A lot of room for improvement, but things change for the better
Arbeitsatmosphäre
Externally and at the beginning, the agency appears very open, very modern, very friendly. However, the image is deceptive the longer you are employed.
Depending on the team, there might be toxic colleagues and constantly too much work or too few employees.
The good employees leave the agency, if they are not already gone, unfortunately.
There is a lot of pretence of understanding, but there is often a lack of real support.
Kommunikation
There are weekly agency meetings on current topics, but there is often a lack of transparency in decisions, and employees are then presented with a fait accompli.
Kollegenzusammenhalt
Colleague cohesion is something of a mixed bag.
I always felt very welcome and comfortable in my team and also in the agency.
I had an open and friendly relationship with my colleagues. However, there is also a lot of behind-the-back talk and elbows are often pulled out when it comes to self-interest.
Work-Life-Balance
Working time is from 9-6 (monday-friday), no flexitime.
You basically have to take care of a reasonable work-life balance yourself. Although it was regularly pointed out during the pandemic that you shouldn't work too much overtime and that you should take care of yourself, the workload usually doesn't allow you to do otherwise.
Overtime is part of good manners and some people look at you askance if you finish work on time.
Many, especially creative, colleagues regularly work on weekends.
There is no compensation for overtime.
However, the HR and management take care of learning sessions on the topic of mental health and mindfulness.
Vorgesetztenverhalten
The behaviour of the management board is very friendly and collegial. However, there is often a lack of transparency in decisions, and employees are then presented with a fait accompli.
Older team leaders sometimes lack innovative strength, things are often done that way because they have always been done that way. With some superiors, you don't have a chance to discuss things. Young colleagues in particular are cut off or their own opinions are presented as ridiculous or wrong.
So there is a big difference with the professional and personal behaviour
Interessante Aufgaben
It all depends on the team and the title. Depending on that, you can choose your tasks or feel treated like a doormat at some point.
Gleichberechtigung
TBWA Düsseldorf is managed by a woman and there are also many other women on board in all levels.
The topic of feminism is also actively discussed in roundtable meetings. Tolerance and openness are very important at TBWA.
Network-wide there are also learning sessions on eg black history month, LGBTQ+, etc.
Umgang mit älteren Kollegen
As in probably the majority of agencies, the average age of normal colleagues at TBWA, who are not in management positions, and apart from the holding, is around 30.
In my direct environment, I could not find any discrimination against older colleagues, but hardly any older colleagues were hired.
Arbeitsbedingungen
First of all, the agency was renovated last year and the offices are evolving from a dusty government office look to an agency look.
Nevertheless, there are still some problems: There is hardly any light in the offices except for desk lamps and windows of course. We were given a construction site light in the office so that the cleaners can see something in the evening.
The noise level in the open-plan offices is immense, despite soundproofing elements. In theory, there is a meeting room and/or a soundproof telephone booth on each floor, but these are not suitable for longer periods of time and often not available/occupied.
The technical equipment is okay, but nothing more. The Macs are not super up-to-date, but they usually run well. If you want a newer model, you have to get on a list first.
Screens, keyboards and laptop stands are not available for all employees.
Kommunikation
Umwelt-/Sozialbewusstsein
Currently, the agency is consciously working on environmental awareness.
For example, water bottles have been replaced by a Quooker system and there are only milk alternatives, instead of cow's milk
Gehalt/Sozialleistungen
The salary is probably averagely bad for the industry, but there are strong differences in the individual positions. There is also a great deal of secrecy about salaries and a guilty conscience if you want to talk about money with colleagues.
Salary negotiations don't exist as long as you don't threaten to quit.
However, the salary always comes on time.
Image
In recent years, the new management has brought about a number of changes for the better. However, as far as I know, this has not been reflected in the external image.
Despite large international clients, the company is hardly known and is not perceived as an agency for great creative services.
Karriere/Weiterbildung
Promotions are relatively regular, depending on the team.
In several conversations I expressed my wish for further professional training, but they did not work with me on this.
There are internal network academies, but only for selected employees.
My last information about external training and further education was that you are not supported by the company.
However, there are "lunch and learn" sessions regularly covering different topics.