Do Not Work Here, Take It From Me I Did For 3 1/2 Years!
Pros
Allowed for a flexible schedule if you were sick, had family emergencies, etc. as long as you were communicative (depending on if the owner liked you, which was obvious in an 11 person office). But this shouldn't be viewed as a pro but a norm. Had the opportunity to work with people of all the different skill sets being in a digital marketing company. I actually learned more from the other employees than I did my boss/owner. Would buy team lunches randomly but it got more often when we moved in the new building at the Scottsdale Quarter, which was all for show because Eric Olsen, the owner, is all about image, regardless of how much he does(n’t) make and I would know as I worked under him in marketing. But the free a lunches and coffee was cool… but not compared to what other businesses do for their employees.
Cons
There was a reason I worked there for 3 ½ years and was asked multiple times over my tenure to become full time (I'm a hard, dedicated, organized worker who has a great rapport with the other employees and clients) and I would turn it down every time (take a hint and read this, it may save you time and your career!) I lost absolute faith in the company when I saw 2 very good leaders and 23 employees pushed out by the owner in his bullying nature, in a very short time. There is no room for employee growth and never will be, don’t expect a long term, awesome career with great benefits. The benefits Fasturtle offers are extremely sub-standard compared to other businesses that offer 401k matches, far better health benefits, better pay, better vacation and know how to build true culture etc. My first raise after my one year was $1, after my second year it $.50 and then after my third year, it was approximately .$45 - a whole whopping $2 over a total of 3 ½ dedicated years!!! The company loved my work, loved my attitude, acknowledged my “loyalty” and supported the enthusiasm I tried to bring to the team, but looking back, I was worth a mere $2 to Eric Olsen and Fasturtle which is an extra $80 a month after 3 years!!! Given everything I was doing, this was insulting and pathetic. Eric didn’t appreciate my value at all, but he sure was great at making me feel like something great was coming for me, but it never did. He basically led me on and I believe held it against me for not going fulltime. A retaliatory tactic that thankfully I saved documents on. Working with Eric in the 3 ½ years, allowed me to observe that he really pushed to make Fasturtle look bigger than it was. Examples include investing in tons of swag (we had new shirts, stickers, etc. almost monthly) and sadly, most of the employees were embarrassed to wear or use the swag because of the company reputation, specifically Eric Olsens'. He would buy expensive tickets to the WMPO, D'Backs and other events that would make what happened with the FYRE festival look small in comparison. When the social media manager left, Eric Olsen demanded I pick up the slack for the social media accounts so the client's projects didn't fall behind. I was part-time and had two other jobs of my own; and had little to no knowledge on the account deliverables, strategy or execution. BUT I was his “property” clearly and that’s how he treated me. I was demanded to pick up someone else job duties and manage those clients when I am not even a social media specialist. That just goes to show the lack of care or honesty behind deliverables when it comes to the client's services and the directive was given by the owner of Fasturtle himself! This is a classic case of his poor judgment as a leader, handing over more responsibilities (with no additional offer of bonus or compensation) to an inexperienced employee working on things they are not versed in. The turnover…. WOW! For a small business that had 11 active employees, I saw 23 people come and go in my 3 ½ years! It was the most turnover I had ever in my life seen in any workplace. I think it was mostly because no one had career growth, Eric has proven not to be a good leader, he would over promise and under deliver on services for his client's just to make a sale, and it would result in a backlash on the employees. We sold services we didn't even offer or have access to! Turnover in clients was even high too. It is embarrassing to have your name tied to that. It's a very small world out there and you never know who you'll run into or with again. Tools, systems, and software were outdated, although they did improve when certainly experienced managers came aboard and turned the company around on a better path. In my experience, Eric is extremely unorganized (check his cluttered desk) and it was apparent to the team that he never knew what was truly going on with clients or their accounts until there is an issue. Then he would dig into it and became reactionary and often hostile towards employees, attacking them for their inability to deliver something he sold that was typically out of scope. I lost ALL respect for the owner and company when he asked me to submit an application for the 2017 ASU 100 award for a certain employee based on their meeting the ASU 100 qualifications. The award was won and given to recipient at Fasturtle via email and the employee was given an invitation to the award ceremony. I was then asked by Eric Olsen to contact the award association months later and direct the ASU 100 Foundation to remove the employee in which I had initially submitted the award for. To switch the name to another employees name (someone who didn't apply nor qualified according to ASU guidelines as he hadn’t even graduated at that time.) The owner asked ME to do something unprofessional, unethical, and deceitful. Something I completely disagreed with and thought it was wrong. I even told Eric I thought that was wrong considering the original award recipient was still an employee at that time. But Eric Olsen's actions were immoral, intimidating, unprofessional and well documented. When he did this, I knew Eric Olsen was out for himself and could care less about anyone but himself. It explains the embarrassing annual review raises and the degrading demeanor in which he would talk to his employees. I cannot work for a person or company who claims to pride themselves on their family and faith, telling others about doing right when I witness Eric lie and do anything that goes against what he believes, only to benefit himself, regardless of who it hurts or how unethical it is. The owner is so wrapped up in reputation that if you talk to past employees, do your research. Turnover doesn't happen when your employees are happy. Fasturtle and Eric Olsen are known for hiring young, inexperienced, straight out of college students to run his “departments” so he can pay them less, taking them for granted, but I guess that is him "Giving people a chance." How naive. I witnessed the owner make employees cry without even knowing the full story of that employee (again, he was understanding if he liked you.) Bottom line - STAY AWAY FROM THIS PLACE!
