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Completely standard. At least we’re not lawyers who have to log in 6 min increments!
Generally standard, yes. There are some exceptions though; my firm mostly works on fixed fee retainers and doesn’t track hours for that work—but for clients that insist on hourly billing, we will do it for them and have software for it.
Experience.
Yes! Top 3 worst things about working for an agency.
What are the other 2?
I worked in a shop for 15 years with 6 min billing increments. I've filled out a timesheet every working day of my life for nearly 35 years. It is a pain but it keeps you efficient and gives you a warm place to sleep at night. My boss used to say "if I can't tell when you are in the bathroom, you are filling out your timesheet wrong."
Coach
this is actually wild. your boss’
comment is wild. also, i bill every time i use the bathroom to a client. i never use the bathroom during my lunch break.
And for the record, I understand the value of being utilized and time management. But sometimes when the work looks like it's lightening up, it causes me a lot of stress. I'd love to just be able to do my job to the best of my ability, without the added stress of is my dance card full and if not why not and how do I fill it?
Just curious as to what other agencies do and if it's standard across the board. I've only ever worked for this one agency. 7 years now.
Very standard. I’ve worked at many agencies and it’s always been in 15-minute increments. Do you know what your billability target is? Usually there are admin codes to log the work that can’t be billed back to clients, and within these there is sometimes an allotment where you can do professional development if you find yourself with a spare hour or two. If you’re worried about it being a more ongoing capacity issue, then raise it with your manager and see if you can contribute in other ways — née business, an agency project, etc.
Yes. Very standard. Even companies that work on retainers measure utilization.
Thanks @EVP1, the suggestion to open myself up to new workstreams is a good one. I've had a "high score" mentality RE Utilization, so I'm bummed when I don't exceed my minimum. I know a slow week here and there isn't a big issue. Just trying to work toward a solution and be proactive about it. I have a friend who's a Senior Manager client side and he does NOT log hours, so when you go work for client that's one of the differences of agency life versus in-house?
One other suggestion! Instead of asking your manager how you can contribute, look around and see if you can find a project that would desperately fill a hole in the agency and that you find interesting. Then offer it up. I would fall off my chair if a VP came to me with something like this. There is so much work that is important but not urgent so it’s alway deprioritized.
Standard