Advertising Discussions
Layoffs

I thought the great resignation would pause layoffs, but just saw two BBDO posts on LinkedIn…

Any other agencies going through layoffs this early in the year?

Has anyone been fired while WFH since the pandemic started? I’m curious to know how it went down. Was it over the phone or Zoom? How long after did you have access to your computer?

I got laid off in December and am considering taking a massive pay cut for my next job. I was client side being massively overpaid, but always stressed and didn’t love the pressure of being senior.

Am I insane thinking about taking a 50% pay cut for a much more junior role doing work I was doing 5-7 years ago? But at a company I’m interested in?

After being laid off for like the 4th time in the last 10 years, I’m ready to go full time freelance and work for myself. Are there any resources out there for non-creatives on this journey? My background is strategy, analytics & general brand. I can also do media planning/buying for smaller clients.

How do you handle bad references? Let’s say you were fired a few years ago and the agency gives less-than-glowing reviews during employment verification calls, which has road blocked potential job offers.

Interview question: Is it inappropriate to ask how the company handled COVID during 2020-2021 (I'd say "peak" but lol the waves haven't stopped)? Is this best asked to HR or the hiring manager?

I understand layoffs were inevitable in certain places, but I think it's a huge red flag if they forced their employees to go into the office during this time.

Anyone else automatically assume you’re getting fired after you get locked out of your email account?

I swear this only happens to me on Friday mornings when I’ve recently changed my login credentials 🤯😤

How do you know you’re an asset to an agency? I’ve read about people getting laid off on the spot, no prior notice nothing.

Is this normal in advertising?

The Publicis Groupe agency I used to work for had to lay off 80% of its employees (~1000 people) over the last 5 years. Most of its leadership was promoted. 0 were fired.

That’s the post.

Unemployment question: I worked as a permalance 1099 employee at the same agency since Jan 2020 but just got laid off in Oct. Now I’m finishing up a 3 week gig as a W2 contract employee. Am I eligible to file for unemployment in CA? Can’t find the answer online or reach anyone on the phone.

How’s the agency market right now? Last year people were getting fired, cut hours, and laid off. This past month I’m seeing a lot of open roles. new accounts, and some potential, but still not AOR.

Do you think the bad is over?
Is there hope in advertising agencies or should we all go in-house?
Will we be able to do good work with good people (Directors, Photographers, Post Production ) again?

Think often about how at my last full time job the CCOs tried really hard to gaslight me into thinking my partner needed to be fired for taking all of his allotted PTO for the year.

Squid games, but when you get eliminated, you get fired.

That moment when you see all your work (verbatim from the deck) splayed across an ex-client’s new website, when you got fired because they thought it was weak.

I started a new job and was originally supposed to be on two accounts but got pulled off one to focus on the other. It’s now giving me a ton of anxiety. I just know if we loose that one account, I’m laid off whereas if I’m more diversified I have a better shot not being laid off. We’re not in review or anything so my question is…am I being paranoid or am I right to be worried?

I got laid off in august and found a freelance gig a couple weeks later. If the freelance gig goes away will I qualify for unemployment? Assuming I don’t qualify right now, right? (I’m in CA)

What triggers layoffs at agencies besides Covid? Losing accounts? Pretty fresh in the industry but I see convos about people getting laid off & I feel like I wouldn’t see it coming if it were to happen.

Anyone ever heard of outsourced HR companies doing workplace inspection? Is this average or should we start sweating about layoffs? Business is good for us and we’ve been winning new clients.

Ease my suspicions. Or give me good advice. Thanks!

Got a tax guy or gal you love? Got laid off, started freelancing full time and moved states (WA) and have been writing random numbers on my quarterly taxes.

Spring '19: Agency suddenly "asks me to leave." Covid layoff? Covid not a thing yet. They just didn't want *ME*.

Spring '19-Summer '20: Battle 10-bajillion other freelancers for scraps of work, riddled w/ fear/shame/doubt that career's over & can't support my family. LOSER DAD!

