I'm not mad, I'm just disappointed - Employee Goodwill Projects Employee Review

I’ve weighed up commenting here for a while, and while it’s easy to dismiss, I feel it’s important to provide some feedback by someone whose been at GWP for longer than 3 months. Most importantly, I’ve gotten to know every team member, and none of them would describe our workplace as toxic or unsupportive. If you’re curious, feel free to reach out to any staff member via phone, email or LinkedIn. Ask about their experience and why the average tenure here spans 3-4+ years (with many staying over 5 years) in an industry where such longevity is rare. I’d honestly hate for these few negative reviewers – collectively with GWP for less than a year, to overshadow the genuine, positive experiences of current and past team members. The majority of team members I’ve worked with have been amazing. I still work with many team members who have moved on over the years (market managers, designers, creatives, copywriters) and they remain close with everyone at GWP, work-wise and socially. Regardless of the reasons – be it performance, attitude or otherwise suggests these select negative reviews don’t reflect the long term, sustained success and satisfaction of a genuinely remarkable group – past and present. I hold nothing against those individuals personally, and I’ve never heard a bad word about any of them from anyone in our team. However, I do believe that their comments are more indicative of a mindset that didn’t align with our culture rather than a true representation of the workplace environment at Goodwill.

- More parking needed on site for staff - More boozy Fridays!

Good location, nice people, casual office. Potential career development if you 'fit' with their 'work culture'.

I would not recommend Goodwill Projects as a workplace and caution anyone looking to apply or work with this business. During my time there, I experienced a lack of support, unrealistic expectations, and little respect for personal time. Staff are often expected to work well beyond contracted hours without overtime pay or consideration for work-life balance. The management style is highly top-down, with little openness to new ideas or constructive feedback. Rather than adapting workplace practices, the preference seems to be to cycle through staff who do not fit their “culture,” which in practice means working excessive hours (including weekends) without benefit or recognition. Employee wellbeing does not appear to be a priority. Personal, physical, or mental health concerns are not handled with care or empathy; instead, they can be used against staff. Management has no hesitation in singling out individuals in front of peers, excusing this as “just part of the culture.” Accountability within management is poor. When issues arise, blame is often shifted onto staff members, even for matters outside of their control. I witnessed raised voices in meetings and situations where management twisted facts to avoid responsibility. Conversations with former employees revealed many had similar or worse experiences, and the consistently high turnover rate speaks for itself. I expect management will once again defend themselves on this review, attempting to dismiss responsibility for the toxic workplace they perpetuate. Reading other reviews on Glassdoor accurately reflected my experience, I only wish I had read these before accepting the role. On a personal level, I hold no hard feelings toward colleagues; most were supportive and well-intentioned. However, the overall environment was toxic and unsustainable. Even the hiring process was lengthy and included an unpaid half-day trial, which set the tone for how little the company values employee time. Since moving on, I’ve found a workplace that genuinely values its team, encourages work-life balance, and respects personal wellbeing. Only after leaving did I fully realise how detrimental my experience at Goodwill Projects was.