What are perks and other benefits like at Balsam Brands?

Pros

I've enjoyed working for Balsam Brands for the last few years. Great benefits and nice people across the globe, and I've been able to grow my career. There have been lots of good perks as well recently, including mental health days and some unexpected money every month to spend on personal needs during the pandemic.

Cons

None really. There have been some challenges as the company has gotten bigger, but that's a normal thing to happen.

Pros

Cares about employees, good benefits, flexible working hours

Cons

not much room for career growth

Pros

Great culture, unique benefits, Christmas all year

Cons

Some communication issues, flexible work hours but have to accommodate for 4 time zones

Pros

-great benefits and in season perks -flexible work, life/work balance -career development, and upgrading skills

Cons

-low pay -excessive work especially during christmas season

Pros

* The Benefits are pretty good

Cons

* Low Salaries * Toxic leadership * Unrealistic timelines * Long hours all year * Constant office politics * No job security

Pros

Balsam has always been a caring employer, but they went over and beyond during the pandemic. We were always given supplies, additional perks and benefits, plus they provided vaccines for us and 9 dependents. I've always had the support of my team and managers so I was able to progress in my career. Balsam took care of the costs of my workshops and had me take online courses so I can pursue a career path that I find enjoyable. That's on top of the regular workshops that's being provided to help us cope with the demands of the job and mental challenges brought about by the pandemic. But it's not just the huge milestones that matter. The small things make a big impact too like being able to take time off when you need it, being surrounded by people who are ready to help, getting random surprises so we can all celebrate together despite being apart, and so much more. They're always thinking of ways to support us and though it's not always smooth sailing, the company listens, takes action, and they value team members as people not as a dispensable resource.

Cons

There is always something changing. It's not a bad thing because they're doing something to improve processes, but that may not be for everyone. Some people want immediate change, but some want to be part of that change and help make a difference for others.

Pros

- Good health benefits - Shutdown week (one week of company-wide paid time off) - Relatively flexible work hours - Fun activities and perks in season

Cons

- Toxic positivity. The "fun" culture is forced and there's a lot of pressure to be upbeat and unique, which can be especially difficult if you're generally introverted and/or just having an off day. - Below average pay and lackluster yearly raises. They try to make up for it with "perks" like coffee, treats, t-shirts. Though those things are nice, they just miss the mark and don't pay the bills. - Long hours, not just during the peak holiday season, but nearly all year long. - Overworked staff makes for strained working relationships and poor mental health. It's difficult to get the help you need hired, and when they do hire, it takes forever. - Poor outlook on job security. - VERY meeting heavy. Makes it difficult to execute on all the work you're being handed when you're in meetings all the time. Contributes to long work hours. - Roles and responsibilities team members are often unclear, and team members often have way more on their plate than they can handle. - Leadership wants to gloss over problems rather than address them, mainly when it comes to pay, WFH benefits and general resource scarcity. Often times they would blame COVID for lowered employee satisfaction scores, and while it likely played a role, it was not a sole factor. Blaming it on such made it feel they were ignoring what employees were saying. - General politics and a lot of gossip culture. Promotions are subjective and poorly handled.

Advice to Management

Actually listen and respond to what your employees are asking for, invest in hiring the help that's needed, pay more competitively, relax on shoving the culture down everyone's throats, make employee expectations more clear and work on leadership transparency.

