APCO Worldwide Employee Reviews about "work life balance"

Pros

Currently the company is going through a concerted effort to improve many aspects (bias, inconsistent processes, culture). If you are an entrepreneurial person, you will thrive at APCO. There is minimal bureaucracy, so you can make your own way regardless of level. The North America design team has been transformed under new leadership so designers can work on the projects they are passionate about without burning out.

Cons

As with any client services position, work-life balance is not engrained in the culture (although some people in leadership roles are actively trying to fix that). On certain projects and pitches, there is a NY vs DC tension between teams. It seems like the culture of each office is very difference and there are unnecessary loyalties despite working for the same company.

Pros

The APCO office culture is very "flat" and gives its junior staff the opportunity to grow and learn with a fairly quick promotion cycle. Compared to other agencies, the junior staff has a decent amount of responsibility. The people that work here are smart and driven, and generally are nice enough. The work is also interesting - however NY is mainly corporate comms with little public affairs (despite APCOs reputation as a PA firm). A plus us they are totally flexible on WFH and office is closed Christmas week.

Cons

APCO works its staff to the ground and expects its employees to be available 24/7. They also pay terribly given hours the staff give to their jobs. The result is little work/life balance and a lot of tears over the grueling work. They also have a major staffing issue and teams are often staffed incorrectly.

Pros

APCO boasts a diverse portfolio of clients for both long- and short-term projects, which opens a lot of opportunities to learn different industries and work with a lot of people. The "entrepreneurial" culture rings true, but what that really means is that you're on your own to fight your way through office politics. Great place to cut your teeth at advocating for yourself, working under constant organizational change, and learning to trust very few people. Once you put in a few years and earn the trust of those who matter, work/life balance is manageable due to being so independent and being able to create your own schedule. Arrive at 10am, leave at 5pm, or go on a trip and "work from home"... as long as the work is getting done, no one will ask questions. Compensation is reasonable if you're an aggressive negotiator or have a manager who does the same.

Cons

The office politics are beyond repair. Nepotism has led to a culture of cuddling up to senior leaders who pull weight politically & fending for yourself, sometimes at the expense of others. Management may claim to have your best interest in mind, but they're all just out for themselves, too. Must have a thick skin and be willing to tolerate a lot of BS to be successful. Constant organizational change and waves of departures leave little stability and isolate true talent. The office is very cliquey, so it feels like being thrown back into high school, choosing which table to sit at in the lunchroom. Choose wrong, and you're doomed.

Pros

- Great office - Comprehensive benefits - Top leadership is engaged and competent - Global community - Big clients, big budgets - Opportunity to travel if you're on the right teams - Flat organizational structure - Incredible group of high-profile advisors - Great in-house research and creative teams - Really smart staff - Cultural exposure

Cons

- Terrible work/life balance - Mid-level management is too stressed and overworked to care about the people they manage - Mid- and upper-level management is extremely disorganized - Employees come to the office sick all the time because the workplace culture has made them feel like they can't work from home for a day - As far as mid-level management is concerned, if you're not at your desk, you might as well not be working at all - This company will work junior staff into the ground with little regard for their well-being - Lots of false promises from upper-level management - Low pay for junior staff - HR department is a complete mess and constantly mishandles cases - More turnover in the last few years than usual, and HR is slow to hire, which results in teams being stretched for resources and overworked

Pros

At APCO I worked with some of the smartest people in the industry who were extremely successful in previous careers before coming to the firm. The top-heavy nature of the firm made it a great place to learn from my superiors.

Cons

The top-heavy nature also made for a lot of work at the junior levels and the work-life balance wasn't great.

Pros

Work/life balance flexibility that promotes a nice work environment.

Cons

Very clear difference in management levels.

Pros

Collaborative environment, open door policy, the ability to share your thoughts and create innovative and strategic ideas in attracting clients.

Cons

Pay could be better. The work-life balance all depends on the practice area/department you work in. Communication from Senior Level colleagues can use some improvement, particularly when it comes to the review process.