Advertising Discussions
Layoffs

Do the executive layoffs at mccann health mean that pharma is now hurting too? (Asking for a friend who just moved into pharma after avoiding it for 5 years ok it’s me)

Should an ad agency be able to thoroughly check my references and ask for my entire employment history (including why I left each job) before agreeing on a salary?

I’ve had 7 interviews, met every stakeholder, was initially approached by one of them, who will be my boss. Plus I’ve had great feedback after every interview.

I was laid off from my previous job because of COVID so don’t have a ton of leverage. But that shouldn’t make me powerless. The process just seems like overkill.

Thoughts?

Curious from agency leaders, what’s the better strategy? Pay cuts/long term salary freezes, but limiting layoffs as much as possible VS. having furloughs/layoffs and being able to provide promotion and raise opportunities.

I’ve experienced both at different agencies, and have been saved and burned by both sides. Would love to know everyone’s thoughts!

I recently accepted a new role after being laid off. I feel really blessed to have found a job in this climate. My new boss is wonderful! However, the role itself isn’t in the direction I want to go. I’m struggling with feeling guilty for continuing to job search. Any advice on staying somewhere for a good boss vs. switching jobs so soon?

Going on 5 months since I was laid off and I’m slowing losing hope. I’ve exhausted all my contacts, my network, people not even in my network. I feel that I’m never not looking and I’m running out of options. I know I’m not alone by any stretch but somehow it doesn’t make it easier.

Question for others who are looking for work due to COVID layoffs: what are you doing to make some money until agencies start hiring again?

Are lay-offs still happening?? I heard that Wongdoody just laid off 14 or so. Any others of late?

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 else finding it strange when people post on LinkedIn that they were laid off and then tag the company thanking them for the time they did have? The company doesn’t give a shit about you - maybe your manager did, but the company would lay you off again in a heartbeat given the chance. Stop being loyal to a corporation

It’s so nice that every agency laying off people, have those left standing (and other agencies) trying to hustle jobs for their unemployed friends, but there are also a ton of people who were unemployed prior to Covid...so no severance, job hunting lot longer, and not earning income for longer time...hurting even MORE due to quarantine.

With the W&K layoffs ...
1. Recruiters are getting psyched.
2. Freelancers are even more unnerved.
3. Axe will fall on people phoning it in at other shops.

What are your other predictions ? People leave ad game altogether?

Has any agency NOT had layoffs?

People with young families...what goes through your mind when you get laid off and is everyone with a job thinking of a backup plan in the case they lose their job?

Laid off with most of my team. Really frustrated with corporate leadership in general, watching them protect overhead over employees.

If I had access to capital and RFPs, I’d build a collective of teams to respond to briefs, pay everyone a flat fee for participation, have everyone pitch in competition, and winners oversee execution. Just get rid of all the overhead, bonafide meritocracy. Anyone work at V&S or other crowdsourced agency experiments? Why did they fail?

People without partners are usually laid off. Why?

Apparently LinkedIn laid off 1,000 people today 😢

It’s been 5 months since I was laid off and it’s starting to really eat at me. It feels hopeless some days. I know I’m not alone, but wow this sucks.

I was trying hard to get a new job in NYC before pandemic but obviously had to put all that on hold. Now I’ve been at my first agency for over 3 years now and am worried I’ll be pigeon-holed in the niche creative I’ve been doing. I still want to go to NYC eventually but don’t know when or how. Should I just be counting my blessings that I have a job? Is it awful that I almost wish I was laid off so I could finally just jump ship and move to NYC and make it work?

Hello there, i’m wondering if anyone on this group has experience opening your own agency? I was laid off in April and had been freelancing ever since. I have been luck enough getting a few projects without really seeking people out while slowly interviewing. In the back of my mind I have always wanted my own agency. How do you get more clients and dealing with the sales/pitching process on your own? also as WOC i don’t feel like have the right network to tap into for higher earning projects

Heard there are going to be big layoffs across Omnicom's agencies. Anyone have details?

Are more layoffs coming? 😭 do you think companies can afford to lay off even more people?

Do you think more agency layoffs are on the way, or are we now in the recovery phase?

Feeling really down and anxious about the fact that a few of my close team members were laid off. Tips for adjusting into my new work environment and continuing to job search without feeling so anxious all the time?

Laid off. Wha wha. Anyone hiring out there?

Laid off folks: what was your severance like? Particularly interested in people who’d worked for their agency < 1 year. Did you get anything at all?

Does anybody know which agencies got PPP loans and then had layoffs? Were you at one and/or a layoff casualty after an agency PPP injection?

Four layoffs in four years. I think I’m finally done with this business.

So unemployment in NY … my severance was 2 weeks pay. Because my severance is 7 times my weekly UI benefit, that means I can’t receive UI for 7 weeks? If so, I got royally fked.

Welp, just got laid off from Havas. Who is hiring?

Newly laid off with little in the way of prospects due to the economy. Does anyone have advice on negotiating a severance package or hiring an employment lawyer to do so? The company I worked for have a very poor package (two months pay for 8 years of service).

How’s WKNY doing these days? Heard about the layoffs in London

Hey, what’s working at Grey like these days? Going strong? Layoffs? Killing it creatively? Shark Tank?

Just want to thank the people in this bowl for giving me advice on several posts awhile back post-COVID layoffs. Had taken on 2 other (senior) people’s jobs/duties and then successfully managed and executed 3 major projects, I finally asked my new boss (team lead) about a title change and I’m glad I did! It was definitely something he had not thought about but could see the clear reasoning behind it and was willing to go to HR to ask if it was possible.

Recently laid off - is it better to be upfront about your current work situation in resume and job applications or should you appear as though presently employed? Feels like less of a stigma right now due to covid but wondering what’s best practice.