Employee Morale is Up at Ad Agencies

The outlook within many creative departments may be increasingly optimistic. In a Creative Group survey, 125 advertising executives and 125 senior marketing executives were asked, “How would you rate employee morale at your firm today compared to one year ago.”

Here's how they responded:
42% said morale at their firms is higher than it was one year ago;

28% of respondents said spirits had declined;

29% reported no change.

When asked the same question in the first quarter of 2002, only 35% of the advertising and marketing execs said morale had increased, while 38% cited declines.

“The creative industry has been particularly impacted by the drawn-out recession and subsequent declines in advertising spending, so it's encouraging to see rising morale,” said Tracey Turner, executive director of The Creative Group.

The Creative Group is a specialized staffing firm that provides marketing, advertising, creative, and web professionals on a project basis. (The Creative Group: 650-234-6000; www.creativegroup.com)