year-end bonus that ends up being 1%)

Upper management is ignorant of the fact that employees have no work-life balance. Founders treat you as though you have the same stake in their company as they do, and expect you to be as invested as them. This often means answering emails within minutes during nights, weekends, vacations, and sick time.