High Wide & Handsome’s 50/40 Pledge ensures 50% diversity in staffing and 40% in creative talent

High Wide & Handsome operates on the belief that treating employees with respect fosters loyalty—a principle reflected in its 96% annual retention rate since the agency’s founding 14 years ago, including 100% retention during fiscal year 2023 and the first eight months of fiscal year 2024. The Los Angeles-based ad agency provides employees with comprehensive financial quarterly updates, from profit and forecast to bank balances, to reinforce trust in the agency’s stability. Ad Age Best Places to Work 2025 50 companies doing a standout job See the full list here This, along with inclusion initiatives such as the 50/40 Pledge—which ensures at least 50% of employees are people of color and at least 40% of creative talent represent multicultural, LGBTQ+, disabled or senior communities—demonstrates High Wide & Handsome's commitment to equity and transparency. Employee milestones are celebrated with rewards that grow alongside their tenure, starting with a $5,000 personal expense account at five years. At 10 years, the agency provides a daily lunch stipend, and at 15 years, employees join the “Clean House Club,” receiving biweekly home cleanings—both for the duration of their time at the agency. The company in its own words: “While most ad agencies focus on winning creative awards and maximizing profit, we have a different goal: to be the best place to work in the industry. (Of course, to fund the unique benefits we provide we've had to be profitable, and to be profitable we've had to do great work.) In an industry that sees human resources as short-term rentals to be used up and discarded, we see them as our most valuable assets to be nurtured and celebrated.” Ad Age Best Places to Work 2025 50 companies doing a standout job See the full list here

High Wide & Handsome’s 50/40 Pledge ensures 50% diversity in staffing and 40% in creative talent

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