tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28401170.post873758724342809290..comments2023-09-04T16:53:58.227+01:00Comments on ....the world's leading....: ....the world's leading....http://www.blogger.com/profile/04151866935732424950noreply@blogger.comBlogger22125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28401170.post-85567926349393646932007-07-15T09:48:00.000+01:002007-07-15T09:48:00.000+01:00I have left the world of agencies and gone in-hous...I have left the world of agencies and gone in-house precisely because of the Soviet-style atmosphere in some of them and that includes trips abroad, ‘away days’, and other briefings where you get force-fed your agency’s mission statement (which is mostly bollocks). And what’s with the binge-drinking culture – not very creative is it? It’s quite funny really how desperate agencies are to keep their employees but ‘commitees’ and ‘activities’ (sport, social, newt watching you name it) don’t make the slightest difference to how long an employee stays, responsibility, flexible working and good clients do. Grow up people and stop behaving like students.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28401170.post-43963571914804461562007-07-13T17:41:00.000+01:002007-07-13T17:41:00.000+01:00I want to defend the practice of sending employees...I want to defend the practice of sending employees abroad to get drunk and bond. Having just got back from the afforementioned Madrid trip (well, six days ago...) I can safely say is was brilliant fun.<BR/><BR/>And the work bit (if you call an hour long meeting before the fun in the sun starts "work") was on a Friday... <BR/><BR/>The rest of the weekend was entirely optional, and funded. My colleagues are great and we all had a fabulous (and exhausting!) weekend.<BR/><BR/>You're just jealous you weren't there ;-pAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28401170.post-22483275993292905612007-07-13T14:43:00.000+01:002007-07-13T14:43:00.000+01:00I think that the company trips are one of the best...I think that the company trips are one of the best things about my job. We went to Italy for last year's Christmas party and had a great time, because (shock, horror) I actually get on with my colleagues. Maybe its a big agency thing to hate the people you work with, and I am lucky to work in an independent agency which has been able to hold onto its "family feel".<BR/><BR/>Anyway - Its not like going away for one weekend a year will significantly impact on your "life outside work", will it?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28401170.post-18042393068912626362007-07-13T10:03:00.000+01:002007-07-13T10:03:00.000+01:00I remember playing softball in the park with A Plu...I remember playing softball in the park with A Plus once.<BR/><BR/>It was fun, until we got to the pub.<BR/><BR/>As he handed me a beer glass, my team mate's face suddenly darkened, as if he'd just heard some terrible news, and he started a half hour interrogation with the words "So when are you going to start writing about Novell?"Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28401170.post-13903743834163638332007-07-13T06:18:00.000+01:002007-07-13T06:18:00.000+01:00Slight amendment to my previous post - You* don't ...Slight amendment to my previous post - You* don't pay me enough to waste my weekend / any free time (including during the week)with my colleagues. I work with some great people and have a laugh in the office, but it can stay in the office as far as I am concerned.<BR/><BR/>* by 'you' I am not suggesting any reader of this blog needs to pay me, I mean my boss, you understand.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28401170.post-63181392687663301082007-07-12T16:56:00.000+01:002007-07-12T16:56:00.000+01:00>>"Is there any PR agency that doesn't make its st...>>"Is there any PR agency that doesn't make its staff play bloody softball in a central London park?"<<<BR/><BR/>Yes. But our excuse is that we are 180 miles away, so its probably just as well....Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28401170.post-28049677330982335662007-07-12T16:44:00.000+01:002007-07-12T16:44:00.000+01:00Jesus, this was the debate raging in May 07 when t...Jesus, this was the debate raging in May 07 when they went on their company offsite. Get with it people. Move on. <BR/><BR/>It was in the week. It looked like fun. It's once a year. <BR/><BR/>No I don't work for GH.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28401170.post-32039880244307545462007-07-12T13:12:00.000+01:002007-07-12T13:12:00.000+01:00Butlins - that's the place you want to go for your...Butlins - that's the place you want to go for your agency do.figgishttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10415900461391526240noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28401170.post-83905489198828241582007-07-12T12:59:00.000+01:002007-07-12T12:59:00.000+01:00Well said 2.40... If you want a 24/7 job go and be...Well said 2.40... If you want a 24/7 job go and be a VP president of marketing in a big US software firm amd talk about strategy and leveraging opportunity, cos that would be one of the most interesting jobs in the world wouldn't it... apart from playing softball... which can be fun sometimes if it gets competitive and fights start... thats where there fun begins :)Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28401170.post-13192838919504434572007-07-11T18:02:00.000+01:002007-07-11T18:02:00.000+01:00They actually went away during the week!They actually went away during the week!