Advertising Discussions
Benefits

I'm an expat thinking about starting a 401k. Is that a good move? I have no intention of retiring in the US but would be ok with leaving the money here until reaching retirement age.

Is it still worth putting money into a 401K if you're an expat and don't intend on retiring in the US, or even staying more than a few years? Are there major penalties for cashing in before retirement age?

I’m expecting a job offer soon for an independent agency and will be just shy of 3 years at an IPG shop. Is there any way to negotiate keeping the $ matched by IPG for your 401k? Or do you lose that money entirely?

Applied for what I thought was freelance for an agency but instead they’re offering a ‘short-term hire’ position that lasts 3 months and includes PTO, medical, and 401k. Why would they offer that? Is this worth it? I’m already insured and a 3-month 401k plan seems odd to me...

Maybe it’s burnout from a job where all the cool work benefits you could brag to your friends about are gone bc you wfh now and don’t have access to your cool office and now you work around the clock because there’s no separation between home and work and your agency has done next to nothing to help with that balance and you’ve billed more hours per week than you ever had and now your friends and family are starting to comment on your workload, health, and demeanor.

Maybe it’s Maybelline ✨

Which agency network has the worst health insurance? (I vote Havas, Aetna is so useless)

So, I’m in my mid-20s and have been feeling simultaneously too old and too young. i.e: Too young to fret about maternity leave but too old to not be realistic about my future family desires. Normal?

When will our companies re-start contributing to our 401k? Seems like they should have months ago. The stocks market is doing well...

Why do I always see job postings for Pharma and Healthcare agencies? It’s like they can never fill their roles. 24/7 365.

If I was in that part of advertising and enjoyed the work, I feel like my job security, promotions and money would be in a much better spot than where I am now,

If anyone is looking for a job due to Covid layoffs, might not hurt to suck it up and do pharma work for a bit!

Any recommendations / watch outs on getting your own health insurance after being laid off? (spoiler: just got laid off)

Doing a competitive look at 401k employer contributions in a long shot attempt to improve our own. How does your agency/employer contribute to your plan? If matching, how much? If profit sharing, is anyone expecting an employer contribution this year when profit is shot? Other? Please respond with agency name so we can have a comprehensive look at the market. Thanks!

If I go into healthcare/pharma agency, is it possible to go back to a normal agency?

I got recruited for a analytical role with Ford, it’s a contract to hire position with great benefits, double my salary currently and close to home. The contract is for 6 months then can be hired in full time. Should I take the position or no? What do I have to lose?

Has anyone had unemployment benefits rejected?! I found out today that after filing for 9 weeks, they’re saying I’m ineligible due to receiving severance. I know others who received severance & got their benefits already. I’m going to appeal but welcome an advice from anyone else that has had to fight to get their money!!

Anyone been hired through Solomon page temp to perm? How does payment work? They’ve contacted me 3x about a role but I feel like I can’t swallow not having benefits unless I get offered full time. Also getting paid through them seems like it could be sketchy.

Why is pharma/healthcare unpopular? Have seen a few things in the bowl and just curious!

Fishies - does your agency provide benefits related to individuals or couples looking to start or grow a family through surrogacy? Any sort of insurance or monetary support?

Is LinkedIn helpful?

I only see it as a means to showcase one's experience/education background. Am I missing out on its benefits?

Not a lot of big agencies post jobs there (atleast in my city) and the recruiters that do reach out have vague, often marketing-related, job offers.

Agency is in a promotion freeze but there’s an open role for the title I want (level above) on a different client. I’m being offered the role but my title wouldnt be adjusted because of the freeze, so I’d essentially be doing the work with no added benefits (pay or title). Is it worth it? Will I look bad for declining?

I am a dedicated resource for a brand at my agency. Does that mean I am...working in-house without the benefits?

Benefits that could have included respect for time and talent.

I am honestly wondering if I should just go in-house to the same brand because I do quite like them.

Anybody here from Wunderman Thompson Cincinnati? I can’t find your office number on the webs and need to leave a measage for your benefits people. DM me? 🙏🏼

Hey all, I’m drafting an RFP bid, and struggling with a number to include for client’s responsibility for allocated overhead, benefits, payroll taxes, etc. Any thoughts on what is customary here? Thx!

Can we all form a union already? Get paid overtime. Get good health benefits. Get sweet satin jackets. Get iron eagle Local 151 hard hat stickers for our Macs. And get paid for pitches - cause no agency else has the guts to stop giving away hundreds of thousand of dollars of free work. Imagine four plumbers coming to your business, doing the whole job for free. Each of them. One by one. And not paying them. Your business would be burnt to the ground and you’d end up in a ditch.

I freelanced at Wunderman Thompson NY and received an end of year tax form stating they withheld money from my check for health insurance. Any HR contacts there to reach out to? No response from them.

Why do recruiters never tell you which agency they want to talk to you about until they get you on the phone? I don’t want to waste anyone’s time and it would be helpful to know this info from the initial outreach. My experience with this only applies to healthcare, but would imagine it’s the same in consumer as well. Anyone?

Any non citizens here? What’s your opinion on 401k if you don’t know if you will be in the US all your life?

I was just hired (yay!) freelance for the first time in years. What are freelancers doing for healthcare these days? (No plan offered by my agency.) I imagine it’s very different than it was during the Obama era. TIA!

Advice needed! Have just been asked to Freelance with W2 form. Without any benefits. Is this even possible? Would I lose my eligibility for Unemployment insurance once the gig ends? I was laid off from my full time agency job 2 months ago and have already freelanced as self employed on an LLC since. Seems like they’re being tight and taking advantage of the current climate.

Thoughts on joining Epsilon as a Strategic Consultant? What’s it like working there? What’s it like working with the inter-agency teams, whether they’re within Publicis or external to Publicis? Benefits of being a Strategic Consultant at Epsilon? Downsides?

Seeking Agency: an opportunity came my way that is not right for my company but trying to find someone who’d be a good fit. A California healthcare company needs to produce a repositioning spot for end of July launch. $200-$400k all in with fees. (Potential longer term arrangement and website redo down the road). Is this doable? I know there must be some hungry agency out there that could do it for the price tag

Are there any companies out there who provide paid maternity leave to new employees? (No one year employment requirement)

If you were laid off and had a 401k of about 14k, would you leave it alone until you find a new job or pay taxes to roll it into your Roth IRA?

And as the healthcare worker took off their mask after a grueling 12 hour shift, walked to their hotel room that they’re isolating in, kissed their family goodnight over FaceTime, one refreshing thought came to their mind: I could really go for....

...a blue angels flyover right about now.

What’s the best covid related healthcare /hospital ad you’ve seen?

With all the layoffs and pending layoffs, anyone here still believe that your health insurance coverage should be attached to your job?

Has anyone in NY received unemployment benefits yet? My claim status has been pending for 6 weeks now. Obviously I’ve tried calling hundreds of times but I can’t get a human being on the phone. Help?!

Just curious if I might be a little protected from layoffs since I had told HR that my partner is pregnant way before all this. Trying to make it to paternity leave. Does it matter?

What’s the salary for a junior at Grey healthcare?