Flexible workplace - Content Manager DoStuff Employee Review

Lots of opportunities to do fun things

Have to wear a lot of hats

I agree with other reviews that DoStuff can function as a decent starter job early in a career. But I would strongly advise anyone considering this company to keep their resume updated and their eyes on the exit.

Sadly, I gave many years to this company and ultimately left completely stripped of any enthusiasm for its future. Working at DoStuff is very much a "Groundhog Day" experience: a new crisis to fix, a new cost-cutting measure, another restructure. The company spends so much time scrambling to keep day-to-day operations afloat that leadership has no bandwidth for innovation, improved products, or meaningful employee retention. A few things anyone considering DoStuff should know: What type of company is DoStuff? Honestly, I couldn’t tell you. The constant identity crisis became exhausting. Is it a marketing product for venues and events, a media company covering local happenings, or a tech company building operational tools? Priorities shifted constantly and there wasn't enough focus in any one area to become true industry leaders. Who runs DoStuff Media? The founder and CEO operates largely behind the scenes, while the COO serves as the public-facing figurehead. She projects a laid-back, “cool kid,” feminist persona that's quickly seen through once you’re inside the organization. Imagine my disappointment in learning that both my predecessor and my successor (both men) were paid more than I was. What’s DoStuff’s management style? Fear and intimidation are not only tolerated here, they’re encouraged. Once, one of my direct reports made a small, innocent mistake that cost the company no more than $200. The error was largely due to a lack of clear direction from leadership. I spoke with this employee, put a clear process in place, and explained that if the mistake happened again—now that expectations were clear—we’d need to revisit performance. When I relayed this to my supervisor, a senior manager within brand marketing, I was told he was disappointed in how I handled the situation and that sometimes “you have to scare an employee into thinking they’re going to be fired and they’ll work a little harder for you.” This was far from the first time I encountered these intimidation tactics, and it ultimately became my final straw. What’s the employee experience like? DoStuff will pay you the bare minimum (sometimes literally) and expect near 24/7 availability in return. I eventually left after spending countless hours supporting burned-out employees who were working 50+ hours per week on salary (no overtime) for compensation that at times barely exceeded minimum wage. The lack of loyalty to employees was demoralizing. They would resign feeling defeated and ashamed, believing they simply “weren’t cut out” for the job. What I couldn’t tell them was that company leadership wasn't interested in addressing this “turn and burn" mentality. Replacing employees was clearly preferable to fixing systemic issues, improving management, or paying people fairly.