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28401170.post-90536400686351831242007-07-11T17:42:00.000+01:002007-07-11T17:42:00.000+01:00Interesting that the Golin Harris boys made no men...Interesting that the Golin Harris boys made no mention of NEC...Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28401170.post-88826373995846226982007-07-11T14:40:00.000+01:002007-07-11T14:40:00.000+01:00This is the problem with the PR industry - people ...This is the problem with the PR industry - people need to drop this fluffy crap (once confined to only the consumer shops but, it now seems prevalent across tech too). Let's get real, it is a job!!!! No, it really is a job! We all want to do well and do a great job, but it is possible without all the arse-licking, 'show' and corporate bonding bollocks so many London agencies go in for. Employees do a better job when they have a work/life balance and are happy, so here's a radical suggestion - drop the late working hours culture - no, that extra 45 mins a night makes fuck all difference to the job people do, and get real about the fact that the best employees - balanced, conscientious and interesting people - are the ones with time to have a life outside of work.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28401170.post-31125917288252129142007-07-11T14:24:00.000+01:002007-07-11T14:24:00.000+01:00If you can't see yourself going off for the weeken...If you can't see yourself going off for the weekend with the people you work with, maybe you're in the wrong job. <BR/>If you have never fancied it, maybe you're in the wrong career... or maybe the problem runs deeper.<BR/>Anyway, it's a laugh seeing colleagues in a different place. A bit like undressing a nurse.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28401170.post-62444009962460949392007-07-11T14:09:00.000+01:002007-07-11T14:09:00.000+01:00Cohn & Wolfe went to Dublin for its Christmas part...Cohn & Wolfe went to Dublin for its Christmas party - it was a blast.<BR/><BR/>I hear the Hotwire Madrid jaunt was very tiring for some of those who went... (you know who you are)<BR/><BR/>Besides - I can't be unusual in that I actually like a lot of my colleagues and (more often than not) enjoy getting to know the ones I don't. It's not like I spend every weekend/night with them.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28401170.post-4721665943394087852007-07-11T13:58:00.000+01:002007-07-11T13:58:00.000+01:00Is there any PR agency that doesn't make its staff...Is there any PR agency that doesn't make its staff play bloody softball in a central London park?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28401170.post-58185506486190783632007-07-11T13:47:00.000+01:002007-07-11T13:47:00.000+01:00Call me a curmudgeon, but I've yet to see ANY team...Call me a curmudgeon, but I've yet to see ANY teambuilding / bonding trips / outings that have helped to retain any member of staff a nanosecond longer.<BR/><BR/>In fact, we only do them when we're secretly hoping that someone will leave. Works every time.<BR/><BR/>Applicants welcome ....Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28401170.post-10828287130624342112007-07-11T13:28:00.000+01:002007-07-11T13:28:00.000+01:00>>You couldn't pay me enough to waste my weekend /...>>You couldn't pay me enough to waste my weekend / any free time with colleagues<<<BR/><BR/>Well said. These people must have nothing better to do with their lives.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28401170.post-15526115995964354682007-07-11T13:03:00.000+01:002007-07-11T13:03:00.000+01:00Agree with 12.38 - get a life you lot! Can no-one ...Agree with 12.38 - get a life you lot! Can no-one see past this corporate bollox!? 'Away weekends' mean companies don't lose out any employees billable time for doing all the training and bonding bullshit none of us actually want to do anyway. I'd choose a relaxed OPTIONAL, on the hoof evening down the pub with a few genuine work mates anytime.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28401170.post-15316601184564236072007-07-11T12:38:00.000+01:002007-07-11T12:38:00.000+01:00You couldn't pay me enough to waste my weekend / a...You couldn't pay me enough to waste my weekend / any free time with colleagues.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28401170.post-90178469625371855772007-07-11T12:12:00.000+01:002007-07-11T12:12:00.000+01:00You 'ad room in Soho 'ouse? We didn't even 'ave ta...You 'ad room in Soho 'ouse? <BR/><BR/>We didn't even 'ave table ut Slug & Lettuce. <BR/><BR/>And we 'ad to walk there. In the snow. Barefoot.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28401170.post-30682319320539515112007-07-11T11:32:00.000+01:002007-07-11T11:32:00.000+01:00ohhh let's all start a competition to see which ag...ohhh let's all start a competition to see which agency is the nicest hey? <BR/><BR/>I went to Regents Park with an agency once and played softball, whilst listening the some top quality tunes and eating sausage rolls... that was fun :)Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28401170.post-89739584243992811702007-07-11T10:04:00.000+01:002007-07-11T10:04:00.000+01:00"How many agencies fly the entire company abroad e..."How many agencies fly the entire company abroad each year for training and to let their hair down? Beats renting a room in Soho House." <BR/><BR/>Well Hotwire just got back from a lovely weekend in sunny Madrid...Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com