Pros

I've been working here 5+ years. I've seen and experienced steady company growth, a plethora of good times and some could-be-better times. I would expect all of these things during this length of tenure with a company, as I'd expect it of any type of relationship I have in my life. I've continued to enjoy working for Balsam because I think this it's a company comprised of people who truly want to work together in navigating how the company will be shaped for years to come. Everyone puts care and thought into how the core values are integrated, and it's clear they are a guiding force in how we do business. Benefits are also truly amazing, and continue to improve year over year. I think the company strives to do the right thing and takes time to reflect on instances when something goes wrong. Balsam is a company where building relationships with one another, whether that be in your same office or across the globe, is encouraged and talked about openly as part of our initiatives and career growth. It's believed that by building relationships with one another, that we will be more successful as a company, which aligns with my own personal beliefs about how a company should be run. It's also a company that believes in transparency, and you are trusted from Day 1 with insights into how the company is performing. I've never seen this level of transparency anywhere else I've worked. I have experienced a stable and supportive work environment, as well as personal and professional growth that I really wasn't expecting when I first joined. I've had to put in hard work and been challenged in ways that have been uncomfortable at times, which has led to me becoming a better version of myself, both personally and professionally. I get the opportunity to share my ideas, thoughts, and feelings, which is important to me. All in all, for me, Balsam Brands has been a really good place to work. I think it lives up to the statement on the website of "People come first, success follows", which is actually the reason why I applied in the very beginning. I was curious about this mentality in a company, and I feel it's held true during my time here. I get to genuinely show up as me, as a person. People here know who my family is, what's important to me, and they care about my well-being.

Cons

Career paths aren't extremely clear for everyone. It seems more dependent upon the employee to navigate their own growth and advocate for themselves to advance their job. Once you get to the higher levels in the company, it becomes a little less clear how promotions are evaluated and how managers approach promotions. This is an area that I see openly being worked on, which I'm happy about. There isn't a formal recognition program, but I do see accolades and gratitude being shared every day across all geos over Slack. This isn't necessarily a "con", but this is a holiday retail company, so for some teams that means the busiest time of year is during Q4. This should be considered if you're someone who likes to take a lot of time off during the holiday season - it might not be the ideal setup for you.

Advice to Management

Continue with open transparency, in regard to wins and losses and directions that the company is going. It is appreciated, so that employees can make sound decisions for themselves about their own career choices.

Pros

Working at Balsam Brands has been an exceptional and unique experience so far. From day one, I felt welcomed, valued and encouraged to share my ideas. Balsam Brands does a great job at creating a supportive work environment where I have felt safe and empowered to contribute to the success of my team and the company. I love Balsam Brands culture. Our purpose is to Create Joy Together. We are encouraged to explore new technology like generative AI. It's a place where collaboration, innovation, and creativity thrive. The leadership team fosters a culture of transparency and open communication, which encourages employees to bring their best selves to work every day. One thing that impresses me about Balsam Brands is the emphasis on professional development. Balsam Brands invests in its employees' growth and provides ample opportunities for learning and advancement. From training programs and continuous learning benefits to internal mobility and opportunities to transfer to different departments, Balsam Brands actively encourages continuous growth and supports career progression. This commitment to development is refreshing and has helped me broaden my skill set and stay at the forefront of industry trends. The company's dedication to work-life balance is commendable. Balsam Brands understands that happy and fulfilled employees contribute to a positive work environment and overall success. The flexible work arrangements, supportive policies, and emphasis on personal well-being have allowed me to maintain an overall healthy work-life integration, enabling me to perform at my best while also taking care of my personal commitments.

Cons

While it's a plus that Balsam Brands is committed to staying privately run, it means there are no stock options or RSU's. Therefore, total compensation may be considered to be on the lower side by some, especially those individuals who index primarily on cash in overall compensation. While Balsam Brands offers a range of excellent benefits and fulfillment, it's worth noting that the compensation package may be comparatively lower than some other companies in the industry. Additionally, the absence of stock options may be a consideration for individuals who prioritize equity participation as part of their overall compensation. It's important to highlight that the company's compensation philosophy is consistent across all levels. It is also worth noting that Balsam Brands has recently hired a Director of Compensation. To me, this addition shows a strong commitment to being more competitive in terms of total compensation and to ensure fair, equitable, compelling pay for all Brandits.

Pros

People first culture, Great benefits, Fun employee events, Work from home, Mental health initiative Work life balance

Cons

Lower salary for most roles (compared to market value), Slow growth due to too many people on a team, Stagnant and sometimes bored in your role