Are there any agencies that provide good work life balance, with good pay and that do good work. Or is it just that classic case of you need to punt one to get the other two. Or in some cases punt two to get one….

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Welcome to my midlife crisis. I never thought it would come to this but I’m seriously considering forgoing doing good work (or leaving altogether) so I can have some of my weekends back and see my family and friends. I used to be frothing at the mouth ad nerd, hungry for awards and looked down on people who would choose having a life over advertising. But the last few years of working in an industry that increasingly offers less and less in terms of perks and compensation for it’s employees I totally get it. It’s not worth it for a couple weeks around Cannes when you might get a shortlist. Maybe.

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I think it depends on your definition of “good” in all cases.

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Fair. Good work is not wallpaper. Portfolio worthy work at least once or twice a year for individuals. Good work life is a not overworked creative department. If you don’t know what an overworked creative department means then you haven’t worked in one. Good pay is a salary that can’t be easily be beat by going to an agency that either does worse work or has worse balance.

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Funnily enough I was going to ask a very similar question last week. I’d define a similar ask as follows:

Is there a place where:

the norm is that work is done by 6pm and you can count on one hand how many times per year you work significant overtime.

You’re paid an industry appropriate salary for the role based on Toronto comparables.

The creative is average but once or twice a year you have a piece that you’d be proud to include in your book.

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I don't think a place with all three exists.

And I think the impossible combo is good work and good work life balance. Those two things rarely go hand in hand in this business.

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FCB?

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This last comment is what’s wrong with the industry. Shitting on FCB’s work? That agency has made the greatest creative leap of any big agency in Canada. Are they a creative boutique hot shop? No. But they do good work for big brands. You may not love the agency or the work but getting one great case study for a Canadian bank should be seen as a huge victory just on its own. I certainly respect those victories.

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I don’t think it exists. In my experience there’s always a trade off. You either get paid real nice to have a good balance and do trash work. Or you get paid less than you could, and work harder in hopes of doing better work. But even the best agencies do shit work. It’s the way the industry preys off the creative drive. There has to be a better way right?

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