International Business Times

I am tired of reading about the First Ladies wardrobe and personal life from a paper called BUSINESS TIMES. What the *** does that have to do with business?

I interviewed with the company and employees in the editorial department at The International Business Times have warned me about the unfair practices there. Everything from unequal pay to promises that are often made by the CEO, Etienne Uzac & Jonathan Davis but are always broken.

From what I was told these reporters are often brought on as independent contractors when the jobs are posted as if they are actual employment opportunities. I thought I was getting a full-time opportunity with benefits until I was told by Davis & Uzac that my gig would be independent contractor. I was and still am very upset about it. Very disappointing.

I was really looking forward to joining the team but after my experience I had to check other reviews online. From what I gather from these online posts, Uzac & Davis do not like to be compliant and thinks they are above the law. A company with such great potential has two founders that apparently lack management skills and don't understand the consequences of bad business. In order to get favorable results you have to first start with taking care of your people.

Sitting in your executive offices all days is not going to move your companies forward nor your employees. I recall asking Davis for a formal roadmap of his business' success and never got anything. Only goes to show you just how unorganized, inexperienced, and ineffective the leaders are. Think twice before you jump the band wagon.

Read the reviews online and understand that if a leader of an organization does and cares for nothing about the reputation of his own company, they obviously don't care about your personal /career development, financial stability, personal and professional satisfaction. They often take short cuts when it comes to their workers by classifying them as independent contractors but they really are being treated like employees. This my friends is FRAUDULENT. And by doing this they avoid having to pay Unemployment Insurance or Workers Compensation on those given the independent contractor opportunity.

Meaning that they can let you go anytime and you're not protected. Speculations are speculations but previous employees that were left disgruntled are obviously writing many of these posts online to show the true nature of International Business Times' leaders (Uzac, Davis). The company can be compared to Enron, if you will. They come up with these bogus connected but separate entities and digital properties, some with pretend physical locations and people that don't exist.

I hope the NYS Attorney General would look into this business and see what's really going on. A CFO that doesn't want to make herself known (Marion Kim /Uzac) to employees. Etienne Uzac who asks interview questions that are discriminate in nature during a job interview. Davis who has no executive or strategic knack whatsoever.

There are many separate entities they use to avoid leaving a paper trail. They start various publications so they won't have to hire employees full-time. Immigrant workers there that are supposedly employees do not receive health benefits from what I understand. Why is that?

If they are reporting into the office everyday as you request why are they being misclassified and being refused benefits, fair salaries and such?

New York State District Attorney needs to look into this operations soon.

Good people (except for management) to work with and be around.

You get a desk, a phone and a PC

The CND staff is great and always helpful with story ideas and how to make yourself better. A great thing to have for a new reporter starting out.

People in the office are friendly.

You are able to pitch ideas without feeling that they will be shot down.

You get a write a lot of stories about various topics which helps you build your portfolio.

Where to Start, here goes....

1. Really bad HR person that was let go, now a new person has taken over. She was here for a week never introduced herself to the staff nor was she introduced by management. After a week, came in when she felt like and she was out on vacation for a week. Already has no time for employees and is on her cell phone anytime you come by the office to talk.

2. The CEO (a Joke) is egotistical and thinks everyone working here should thank and kiss his feet for giving them a job. Has no sense on how to manage a company and only hires YES men.

2. The CCO (the biggest joke) has no experience in journalism, sits in his office all day watching TV and listening to music. I don't think he has ever read any of the articles written by the staff, no one knows how he got the job.

3. Editor in Chief (LOL) is the same as above except he has experience in the news business and a sketchy character.

4. CTO, have no idea who this person is, never talked to him. Have seen him sitting in his office all day like the rest of management. Only time they come out is to eat or use the restroom. The IT staff is good and always helpful, although some cannot communicate that well in english.

5. Finance, again no idea who that is. You get paid once a month (who does that in this day and age) and don't even get your paystub, all you get is an email letting you know what you earned.

6. They hire you as an Independent Contractor at 1st so they don't have to pay employee's Social Security and Medicare taxes, state unemployment compensation insurance, and workers' compensation insurance. Forget about overtime, even as an IC you will not get it.

Where to Start, here goes....

1. Really bad HR person that was let go, now a new even worse person has taken over. She was here for a week never introduced herself to the staff nor was she introduced by management. After a week, came in when she felt like and she was out on vacation for a week. Already has no time for employees and is on her cell phone anytime you come by the office to talk.

2. The CEO (a Joke) is egotistical and thinks everyone working here should thank and kiss his feet for giving them a job. Has no sense on how to manage a company and only hires YES men.

2. The CCO (the biggest joke) has no experience in journalism, sits in his office all day watching TV and listening to music. I don't think he has ever read any of the articles written by the staff, no one knows how he got the job.

3. Editor in Chief (LOL) is the same as above except he has experience in the news business and a sketchy character.

4. CTO, have no idea who this person is, never talked to him. Have seen him sitting in his office all day like the rest of management. Only time they come out is to eat or use the restroom. The IT staff is good and always helpful, although some cannot communicate that well in english.

