If you like mediocrity, you'll love Wolf Theiss!
Gut am Arbeitgeber finde ich
Located in the first district of Vienna.
Schlecht am Arbeitgeber finde ich
Everything else, including the bland, boilerplate reply that HR will undoubtedly add to this review (if it's published).
Verbesserungsvorschläge
A new approach to management would solve a lot of problems.
Arbeitsatmosphäre
Competence, initiative, creativity - if you're capable of any one of these three, you're better off driving a bus for the city than working in my department at Wolf Theiss. The air is so thick with fear of angering, ruffling or otherwise disappointing a partner that new approaches are treated with suspicion before being either rejected or ignored. A manager in my department was fond of saying that lawyers are just risk-adverse and there's nothing we can do about it, yet I met several partners with a sense of humour, a willingness to engage and a desire for creativity. If Denial ain't just a river in Egypt, then where on the map can I find the lake named Projection?
Kommunikation
Not too far from Vienna, you can find the beautiful Melk Abbey, which features among its treasures the corpses of two unnamed saints who repose there, desiccated and ruined, but adorned with robes of gold in elegant sarcophagi. In like manner has Wolf Theiss enshrined communication in its "Corporate Values": well-scrubbed, splendidly dressed, put in a nice box and then ignored by everyone except the tourists.
Goals were hazy at best, praise from my manager was scanty, disappointment was communicated clearly enough, but there was little guidance in how not to disappoint in the future (my guess: shut up and obey). I completed projects that had long since been canceled - my manager had simply forgotten to inform me. As a consolation, I was told that's just how life is.
Kollegenzusammenhalt
I got along well with almost everyone at my level, which makes our regular group therapy sessions much more productive. Extra star to WT for this one!
Work-Life-Balance
Wolf Theiss is where your spare time goes to die. Go ahead and cancel your evening plans now, unless your evening plans involve a visit to the psychiatric ward and a handful of Quaaludes. This is what you'll need to face the next day.
I was subjected to criticism for arriving when we agreed my work hours should begin, and for leaving when those hours - also in agreement with management - ended. Wolf Theiss loves the all-in contract, so much so that its pleasures are not denied its part-time employees.
Vorgesetztenverhalten
My managers seldom included me in decisions and our relationship mostly consisted of being told what to do and when it was due (a lot and immediately). One of the few times I was allowed to make a contribution to an important project, another manager took credit for a cool idea I had. One time I made a suggestion that, to anyone who knows anything about marketing, should have been a no-brainer. It was rejected out-of-hand. Projects led by management are often treated as private property that is not to be trespassed upon.
Interessante Aufgaben
A great deal of daily grind interrupted by meaningless, interminable weekly meetings and semi-annual workshops. The most amusing was the "innovation workshop," during which we spent hours and hours coming up with new ideas for... well, the purpose was never specified. The one idea that seemed to get the most attention was the suggestion that we rename the meeting rooms after cities where our other offices were located.
Gehalt/Sozialleistungen
Do not expect a pay rise. Ever. I asked for one after my annual evaluation once and never even got a response. But what I didn't get in increased pay I did see in more and more overtime.
Once I was asked to work more hours. I said, "sure, as long as you pay me proportionally more." This was rejected and no counteroffer ever came.
Image
Here, we arrive at one of the few rewards of working at Wolf Theiss - people see it on your CV and, I don't know, misty-eyed with memories of watching Ally McBeal with their boyfriends or girlfriends from their days at uni, attribute far more pluck and gravitas to you than you deserve. Just because you can bow, scrape, nod and obey all while never expecting a pay rise or even scant recognition shouldn't mean that you'd necessarily do well at any job, but, inexplicably, the job offers after WT come all the same. Consider it an unexpected counterbalance to the flashbacks and panic attacks. For this, WT gets an extra star.
Karriere/Weiterbildung
A flat hierarchy means there's nowhere to go. In one workshop, someone asked an anonymous question about how a career can develop if the hierarchy is flat. We were told that it might be good to look for a job elsewhere.
Arbeitgeber-Kommentar
Dear ex-colleague,
Thank you for your detailed and humorous feedback. ;-)