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The Refinery Creative

Engaged Employer

Draining. Not worth it. - Anonymous employee The Refinery Creative Employee Review

2.0
Aug 21, 2017
Anonymous employee
Recommend
CEO approval
Business Outlook

Pros

Worked on big name projects, catered lunches every other day , cool office space, free snacks (this is normal for most creative firms). If you love entertainment, you'll love the conversations that occur here.

Cons

VERY LONG HOURS, ridiculous requests made frequently, lack of respect from top down, little employee work/life balance and freedom, sometimes toxic work environment, simply put - not worth it.

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The Refinery Creative Response
8y
it is unfortunate that your experience with our company was less than optimal. we urge any employee who feels the management team could improve their communication and/or work process to speak to their manager directly or bring the matter to HR. our longer hours are sometimes dictated by clients or as a result of our dedication to providing the top-notch creative our clients have come to expect and deserve. it is typical of the industry and we continue to strive to manage work assignments so that employees can achieve balance.

Explore other reviews about The Refinery Creative

5.0
Aug 2, 2024
Recommend
CEO approval
Business Outlook

Pros

Excellent work/life balance and company culture. The people are fantastic and supportive.

Cons

Nothing that comes to mind!

3.0
May 22, 2025
Anonymous employee
Recommend
CEO approval
Business Outlook

Pros

The company has a team of highly skilled individuals and interesting, creative projects. Colleagues outside of management were collaborative and dedicated.

Cons

The remote setup created a weak company culture, and excessive time-tracking practices during layoffs hurt morale. Leadership decisions often felt misaligned with the creative needs of the organization, and promised perks were quietly phased out. Despite publicly supporting DEI, one of the first roles eliminated during restructuring was the DEI consultant, which sent a conflicting message. There were clear opportunities to promote deserving internal talent that went unrecognized, reinforcing a "boys club" perception. Post-layoff morale efforts, like company parties, felt disconnected from the actual employee experience. One division eventually split off due to a lack of internal support.

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The Refinery Creative Response
11mo
First and foremost, we’re sorry that your experience at the Refinery was challenged, especially if you raised these concerns during your tenure. We work hard to make everyone on the team feel supported and heard, and we appreciate you sharing your perspective. Time tracking is not, and has never been used as a tool against our team’s efforts or time taken, rather to help us understand how to run the business sustainably in a tough economic environment. The process isn’t perfect, though, and there’s no doubt it can still be a frustrating part of the day. We’re open to ideas on how to make it less disruptive. Losing the teammate who led our DEI efforts was painful. That decision was part of a larger restructuring and not a reflection of our ongoing commitment to DEI. But we recognize that it sent a mixed message, and we know there’s more we need to do. We believe that offering flexibility around where and how people work allows them to build the kind of life that suits them best. We do our best to bring people together, virtually and in person, but that fabric relies on each person choosing to participate. We believe those who do, feel it. As for the trusted team who split off, that was a mutual decision and done with care for everyone involved. It truly came from a spirit of positivity and support, and we continue to celebrate and collaborate with them whenever we can. Lastly, regarding our promotion process, we hear you - it may feel like some people aren’t getting their shot as quickly as others. We absolutely promote based on merit, and we also look at how each move impacts the broader team. You’re right: being both supportive and inclusive is critical to our success. We know there’s work to be done, and we’re grateful you took the time to flag where you felt we were falling short.
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