Where We Work Part 2: Days On-Site: Actual vs. Required

The Myers Report explored the actual versus required days that advertising industry professionals are spending on-site at their offices. The data is segmented by various roles, including Advertisers/Brand Marketers, Agencies, Full Service/Creative/Promotion/PR, National Media Planning, Local/Regional Media Planning/Buying Agencies, and Data/Insights or Analytics Specialists. Additional insights by demographic, organization size, and years-in-business are available to The Myers Report members and underwriters. For more information contact info@mediavillage.com. Read Part 1 here.

Key Findings

  1. Consistency in On-Site Days Across Roles:
    • The general focus across all roles is on three days on-site per week. Approximately 49% of all respondents' report working three days on-site, and 54% report that they are required to be on-site for three days per week. This consistency suggests that three days on-site has become a norm across the industry.
  2. Remote Work Trends:
    • 25% of respondents across all roles are working entirely remotely. Advertisers/Brand Marketers have the highest percentage of remote workers at 30%, followed closely by Data/Insights or Analytics Specialists at 23%.
    • A significant proportion of employees, particularly in roles related to Local/Regional Media Planning/Buying Agencies and National Media Planning, report working two days or fewer on-site each week.
  3. Role-Specific Requirements:
    • Data/Insights or Analytics Specialists have the highest requirement for three days on-site, with 60% of them required to be in the office three days a week. This may reflect the need for collaboration and access to on-site resources.
    • In contrast, Advertisers/Brand Marketers are more likely to not have any on-site requirement, with 42% reporting that they are not required to be on-site every week.
  4. Variability in On-Site Days:
    • There is some variability in the number of days employees actually spend on-site. For example, Local/Regional Media Planning/Buying Agencies have a higher percentage of employees (20%) who work two days on-site compared to other roles. This variability likely reflects differences in the nature of the work and client engagement.

Conclusions

  • Three Days as the Standard: The data indicates that three days on-site is emerging as the standard expectation across the industry, with the majority of roles aligning with this requirement.
  • Flexibility in Remote Work: A significant portion of the workforce, especially Advertisers/Brand Marketers, enjoy greater flexibility in their work arrangements, with a notable percentage working entirely remotely.
  • Implications for Policy: Organizations might consider maintaining the three-day on-site standard while also offering more flexible arrangements for roles that can operate effectively in a remote environment. This approach could help balance the need for in-person collaboration with the benefits of remote work.

Chart: Days On-Site: Actual vs. Required by Role
Days On-Site: Actual vs. Required by Role

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  • General Alignment: The chart shows a general alignment between the actual and required days on-site, with three days per week being the most common requirement across all roles.
  • High Consistency in Data/Insights Roles: Data/Insights or Analytics Specialists show the highest consistency, with 59% reporting they are actually on-site for three days, and 60% required to be on-site for three days.
  • Advertisers/Brand Marketers Flexibility: Advertisers/Brand Marketers show slightly more flexibility, with only 42% actually on-site for three days, compared to 47% being required.