Digital Strike Reviews | Glassdoor https://www.glassdoor.com/Reviews/Digital-Strike-Reviews-E1059548.htm[10/1/2020 11:39:36 AM] August 26, 2020 Current Employee - Digital Marketing Strategist in Webster Groves, St. Louis, MO I have been working at Digital Strike full-time for more than 3 years Pros Insanely smart group of co-workers, Great place to grow/learn essentially everything about digital marketing, Good work is acknowledged and rewarded, Each team member has the same hustle mindset Cons Sometimes you can feel like an island because you're in charge of your own clients-- but it's self-induced (it's easier and encouraged to reach out if you're stuck on a project). Advice to Management Tighten up the interview & hiring process so low-effort, minimal work ethic employees do not have the opportunity to leach off of our happy and productive environment. Helpful 5.0 Recommends Positive Outlook August 10, 2020 Helpful (4) "BEWARE - TOXIC" Former Employee - Anonymous Employee I worked at Digital Strike full-time for more than a year Pros Cool office space, constant supply of snacks and soda, regularly bought company lunches and cool coworkers. 1.0 Doesn't Recommend Neutral Outlook Digital Strike Reviews | Glassdoor https://www.glassdoor.com/Reviews/Digital-Strike-Reviews-E1059548.htm[10/1/2020 11:39:36 AM] Cons Digital Strike's environment and leadership nearly ruined my taste for marketing. While I was there half the staff was fired because they didn't measure up to Chris' unrealistic expectations. - You needed to be perfect, but he wouldn't tell you what his version of perfection was. - You needed to be proactive, but ask him before starting anything to make sure it was worth his time. - Own your clients, but wouldn't let you handle yourself in meetings without supervision. - He wanted to do discuss your weaknesses but would throw it in your face at a later date. He is a manipulator and is a very inappropriate person. He openly talked about other employee's shortcomings behind their back and openly talked about frustrations with clients in the way of name-calling and slander. He would also refer to a few of the women in the office as honey or sweetie, which was inappropriate and unprofessional. His way of motivation is to tear you down to believe you know nothing and are nothing, insult your intelligence, make you question your sanity all so he could build you back up in his image. He values your different perspective when you are hired, but doesn't want you to act on it when you are employed. Typically, when something bad happens at a company with HR, a person could safely talk to HR without fear of punishment. This was nonexistent at DS. It was a toxic environment through and through. Advice to Management - Take an HR class if you can't/won't hire a dept - Trust your employees to handle themselves with clients and trust their expertise - Stop referring to your women employees with pet names you think are cute Helpful (4) Join the Digital Strike team See Our L February 7, 2020 Digital Strike Reviews | Glassdoor https://www.glassdoor.com/Reviews/Digital-Strike-Reviews-E1059548.htm[10/1/2020 11:39:36 AM] "A Good Place to Grow" Former Employee - Digital Strategist in Lake St Louis, MO I worked at Digital Strike full-time for more than a year Pros I worked at Digital Strike as a strategist for about 2 years. It is a great place for those who want to learn and want to grow to come and work. The office is open, fun, and extremely lively! There are always new opportunities and chances to try out new things. You'll learn a lot! The team is kind, helpful, and incredibly supportive - everyone there will quickly become your friends :) You never have to be afraid to ask a question or for help. Everyone who works there wants to see you succeed and reach your goals. The management team is also kind and supportive. Chris (Wes) was always willing to come in early or stay late to speak with me one-on-one. He always asked me how I was doing and if I needed assistance on any projects. He cares a lot about his team and makes the time to help everyone out. The directors were incredible - extremely kind, caring, and always there to provide a helping hand. I cannot stress how much the leadership team works to teach, assist, and grow the team. They genuinely care about everyone's wellbeing and health. I learned SO much from the team and am so grateful to have had the chance to work with them. Those who are excited to try new things, are flexible, and like a challenge will do very well at Digital Strike. Cons Busy environment can at times be challenging Helpful 5.0 Recommends Positive Outlook March 8, 2020 Helpful (4) "Terrible" in Saint Louis, MO I worked at Digital Strike 1.0 Doesn't Recommend Neutral Outlook Digital Strike Reviews | Glassdoor https://www.glassdoor.com/Reviews/Digital-Strike-Reviews-E1059548.htm[10/1/2020 11:39:36 AM] Pros Cool office, some great coworkers Cons This is a toxic environment. Very few benefits. I've worked for some terrible places before, but this one takes the cake -- the owner does not listen to his employees or take in new ideas. When they are experts on a topic that he has little experience in, he does not listen to them. I've watched as he's created office conflict by telling employees how good or bad another