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MRL Promotions

Is this your company?

TERRIBLE WORK ENVIRONMENT ! - Anonymous employee MRL Promotions Employee Review

1.0
Jan 15, 2020
Anonymous employee
Recommend
CEO approval
Business Outlook

Pros

Relationships with fellow co-workers. Everyone bonded over how poorly they were treated.

Cons

This was not a healthy establishment to work at and I would not suggest working here.I love the promotional products industry but my time at mrl promotions was unbearable. If you like to be micro-managed and constantly put down by a tyrant this is the perfect position for you. Every employee is expected to copy the owner of the company, Mr Levitt, on all emails and were critiqued often. Mr Levitt is very involved and had zero trust in any of his employees which is why he would expect everyone to copy him on the emails. A compliment was far and few between. There is no real HR position so there is no proper person to report concerns and issues to. You will be looked down upon and told to "toughen up" if you chose to speak up. You are also shunned for taking any paid time off. Mr Levitt would preach positivity yet consistently put his employees down, point fingers and never have the employees backs. It was like walking on eggshells every single day around Mr Levitt. The office culture was purely toxic brought on entirely by Mr Levitt. Account managers were pinned against each other by Mr Levitt often creating a divide amongst teammates. There were zero incentives or bonuses offered. You can give it your all and the hard work would still will not be acknowledged. Expect to put in a lot extra hours and not be properly compensated. There is absolutely zero flexibility in working from home because Mr Levitt does not trust his employees. Simply put, Mr Levitt is a big bully and his victims are his employees. Due to all of these issues this company has an extremely alarming turn over rate. In my time there I witnessed dozens of employees quit because they could not take it any longer. The lifespan for an account manager position is roughly 3 months. There was no movement within the position because so many people quit. There is absolutely NO GROWTH within this company. Do not expect anything more than the bare minimum yearly raise. My current employment has taught me that a true leader encourages their employees and makes them feel empowered and supported. I am posting this in hopes it can inform those who do not want to suffer in an extremely toxic work environment.

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MRL Promotions Response
4y
Thank your for taking the time to provide detailed feedback. MRL was undergoing a massive transformation at this time between our new ERP technology system and doing a re-org to create a better team structure. It’s absolutely understandable that some may not agree with or like too much change at one time. This is why it’s important to communicate any frustrations or concerns to your Manager or leadership. These conversations help bring more clarity to an evolving situation. Company-wide meetings and weekly team meetings over ZOOM make it more challenging for some to speak up but that has not stopped other MRL employees from doing so and we are extremely appreciative of that. Over 50% of the company was working remote during this time, and presently over 85% of the company is remote. Pay increases are a default and bonus is earned by performance. To the contrary of your comments, we will continue this way of working and flexibility, as it’s been a big part of our growth. Turnover is typical for startups and companies in growth mode and, while there has never been “dozens quit” here, we do recognize that there will always be a few people who weren’t a good fit but we take that as lessons learned and aim to do better the next time around. There are countless examples of individuals we’ve taken a chance on who have exceeded our expectations so we will continue to take the risk from time to time. Most of our current employees have long tenure here and many started their careers here and have grown into Senior, Director, and VP roles. In addition, upward mobility is a key focus, and I am proud of our success and track record. The people who have grown their career at MRL is super impressive. I am sorry you didn’t get the chance to grow your career at MRL and thank you again for taking the time to convey your views. Wishing you the best of luck with your new endeavor.

Explore other reviews about MRL Promotions

5.0
Jul 20, 2022
Recommend
CEO approval
Business Outlook

Pros

The team at MRL works quickly which allows the Sales team to prospect and be successful at bringing in more sales opportunities. This allows for a very intrapreneurial experience where I am able to manage my time and day based on clients needs and also prospect for future opportunities within clients and finding new ones too. Promotional products is a fast paced, detailed business which never stops which makes the day go by fast. The company growth has been tremendous and it is exciting to see every year how much we are growing and what the future will hold for The MRL Group.

Cons

Making sure that you balance your work life is important to avoid burnout. With growth comes some growing pains but there is a constant dedication to building a great company for all.

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MRL Promotions Response
3y
Thank you for your positive review of your experience with our company. We greatly appreciate your feedback and are thrilled to hear about the aspects that have made your time at MRL enjoyable. We are glad to know that our team's efficiency enables the Sales team to prospect and bring in more sales opportunities. We value the intrapreneurial experience we provide, allowing you to manage your time and day based on clients' needs while also seeking out new opportunities. It is indeed exciting to be part of a fast-paced and detailed business, where every day brings new challenges and opportunities for growth. As with any growing organization, we understand the importance of work-life balance to avoid burnout. We are committed to supporting our employees in achieving this balance and ensuring their well-being remains a top priority. We appreciate your understanding of the growing pains that come with company expansion and want to assure you that we are dedicated to building a great company for all, constantly striving for improvement. Thank you once again for taking the time to share your positive experience. We value your contribution to our team and look forward to continued growth and success together.
3.0
Jul 6, 2025
Recommend
CEO approval
Business Outlook

Pros

Interesting clientele and products, annual trip, colleague support and tight knit with small teams

Cons

9-6 but often working more than that, burnout, unreal expectations, no possitive feedback

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