Director Discussions
Layoffs

Hey all - does anyone have open Art Director roles at the moment? My husband was recently laid off due to client budgets getting slashed (vs. performance) and would appreciate any leads. He worked on a ton of paid social creative, OOH, etc. and is client-facing. Thanks in advance.

Is my husband getting fired? Tonight he got a meeting invite with his bosses boss and an HR director. Meeting is titled “critical business update” my HR gut thinks this is a termination meeting. He’s had a hard last month or two with work due to some circumstances out of his control. He isn’t on a PIP or anything formal, but his boss did have a recent verbal chat about performance. He’s a software engineer for context.

Has anyone here everyone stood up for themselves or someone else on a internal call with their director/partner? Like if they were bullying someone? Curious to see what happened after or if that is something that can get you fired. Our director is a bully to others and if they ever come at me I’m going to stand up for myself but wondering if breaking the professional boundary is worth it.

Why do I always feel like I’m about to be fired ? Talking to my director gives me such anxiety (I feel like she’s always looking at flaws)

Should Severance packages be included in total comp discussions? What amount of time, if any, is acceptable for a Director level role? What amount of time, if any is acceptable for a VP level role?

At Deloitte now. laid off last year while on medical leave. Landed a new job with the help of a senior mentor and vouched for me not knowing my medical limitations. I just had to take sick leave again on the first project out of the gate. Dr is recommending 40 hours a week which will not fit the requirements of my director role. I feel like I need to switch roles to a non client facing role to be realistic in my health limitations. How do I make the switch and have the convo with w my mentor?

Any funny Glow Ups? This person in my previous company/local office got fired as an associate and everyone talked about how awful she was & generally didn’t treat her well — later on she’s a director at one of their key accounts. Watch out who you treat like dirt.

I have been in the industry for ~ 20 years, career slowed down when I went part time to raise a family and care for aging parents and when I moved to Milwaukee, I took a demotion. I was part of Covid layoffs and have been applying for an Account Director role. When I looked on LinkedIn, the company has a lot of young people at VP level. How do I negotiate for that after the fact? What does VP mean at your company?

My old agency is soon going to be releasing work that was originally my art director and my idea - got laid off during COVID. It probably has changed since we left, but can we still ask to have our names on the project?

In the process of negotiating an offer in hand at F100 medical manufacturing company as a senior director. Is negotiating severance into the employment contract standard? If so, what is typical?

As many of us navigate the challenges of negotiating during Covid layoffs, my question is what do you think is a good, fair and realistic salary for an independent agency to offer a Creative Director with 10+ years of experience in metro Detroit, considering the current economic climate?

Can someone please refer me to a Labor Lawyer in NYC? A coworker got laid off without a warning or evaluation process, just because our creative director had personal issues with her. We think she has a case. She’s a great creative and deserve justice.

Agency has seen a lot of turnover due to layoffs and departures. How much notice would you expect a group creative director to give with that context?

I’ve applied to over 40 jobs since I was laid off in March. Not one click to my portfolio, per analytics. With a family of four, we are being spread thin. Not only is the income desperately needed, but my creative soul needs a release. I would be happy to do typical Art Director work but I’m “over qualified” for that and am never taken seriously when applying for work below CD/ACD. If anyone needs or know of any company needing freelance work, large or small—I’d really appreciate the lead. 🙏

I’ve applied to over 40 jobs since I was laid off in March. Not one click to my portfolio, per analytics. With a family of four, we are being spread thin. Not only is the income desperately needed, but my creative soul needs a release. I would be happy to do typical Art Director work but I’m “over qualified” for that and am never taken seriously when applying for work below CD/ACD. If anyone needs or know of any company needing freelance work, large or small—I’d really appreciate the lead. 🙏

In house peeps: I’m interviewing for an in house director of communications role at a tech startup in NYC. I have almost 20 years of experience and worked at top tier national agencies. Before I was laid off I was making $250k. What is reasonable to expect for salary given the current environment?

The worst part of working overtime right after the longest tax season of your life is your spouse getting pissed at you for working. I’m a tax manager who has been the acting tax Director since my firm fired our last Director the week before Christmas. Work has been hell for the last 7 months and now on top of everything else, I’m in charge of payroll (we fired our payroll department in January but still kept like 25 clients for fun) and returns are due Friday. I’m depressed and exhausted.

Layoffs at VSA Partners today in Chicago and NYC. 25 people. Don't worry, though, because almost all of the director level and execs didn't get cut! Phew! Only largely senior level designers!

(Yes, being sarcastic.)

Wife has just been laid off from Deloitte. Anyone in the NYC area hiring for a director of cyber strategy focusing on threat intel? She also has too-secret clearance.

I’m a 2nd year business analyst on H1B looking for opportunities. About to be laid off and struggling to get any leads or referrals. I’ve worked with Lifesciences and Tech clients and lead workstreams to collaborate with director level leadership for implementation projects. I also have experience in change management and project management roles. Would anyone be willing to help in this situation? I’m looking for opportunities in Bay Area that sponsor visa. [cont in comments]

When your mother wants to have a condescending argument when I tell her that I’m not qualified for the “creative director” position she sent from craigslist. Then continues to say, ‘well you don’t know until you try’. When I tell her I’m not qualified, she responds, ‘okay well you’re not qualified lets move on to a other topic’. Considering I’m a recently laid off junior, and she doesn’t seem to understand the ladder of career development. 🙄🙄🙄 Save me!

Is it weird to reach out and check up on ex coworkers who were recently laid off? Had a director I worked with closely laid off and want to reach out to them. Also think I’ll be laid off soon FWIW

Ex-Deloitte (and other) consultants who got laid off: If your experience has been in strategy or payments, my firm is still hiring. We have positions open at Director, Manager, SC and juniors levels.

Why do the department heads never get laid off in times like these? One head of production or ecd or director of planning must equal three or four real working staff. Business 101right?

After layoffs and people quitting I’m just realizing that I’m going to be the most senior art person left...I’m a jr art director a year out of school now working with an ECD and a bunch of interns...

Interviewing for a director role in industry, but worried about Covid’s impact. What’s appropriate language to use to ask if my role would be on the chopping block if the company does layoffs?

Should I be alarmed that I haven’t had a conversation with my director in a week +? (Any tips for coming to terms with being laid off for the first time?)

Left a super toxic marketing team, it consequently fell apart. My boss was fired then the director quit. Started a new job and have 0 stress and a very nice team.
👏🏻 The 👏🏻Grass👏🏻 Can👏🏻 Be👏🏻 Greener👏🏻

Got laid off this week—any freelance opportunities floating around for an Art Director? I’ll literally take anything at this point.

Art Director: *gets laid off*
Art Director on LinkedIn: *updates title to Freelance Creative Director*

....no.

Have you ever gone to war with a senior member and won? A senior Director out here, is straight up trying to get me fired and has shat on me to HR. I’m utilizing the help of a few VPs to stay alive

My director low-balled me on my offer and wouldn't negotiate. He got fired for doing the same thing to women on our team, now we're getting raises. Police escorted him out and I lol'd real hard

Left PWC last year, I am a manager in top regional company , my VP and Director got fired 2 weeks ago due to re-org. Should I start looking? Would I get cut too?

Just got out of a meeting with a client. Talk about uncomfortable- they'd fired their director that morning and he ran in screaming at the team. They ended up calling security to kick him out!

If one of your major clients(m) came on to your senior art director(m), and after being rejected decided to pull their business from your agency unless you fired the AD.

What would you do?

What are typical severance packages for manager and below? Director and above?

What are typical severance packages for manager and below? Director and above?