WGEM

An Overall Toxic Work Environment

The absolute worst place I have ever worked. Chad M is demeaning, petty, demoralizing, and overall just a yucky person who quite literally gets pleasure in other people's pain. He's twisted.

Do not work here unless you want your mental health to suffer (three employees have recently left citing mental health), you want to be controlled and run out of the business. It's so sad that this many employees can up and leave and leave these reviews and Gray does NOTHING.

An Overall Toxic Work Environment

Over the course of my time at WGEM there have been many highs in this position, but just as many lows. While working here my mental health has been compromised - I have been diagnosed with anxiety and depression. I received no support from Chad Mahoney or the General Manager - both lack any sort of empathy for their "team." My diagnoses was only worsened during the Pandemic. I felt extremely pressured to get the COVID-19 vaccine. I realize as a reporter, we are interviewing people/at events/etc. - but to feel pressured, excluded and isolated...did not lend itself well to my already deteriorating mental health.

I just feel like the leadership at this station lacks compassion for its employees. Many leaders seem to forget that leading others more than anything else should be held in reverence. Being the leader means that you have been placed in a position to serve others. Too often, the ND throws his positional weight around, and instead of leading from a place of service, leads from a place of ego when things get rough - that is not a leader and certainly not one that I want to work under.

Sexual Discrimination, Racial Discrimination, Sexual Harassment, An Overall Toxic Work Environment

The environment is so toxic at WGEM and the news director is so controlling that after seeing real reviews from former employees, the news director posted a fake review on this website hyping himself up. Like..seriously?

Just a horrible news director. Do all you can to stay away from this place you will regret it.

Sexual Harassment, An Overall Toxic Work Environment

I'm not one to speak out about these things, but the more I think about it, the more I realize people should know what they're getting themselves into. Plus, I feel like I've been silenced long enough. Under Chad Mahoney's leadership, there is pressure to NOT speak up. There is intimidation and bullying involved with those who do. Mahoney will make you feel like he's on your team, but the second you have a concern about how something is handled, he will turn on you and use that for leverage against you. He pits employees against each other and encourages them to "tattle-tale" on one another instead of working it out themselves. He also encourages employees to not socialize with each other outside of work. How is that supposed to build a good team? Especially when a lot of the reporters move to this town without knowing anyone. There's also a good ol boy mentality where males talk about women in derogatory terms, sometimes in front of the female employees, and females feel like they can't come forward to express their concerns. Even the general manager has been heard saying "If you don't like it here, then get the hell out." Talk about a welcoming, educational and fun experience.

Chad Mahoney and is managerial team stifle creativity. This is touted as a place where new journalists can come to grow, except that's the farthest thing from the truth. Mahoney likes things done his way. If it's not done that way, he will make sure HIS reporters fall in line. People are treated like property, instead of real people who have real lives and who have real feelings. I would strongly discourage working at this station. It sucks the life out of you. The turnover rate and other negative reviews prove that.

Sexual Discrimination, An Overall Toxic Work Environment

The negative comments made about women, to women, are often overlooked or laughed off. It is a "good ole boys" society with NO females in leadership positions...wonder why? You are encouraged to "tattle tale" on employees instead of work it out like adults which then turns into unorganized, stressful, mess.

Creative control is suppressed. It's a mentality of - this is how it's always done so do it that way. This station is mostly comprised of new reporters/producers. It's toted as a place to learn and grow your craft but it's at the expense of a young persons sanity. They like to hire young females who they can intimidate and harass until they "fall in line." Even the general manager has the attitude of...if you don't like it, then get the hell out. Which he has verbatim on multiple occasions. The leadership is toxic. This could be a great station but leadership doesn't see themselves as the problem. They see the employees as a problem -which is why they have such a high turnover rate with employees. Sad, pathetic, and draining place. Don't work here - they'll suck the life out you.