Hasta La Creative!

No more free coffee, cut-backs on car service, showing up on time, working eight hour days. Instituting a client-centric focus. The economy has been especially tough on agencies and media companies–industries known for creative problem-solving and critical foresight–causing them to remove perks associated with working in the industry.

Condé Nast has stopped tuition reimbursement. MPG asked their employees to work the same amount of hours as their clients. Summer hours are a thing of the past at Arnold. The emphasis on work-life benefits has ended in the face of dismal economic forecasts, according to AdAge.

“Employers are asking employees to step up and be flexible in order to preserve their jobs and maintain the company’s ability to continue,” said Fred Crandall, senior consultant at Watson Wyatt in Chicago. “This type of belt-tightening is taking place across corporate America.”

MPG even believes that showing up to work earlier, “…could give MPG an edge over media-agency peers.” Hmm.

This undoubtedly leaves many to wonder: “Was I laid off so that (insert company name here) could maintain free coffee and half-day Fridays?”

Jeff Louis is a Strategic Media Planner, Project Manager, and New Business Coordinator. His passion is writing, contributing to BMA as well as freelancing. He’d love to hear from you: www.linkedin.com/in/jefflouis or on twitter @jlo0312.