CORPORATE CULTURE: Bauer Publishing USA

Folio: The Magazine for Magazine Management, August 1, 2002

Byline: Heather Holliday

PORTFOLIO: Eight magazines, including checkout-counter staples Woman's World and Soap Opera Insider, as well as teen titles Twist and J-14. The company recently folded Soap Opera Update, but is launching a weekly entertainment title, InTouch, this November.

LOCATION: Headquartered in Englewood Cliffs, NJ, with ad offices in New York City.

WORD ON THE COMPANY: "Everybody's friendly," says one staffer. "There's no airs - it's not Conde Nast," adds an ex-Conde Naster. Titles operate independently, but company support is available if you seek it.

ATMOSPHERE: Office wear is "individualized," varying from "dressy casual to very casual - but they draw the line at cut-offs." The young, mostly unmarried staff is pretty evenly split between men and women. The workspace is a cube farm and some complain there's a shortage on privacy.

BENEFITS: Employees get 401k with employer match and full health and dental coverage, including reimbursement for gym memberships.

PERKS: West coast-based employees work from home, some never having set foot in corporate HQ. Invites to parties are plentiful and free movies abound. After fashion shoots "there's a free-for-all," one staffer gushes. Working on the teen mags or soap titles means there's ample opportunity to encounter celebrities. The company hosts an annual BBQ in July and a holiday party.

CHURN: Unlike many other publishers, Bauer hasn't cut staff in the downturn. Employees say there's no revolving-door mentality here, but one grades turnover as "medium."

CHALLENGES: Most of Soap Opera Update's staff was dispersed throughout other magazines. One admits, "It's hard when you break up a group of people who have been together." A number of staffers say they'd prefer to be across the river in New York City, especially those who face a two-hour commute from Gotham. Other staffers say they would just like a raise.