Summer '20: Get freelance gig, in-house, big brand, nice ppl, producing tons...wait, they actually need/want ME?

Summer '21: Still permalance. Happiest yr of life creatively AND personally

So?: Don't give up.

Workers demand more wages
Companies pay workers more wages
Companies need to layoff workers
Execs get bonuses
More companies close
More workers unemployed
Execs get bonuses
Workers demand more jobs
Companies pay workers less wages
Companies hire more workers
Workers demand more wages
Workers cancel execs
Workers become execs
Companies have no workers
Execs get no bonuses
Execs destroy companies
Companies destroy world
World starts over
World is perfect
Workers demand more wages

What’s the proper way to write an email after getting terminated?

Is there any way to get a reference or at least make sure they don’t say anything bad to a future employer?

(No severance package, wrong fit for team, 2 months in, first job)

I’m guessing you can’t use the same indie recruiter/talent specialist again or they won’t risk recommending you if the last gig you got from them you were fired.

How's Edelman NY? Getting hit up for Health which I've never done. It'll entail moving from advertising to PR/earned creative as they call it, and the Health category.

Didn't sound like hard sell pharma, quite a bit of branded video content.

I searched on FB, sounded mostly negative culturally (employee fired during Pride month, political, creatives better watch their backs, climate denier) with a few who love it.

Figured I'll ask if anything's changed, if it's even worth ... considering.

TL,DR: how to jump from Advertising to Client Side when mid/senior creative?
I started at my agency doing Design and stayed…from Junior Designer to Associate Creative Director. 15 years, 1 place. When I got laid off due to Covid last year, it hit me: I’d been doing Advertising for 5-8 of the last years or more, and I didn’t like it. Didn’t like project-based work, or endless estimation meetings, or lack of WLB or “agency life”. How can I best/where can I best move client-side at my level?

News outlets report 95% of current employees are thinking of changing jobs. The ad industry had massive layoffs last year, so a lot of people are looking for work.

Yet agencies are reportedly having trouble finding talent.

Assuming you’re offering fair pay, if you can’t poach or find talent in this scenario, your recruiters are incompetent, or you’re being way too picky.

An old client of mine just personally texted me for a favor (because I have something she needed). She was a piece of shit, used power play and treated every one awfully whenever possible and got fired from her old job because so. Am I doing the right thing ghosting her?

Is anyone like… scared of getting laid off the second they get hired

I see a lot of people condemning others for being critical or harsh towards Leadership at their agency, and I want to know why? We should be holding our Leaders to the highest standards and not feel bad about it, because they do the same to us and we are the ones being laid off or passed over for promotions/raises when we don’t meet their expectations, not them. Because indirectly when we fail, oftentimes it is more of a failure of Leadership than just one individual.

Is it weird to work at a place where you were laid off due to corona? If they’re hiring, is it weird to reach out? Left on good terms.

During the panny, my agency moved a handful of us to a different office with no choice. Basically said we’d be fired if we didn’t comply. When we asked if we would ever have to move to the new city, we were given no answers for months. Now, they’re saying back to office in September and I have a feeling they’ll be expecting us to move. Should I ask for money to move? I personally can’t afford to and told them from the start I can’t move. Also, I really don’t want to leave my S/O. Help!

I’ve moved to a new city during the pandemic. I believe we return to the office in September. In the case that I can’t work remotely, would the company just fire me? Do you think they’d offer severance? (I’ve been here for 3 yrs)

Is it common to negotiate the severance package when receiving and offer letter? I.e 3 months of severance for more senior roles? (VP and up)

I’m being terminated at the end of August because I’m gay… I was told my “lifestyle no longer fits within the culture of the organization”.
I was told I’m being given a severance check and should feel lucky for it. The workplace is highly toxic and frankly I don’t want to be there any longer.
I’m struggling to find work in the California area.
I need job leads and help.

In another thread, a freelancer refers to being “laid off” after presenting TV work that was bought by the client. Two questions: Should a freelancer have any expectations regarding on-going employment? And is there any obligation on the agency’s part to pay a freelancer to produce a concept that they developed?