Today, Campaign US revealed the results of our Second Annual Morale Survey, which found that 48% of industry employees suffer from low morale—a 34% increase over 2015. As part of the survey, we gave respondents the opportunity to submit their own reasons for feeling good or bad about their jobs. Below are a sampling of those submissions in the respondents' own words.
Some managers try to be very positive; others don't. I work for one who generally does.
Female, Media agency, White/Caucasian, $51,000 - $100,000
The clique formed by those who work on the largest accounts throw their weight around and make work life hard for those they work with.
Female, Creative agency, White/Caucasian, $51,000 - $100,000
Culture. Respect for each other and each other's differences, making time to celebrate our success, variety of activities that have us spending time together without focusing on work.
Female, Creative agency, White/Caucasian, $101,000 - $250,000
Lack of vision/direction at the top. What does success look like? No single north star.
Male, Brand, White/Caucasian, $101,000 - $250,000
Dynamic in the industry - tech disruption + client pressures = downward pressure on fees, price competition.
Male, Creative agency, White/Caucasian, $251,000 - $500,000
THE AMERICAN ADVERTISING INDUSTRY IS RACIST AS FUCK.
Male, Media agency, Black/African American, $51,000 - $100,000
We all just get along and are hard working.
Female, Freelancer, White/Caucasian, Less than $50,000
Knowing that some men who report to me make more money than I do.
Female, Creative agency, White/Caucasian, $101,000 - $250,000
I am one of the founders/owners and I am really proud of our growth and accomplishments.
Male, Marketing consultancy, White/Caucasian, $101,000 - $250,000
Sociopathic partners.
Male, Media agency, White/Caucasian, $51,000 - $100,000
Transparency of leadership, company commitment to employees.
Female, Creative agency, White/Caucasian, $101,000 - $250,000
Expectations grow higher but there are no more hours in the day, and due to client contracts, they expect more for less resources constantly, leaving agencies feeling overworked and underappreciated/underperforming.
Female, Media agency, White/Caucasian, $101,000 - $250,000
Opportunity to mentor students and encourage them both in their studies and what they can expect in the workplace.
Female, Higher education, White/Caucasian, Less than $50,000
Everything being a bake off versus having ownership. Creative shops love to make things. Not endless talk about making things.
Female, Creative agency, White/Caucasian, $101,000 - $250,000
A fun environment.
Male, Creative agency, White/Caucasian, $101,000 - $250,000
Freelancers have their own set of distinct fears and troubles in this industry.
Male, Freelancer, White/Caucasian, Less than $50,000
Room to breathe as in the opposite of operating at 110% with tight deadlines.
Female, Creative agency, White/Caucasian, $51,000 - $100,000
Forced to take furlough days.
Female, Media agency, White/Caucasian, $51,000 - $100,000
Having more freedom to work from home. Not feeling bad if you miss a day of work.
Male, Media agency, White/Caucasian, Less than $50,000
High rate of turnover and terminations leading to no sense of security and too few people left to do the work.
Male, Brand, White/Caucasian, $51,000 - $100,000
Respect among all employees, no matter what level/age.
Female, Media agency, White/Caucasian, $51,000 - $100,000
Clients will always be clients. They can be bad, but rarely ever cause the true problems the industry is facing. We are doing it to ourselves. Specifically, the few "rulers" at the top of holding companies and their agencies are doing it to the rest of us. Starting to follow the golden rule of "doing onto others as you'd have done to you" would be a step in the right direction. There's a complete lack of compassion from most in leadership positions. It is completely bizarre. Who raised these people?
Female, Creative agency, White/Caucasian, $251,000 - $500,000
Personalities. Good people.
Male, Creative agency, White/Caucasian, Less than $50,000
Poor internal communications, no sense of belonging.
Male, Creative agency, White/Caucasian, $251,000 - $500,000
Positive company culture, charitable giving initiatives.
Female, Retailer, White/Caucasian, Less than $50,000
Constant threat of losing job, of being interchangeable.
Female, Creative agency, White/Caucasian, $101,000 - $250,000
Appreciation/acknowledgement.
Male, Brand, Asian/Pacific Islander, $51,000 - $100,000
Clients are not spending money or planning to spend much money. Our craft is undervalued.
Male, Stock photo agency, White/Caucasian, $101,000 - $250,000
Winning awards.
Male, Creative agency, White/Caucasian, $251,000 - $500,000
Toxic culture, ego driven, boys club.
Female, Creative agency, White/Caucasian, $101,000 - $250,000
Personally, creative freedom is big for me because I head up the creative team.
Female, Brand, White/Caucasian, $101,000 - $250,000
At my age, 60, I am still inventing stuff, leading campaigns into all media ... but I would love to go back to big agencies—they are more fun. Age discrimination is even stronger than racial or gender. It is truly automatic.
Male, Freelancer, Hispanic/Latino, $101,000 - $250,000
I work for myself on my own terms. I have control over my clients.
Female, Freelancer, White/Caucasian, Less than $50,000
Leadership hasn't offered marketing solutions that can make staff feel as if they have a real grasp of what the future of the industry is. There's too many people recycling ideas from the 1980's and 1990's in leadership posts.
Male, Creative agency, Black/African American, $101,000 - $250,000
Higher leadership is strong.
Female, Corporation, White/Caucasian, $51,000 - $100,000
Lack of resources to do what really needs to be done. Unrealistic expectations on the role of marketing.
Female, Brand, Black/African American, $101,000 - $250,000
Being challenged.
Male, Media agency, White/Caucasian, $101,000 - $250,000
Clients constantly cutting budget, asking for more when paying less.
Female, Creative agency, Asian/Pacific Islander, $51,000 - $100,000
Just good people without giant egos. Female, Creative agency, White/Caucasian, $251,000 - $500,000
Female, Creative agency, White/Caucasian, $251,000 - $500,000
Less than ideal working conditions as far as building, offices, facilities, etc.
Male, Brand, White/Caucasian, $51,000 - $100,000
Just good people without giant egos.
Female, Creative agency, White/Caucasian, $251,000 - $500,000
Almost constant organizational changes are exhausting.
Male, Creative agency, White/Caucasian, $101,000 - $250,000
Dogs. The office is dog friendly.
Male, Creative agency, White/Caucasian, $51,000 - $100,000
Staff is not trained properly.
Female, Full-service agency, White/Caucasian, $101,000 - $250,000
Level of responsibility.
Male, Creative agency, $251,000 - $500,000
Restructuring.
Male, Creative agency, White/Caucasian, $101,000 - $250,000
After-hours drinks.
Female, Creative agency, Less than $50,000
Internal dynamics/support.
Female, Publisher, White/Caucasian, $101,000 - $250,000
Proud of the work that is produced.
Female, Brand, $51,000 - $100,000
Discrepancy between job description and actual duties.
Female, Creative agency, White/Caucasian, $51,000 - $100,000
Team dynamics.
Female, Creative agency, White/Caucasian, $251,000 - $500,000
Holding company relationship.
Male, Digital agency, White/Caucasian, $251,000 - $500,000
Pay and benefits.
Male, Construction, White/Caucasian, Less than $50,000
Job security.
Male, Creative agency, White/Caucasian, $51,000 - $100,000
Being an independent agency.
Female, Creative agency, White/Caucasian, Less than $50,000
Rarely pursuing new business.
Male, Creative agency, White/Caucasian, $51,000 - $100,000