Almost half of media agency staff are borderline okay at work, with many under pressure and working long hours. Arguably that's good news for clients, as their hired generals are sweating their troops. But the counter argument is that they are stretched and therefore unable to perform optimally. And if it gets to the point where it's all too much, that's bad news for the agencies and the clients, because the experience leaves and you have to start all over again.
Latest figures from the MFA suggest churn stands at 30%, down from 40% in 2008. While we're yet to see official figures for this year, the AdNews Agency Sweat Index indicates that it's still tough for media agency staffers.
Some 44% of the media industry are having a tough time at work:
- 15.44% suggested that work was a sweat stream they were borderline okay, their role was heating up, with workloads and hours increasing. They thought it was likely to get worse.
- 17.89% were clinging on, agreeing work was "really hard" and not enjoyable. They were working between 10-12 hours a day.
- 10.78% were actively looking for a way out.
The flipside is that the majority of media agency staff that voted felt work was good. Almost 56 % were happy with their current situation: 28.5% said work was no reason to sweat. Their agency has a good balance, they're doing 8-9 hours a day, and feel as though it's all under control. About the same number (27.5%) said it was a bit sweaty, with 9-10 hours a day, but nothing a few glasses of wine couldn't fix.
So how does the media industry stack up against its advertising agency counterpart? The next Sweat Index should provide some indication.
Take the vote and let us know your thoughts in the comments below.
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