DDB Canada slaps employees with fines – great Ad Agency to work for..
February 13, 2008
As an Agency owner, I would never follow a policy like this.
Your Employees are your life line, they are your skill set, they are your company. What are DDB’s Employees 3 year olds? They are not adults? You treat them like kids, they are going to preform like kids. In this case, DDB turned from an Ad Agency to a day care center. If this is typical of management style at DDB, then no wonder my agency is growing faster than theirs.
VANCOUVER and TORONTO, Feb. 12 /CNW/ – In response to the “personal
digital assistants (PDAs) pandemic” that is disrupting boardrooms across
Canada, Frank Palmer, chairman and CEO of DDB Canada, has issued a new
company-wide policy that creatively discourages staff from using their PDAs
and other mobile devices, like BlackBerries and cellular phones, during both
client and internal meetings.
Inspired by the penalty system used in soccer games, DDB Canada staff
will be issued yellow or red cards for PDA misconduct that ultimately may
lighten their pocketbooks.
“Over the past year, I’ve become increasingly aware of and annoyed by
staff who use their BlackBerries during meetings,” says Palmer. “Whether it’s
done openly or covertly under the table, using a PDA during a meeting is
completely unacceptable, disrespectful and hinders the progress of the
meeting. While these devices are considered time-savers, they’re also
extremely intrusive.”
DDB Canada employees caught using a PDA during a meeting will be shown a
yellow warning card, by a fellow staff member attending the same meeting. A
second yellow card offence will automatically result in the issuing of a red
penalty card. In this instance, the offending staff member will be responsible
for paying their PDA invoice for that particular month.
Palmer adds, “while most staff are attentive and courteous during
meetings, there are a few that continue to use their PDAs when they shouldn’t.
This could turn out to be an expensive, yet worthwhile etiquette lesson for
those who continue to use their BlackBerry in the boardroom.”
Misuse of PDAs is a widespread problem across Canada. DDB Canada’s new
PDA misconduct policy is a new take on measures that other organizations are
using to promote proper BlackBerry etiquette in the workplace. Recently,
Canada’s Department of Citizenship and Immigration banned employees from using
their BlackBerries between 7 p.m. and 7 a.m. in an attempt to reduce work
stress.About DDB Canada
DDB Canada (www.ddbcanada.com) is the most creatively acclaimed,
internationally recognized marketing communications agency in Canada. Known
for advertising that generates significant results for clients, DDB Canada is
Strategy magazine’s 2007 Agency of the Year, and was named one of the “Best
Small and Medium Employers in Canada” in 2007 by the Queen’s University School
of Business. A “total communications company,” DDB believes creativity is the
strongest business tool. DDB Canada has offices in Victoria, Vancouver,
Edmonton, Toronto and Montreal. The agency’s integrated divisions include: DDB
Kid Think (youth marketing), DDB Public Relations, Tribal DDB (online and
interactive), Karacters Design Group, Rapp Collins (direct) and Radar DDB
(social media marketing).For further information: or to schedule an interview, please contact:
Paige Calvert, DDB Canada, (604) 608-4421, paige.calvert@ddbcanada.com
Comments
View Comments to “DDB Canada slaps employees with fines – great Ad Agency to work for..”
Got something to say?
Recognized by Advertising Age Magazine as top Power 150 news outlet for Advertising and Marketing.
Recognized and listed in Google News. Don't stress, we're Satire
Ad Agency Advertising
Um…I agree with this policy. It is like going to talk to someone and they keep their eyes on their monitor clicking away at the mouse. So annoying…
I don’t know…on one hand, it does seem childish. But on the other hand, in a large organization, if you are faced with zillions of people, some of whom lack the common sense and decency…what do you do?
On more than one occasion, I have seen folks knitting, doing Suduko puzzles, and various other tasks in CLE sessions.