May 12, 2020
5:40 PM EDT
VaynerMedia and Weber Shandwick cut jobs
VaynerMedia and Interpublic Group of Cos.' Weber Shandwick are the latest agencies to conduct staff cuts. A VaynerMedia spokesperson confirmed that the agency “went through some additional staff reductions” on May 5. The spokesperson said less than 2 percent of staff was cut in the latest round. VaynerMedia had previously laid off about 5 percent of staff in April, due to the coronavirus pandemic. “Our people are our greatest asset at VaynerMedia and we are making every effort to protect them,” Founder-CEO Gary Vaynerchuk said in a statement. “However, as this global pandemic continues to impact our industry, we are having to adjust our business accordingly. Unfortunately, this led to the difficult decision of making some additional staff reductions.”
Weber Shandwick confirmed that it recently carried out layoffs, as well as furloughs and salary reductions, but declined to say how many employees were affected. “Unfortunately, given the increasingly challenging environment, we have had to make additional difficult decisions, including position eliminations, furloughs and taking some employees to a reduced schedule,” the Weber Shandwick spokesperson said.
10:54 AM EDT
Golin cuts up to 5 percent of U.S. staff
Golin, a public relations firm within Interpublic Group of Cos., carried out layoffs across its U.S. offices on Monday, Ad Age learned. A spokesperson for the agency confirmed the layoffs, saying the cuts amounted to less than 5 percent of its U.S. staff and fewer than 25 people worldwide. Golin's U.S. offices are located in Atlanta, Chicago, Dallas, Los Angeles, Miami, New York, San Francisco and Washington, D.C.
“This week, we have unfortunately had to remove some full-time positions,” the spokesperson said in an email to Ad Age. “The total number of job losses at Golin is under 5 percent of our staff. We waited as long as we could to take this very difficult decision and in the U.S. we have extended the healthcare benefits to those affected and hired consultants to help our people find new employment.”