5. Finance, again no idea who that is. You get paid once a month (who does that in this day and age) and don't even get your paystub, all you get is an email letting you know what you earned.

6. They hire you as an Independent Contractor at 1st so they don't have to pay employee's Social Security and Medicare taxes, state unemployment compensation insurance, and workers' compensation insurance. Forget about overtime, even as an IC you will not get it.

Clearly, this was written by someone in management. Which is either Etienne Uzac or Johnathan Davis.

The two "bubble boys" who think they know it all. I call them "bubble boys" because they keep themselves locked in their offices.

[When it comes time to post a complaint, in some cases, it is hard to define what category it belongs to.

For example, a restaurant review concerning awful cuisine can go to the food section, and the poor quality of products in a supermarket may also refer to the same category. Low service level in a restaurant may refer to the SERVICE category or to the OTHER one...]

Well I would like to state that with interviewing for the past couple of months this indeed has to be the most humiliating disrespectful interview I have ever endured.

Position: Office Manger/ Receptionist

Location: 7 Hanover Square, New York, NY

I was call by Mr. Guillaume in regards to an application I submitted for office manager/receptionist after a 20 minute phone interview I was invited for an in person interview the following week. Excited and research oriented I did my best to learn about the company.

The day of my interview I was dressed very professionally and very organized.

I arrived at the Wall Street Location at 1pm I was told to have a seat by a teenage female serving as receptionist, the office is fairly spacious and empty I could tell the location was new.

After waiting 45 minutes I was told by the receptionist that the "HR lady Ruby Hwang" did not come into work today. I was surprised that no one would call to neither reschedule my interview nor inform me not to arrive. The receptionist then proceeded to inform me that the CEO Etienne Uzac would like to meet with me but at a later time of 2:30pm. Since I have already wasted so much time thus far I figured maybe my wait would not be in vain and looked upon as drive and dedication.

However after 2:30 passed I got a little concerned at 3:00pm the receptionist told me Mr. Uzac was running a little late, a little late turned out to be an hour and half late! At 4:10 Mr. Uzac walked into the office not acknowledging me nor apologizing for IB Times neglect to my other engagements. Totally confused after waiting from 1:00pm to 4:00pm I glanced at the receptionist and she gave me an uncertain smile, which followed, he will be with you shortly.

When ushered to Mr. Uzac office I was not giving any type of greeting he actually had the demeanor as if I was suppose to wait 3 hours to be interviewed he NEVER apologized about anything. The interview was rushed 5 minutes to be exact so yes reviewers I waited 3 hours for a 5-minute interview.

Within the interview I expressed my ability to go beyond the call of duty by completing 16 hr shifts in my previous position. Mr. Uzac then asked me what time clocking system did my previous company use, I responded they used a hand identifying machine, he then proceeded to ask me if I'm sure I did not know how to rig the system, was I sure I did not have a fake hand or someone else clocking in and out for me?

Confused on whether Mr. Uzac was making a bad joke or insulting my integrity I let the comment blow over. I did inform him that this was impossible and frequently there was a manager on site to confirm my attendance. This was not professional why would any company insinuate theft within an interview?

I was appalled by Mr. Uzac disregard but I remained confident that this might be the one since I've waited as if I was employed already and my qualifications seem to be a perfect fit to what the company was seeking. Mr. Uzac told me I would know a decision within the next day and asked did I remember my way out.

Feeling a little hopefully because of the quick decision time expressed. I put aside the blatant disrespect that I had occurred. That night I sent a thank you letter with attachments of my references. The next day around 4pm I decided to give a call just to confirm they received my email. Mr. Uzac did inform me that I would know by today. When I called first the receptionist did not know if he was in the office then after a brief hold she told me he said to email him and he already received my Thank You letter already.

Well this is what I received today...

Hi Tia,

Thank you for coming to interview with me.

We decided to not move forward with your application.

Best of luck in your job hunting endeavors.

Best,

Etienne

No explanation just a cold mechanical letter after all the woes I've endured! I write this review after being very humiliated; I am certain that after 1 second Mr. Uzac probably knew that he would not hire me because I was not the right complexion for his company! I for one never jump to the race conclusion but in this situation it is bold and blatant.

If I could I would attach a picture of my appearance the day of my interview and my resume if allowed. There was no way I could be critiqued in 5 minutes, my patience and dedication was completely ignored by IB Times and Mr. Uzac. I'm saddened that this type of ignorance is still present in such a multi-cultured city.

In closing this is NYC home of diversity it's shameful that I now send a link with my professional profile and picture just to ensure that my time is not wasted upon the perception of my non ethnic name.

IB Times, Mr. Uzac, Ruby Hwang and Mr. Guillaume you should all be very ashamed of yourselves. I am aware that IB Times is a private corporation but if any board members are reading this and do not agree with this type of pretentious degrading behavior I suggest correcting the HR process immediately.

Please feel free to contact me in regards to this ordeal.