Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Employee Reviews about "senior management"

Pros

Good Hard working, skilled professionals fill every aspect of this company and the pride that is felt shows in the work and products when allowed to be seen. Many areas for many different styles and work identities form the heart of HMH.

Cons

Past lack of focus and direction of Senior management left the company a bloated shell with a weak skeleton of infrastructure. Focus on over the top growth in areas that HMH had wide eyed ambition to make a part of the company portfolio fell short too many times as projects couldn't meet deadlines nor could those project be completed properly before moving on to the next big idea.

Pros

Senior Management is great as they value your opinions and contributions. Awesome co-workers, who are outgoing and committed to seeing the company succeed. I enjoy the 'Bright Spots' videos that are hosted by our CEO. They are very informative and they give an insight on what is going on within the company.

Cons

It would be nice to be able to work from home, more than one day a week.

Pros

Good Location and people to work with. Tech stack is good.

Cons

Unclear vision for where the company is going means regular pivots and turnover of senior management.

Pros

Not sure why I work for this place. I am looking to find another position outside the company as soon as possible. The current employee morale is very low. Everyday it seems that your co-workers are being terminated; however, upper management continues to fly first class on flights and stay at 4 or 5 star hotels. Managers get bonuses as high as 80% while everyone else gets zippo. I am a manager and feel that the compensation of non-managers is poor to say it in a nice way. We have absolutely no corporate events during the past several years and I wonder where does the $2.5 Billion of revenues we generate go to.

Cons

Everything you can think of. My 4 year old cousin can manage this company better than the current senior management team. Low employee morale contributes to a poor environment to work in. If you want to work in the publishing industry go work for Pearson across the street from us. If you want to get laidoff within 3 months and want to receive unemployment benefits then please join us as soon as possible. You might even receive a severage package of 4 weeks or more. The location is the only reason why I work for this company at the moment. Plain and simple AVOID THIS PLACE AT ALL COST.

Pros

This place used to be about great products, a place to share opinions, and a team work to build success.

Cons

It has become very much like middle school. You either go along with the cool group (senior management) or you are dismissed or worse destroyed. I have seen it happen. The CEO picks and buys products that are completely inappropriate. Nepotism is rampit. Senior management is buying their time until their huge stock options come through. Options that most of the company did not get nor has any idea were given out to a select few. You cannot ever trust HR as they tell confidential information to managers who then share. People are encouraged to gossip, lie, to help with agendas. It has created an atmosphere where people cross lines to save themselves. Lastly, don't expect to move up with a competitive salary. There are opportunities to move up. However, HR has instituted a cap on pay raises for internal employee promotions. You will make much more if you leave the company and return. You may get promoted to a much higher position but will only get a 5-7% pay raise. This leaves many people working VP and Director jobs and extremely low salary levels. This is especially compounded by the meter cost of living raises that sometimes get given. However, a person with your same level can get hired and come in at a significantly higher salary. Again, HR cant keep anything confidential.

Pros

excellent career opportunities work-life balance hybrid role

Cons

US focus - clients and senior management are in the US only

Pros

Coworkers are amazing Location is great

Cons

Company decreased their contribution to employees healthcare plans Long hours and no appreciation No bonuses if you are not a manager Pay Freezes No 401k match Senior Management does not appreciate anyone without a manager title

Pros

coworkers, compensation was good, work/life balance, work remotely, people wanting to help and do the right thing

Cons

Limited digital capabilities making it difficult for the company to compete Senior management and leadership of some groups lack flexibility to seize revenue opportunities Little to no career advancement (esp with 25% cut in Q4)

Pros

The people who work at HMH are devoted to providing effective educational solutions. Most individuals care deeply about working collaboratively and are interested in supporting each others efforts. Middle management and staff care about people as people and treat each other with respect.

Cons

Over managed - under led. Senior management cares about the bottom line period and decency is seen as a luxury they cannot afford. People are called to work at any hour of the day with no regard for personal issues. If you do not respond to the call, then you jeopardize your career.

Pros

Kind and Friendly Human Resources Department

Cons

Senior Management is working all by themselves up at the top with complete disregard for those lower than them. Lots of stupid decisions being made.