team member is. It's a high-stress environment, and while it pays well, no amount of money is worth it. Advice to Management Listen to the employees you've hired to be experts. Helpful (4) March 7, 2020 Helpful (3) "Feeling Blessed to Not Work There Anymore" Former Employee - Writer in Webster Groves, St. Louis, MO I worked at Digital Strike full-time for more than a year Pros Great office space, free health insurance, free beverages in the fridge, pretty generous PTO Cons Everything else. The CEO, Chris Westmeyer, doesn't know how to manage anything effectively. He thinks motivating his employees means making them fear their job 1.0 Doesn't Recommend Neutral Outlook Digital Strike Reviews | Glassdoor https://www.glassdoor.com/Reviews/Digital-Strike-Reviews-E1059548.htm[10/1/2020 11:39:36 AM] security instead of mentoring them or having their back. He says Digital Strike is the greatest place to work, but it's only good if you don't question him on anything--even if it's something he hired you for and he has said explicitly that he knows nothing about. He will fire you at a moment's notice without even talking to you about it. You'll just find out by being locked out of your Gmail and Slack. In the time I was there, 7 longtime employees left in 4 months. On a team of 12, that's a really big deal. Office hours are from 9-5, but if you aren't there at 8 and you don't leave until well after 5, Chris Westmeyer will think you don't work hard enough. There is no concept of HR. There is no one you can talk to without it getting back to Westmeyer. There is always the possibility of retaliation. No one's job is safe there. Advice to Management Take pride out of your management style. Be kinder to your employees and create a work environment that isn't based on fear, but based on appreciation and support. That's how you keep employees and make them loyal. Not by making a hunting lodge office or buying lunch for the team after you fire someone. The benefits you offer like health insurance and PTO do not even out the poor treatment on a daily basis. Helpful (3) October 7, 2019 Helpful (5) Former Employee - Senior CopyWriter I worked at Digital Strike full-time for less than a year Pros LaCroix, super smart co-workers, cool office space Cons Toxic environment. Wes (Chris) is a very volatile person who says and does a lot of inappropriate things and has no trust in his employees whatsoever. He will throw you to 1.0 Doesn't Recommend Digital Strike Reviews | Glassdoor https://www.glassdoor.com/Reviews/Digital-Strike-Reviews-E1059548.htm[10/1/2020 11:39:36 AM] the wolves at any time to save face for himself. High expectations but no mentoring whatsoever. He makes it seem like the most incredible place to work because of all of the perks offered on paper (free insurance is great), but it's just not worth it. In the brief time I was there, 50% of employees left. It's just not a place for a career. Advice to Management Become a silent partner and hire an experienced HR person to sit in-house full time. Use your skills to sell clients (what you do best) but don't sacrifice your employees' wellbeing for your ego. Helpful (5) Thank you for the time to provide your insights and suggestions as they are appreciated. Digital Strike has exceedingly high performance standards that it places on team members in a less structured environment allowing people to gravitate towards their strengths. Sometimes people are not up to the challenge and may find the environment difficult, while others take advantage of the opportunity to learn and grow. So, while this position did not work out for you, we do wish you the best in your future endeavors. Digital Strike Response – Owner August 16, 2019 Helpful (3) "Good Employees, Poor Ownership" Former Employee - Digital Strategist in Saint Louis, MO I worked at Digital Strike full-time for more than a year Pros - Variable office space with outside seating, conference rooms, and treadmill desks to get away from being watched 24.7 -Generous snack/drink options -Holiday break/bonus Cons -Poor leadership that does not trust employee's autonomy 1.0 Doesn't Recommend Negative Outlook Digital Strike Reviews | Glassdoor https://www.glassdoor.com/Reviews/Digital-Strike-Reviews-E1059548.htm[10/1/2020 11:39:36 AM] Choose a different language and keep reading other reviews. English (7 reviews) 7 English reviews out of 7 Reviews > Digital Strike < / > Embed -Lack of content management experience -Unwillingness to improve the work-flow process -Not enough flexibility in time management -Clients receiving poor work from some 'specialists'. The clients do not know what questions that should be asked, and Digital Strike does nothing to tell them, even when they could lead to better results. AT times it felt like we were told to lie by omission versus rocking the status quo. Advice to Management Trust your employees. You preach about 'owning' accounts and work, but do not allow any ideas to come through that are not yours. It does not matter when billable hours are completed, or where. For such a small organization, there is too much emphasis on showing up 9-5 versus being productive and actually returning ROI. Digital Strike will not survive unless it adapts. Helpful (3) Other Work in HR or Marketing? Get a free employer account