I don't remember Cengage being this difficult to work for. We're dealing with heavy workloads, frustrating systems, weak leadership, and pay that no longer feels competitive. And to think, we used to be one of the premier employers in our field. How things have changed.
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@mw they got rid of so many people with institutional and content knowledge. I bet it's the same for other disciplines.
Here's what I'm hearing from multiple people in the field:
Higher Ed schools are finalizing ISBN selections this week, with some institutions potentially extending decisions until November 1.
Anyone who has worked in educational publishing understands what that means. The window to win meaningful Spring business is rapidly closing, and in many cases may have already closed.
One manager told me that last year's Fall selling season was already among the weakest they had seen. According to them, this year appears to be even more challenging.
So far, no one on their team has reported closing any significant new business. At the same time, several reps have reported substantial losses in key disciplines, including Computing and Economics.
The level of concern is growing. One manager estimated their territory could be down as much as $2 million or more by March 31 if current trends continue.
Whether these reports ultimately reflect the broader business remains to be seen. But if similar conversations are happening across multiple teams, it would help explain why so many employees are questioning management's outlook and asking for greater transparency around the numbers.
@kx I didn't hear any specific news about this, but my manager and some higher-ups around me are acting panicky. I think they're trying to embrace themselves for another April/May 2027 apocalypse. Kind of like how wild creatures act before a disaster.
@b2 is there another layoff predicted, or something more cataclysmic (selling off parts of the company, etc)?
@cb exactly the same here. It’s funny bc Cengage reps/managers always thought we were beneath them and at some “little ol” company that didn’t contribute much. little did they know we’ve been making double+ than them 😂 uncapped commissions stack up fast. And half the workload. No professors. No bookstores. An amazing summer.
This pay hasn’t been competitive for years. I came from another “Cengage” company before being rolled into HigherEd textbooks and we were being paid double what HED is being paid. And we kept our salaries and the differences in payouts got added to our salaries.
The environment has changed entirely. Most people in my team are on survival mode and even the middle managers are doing whatever they can to keep their jobs. It's no longer about the textbook and products. Everyone around me is trying to look busy and useful. My calendar is flooded with meetings after meetings entailing meaningless conversations. It's like everyone around me knows that their days are numbered so they're desperately trying to stay afloat. As if they're one paycheck away from termination.