Working at Cohn & Wolfe
Why a cone and wolf?
From the day we started, our agency iconography has involved different variations on a wolf and traffic cone - a bad visual pun that developed over the years into the best way we’ve ever found to represent our culture. The C&W wolf is cheeky, smart and collegiate and has a strong pack mentality. But unlike any other wolf pack, we’re distinctly non-hierarchical.
Working at Cohn & Wolfe
The highest scoring ‘positive’ in our annual employee surveys is “the culture”. The words and phrases used by our own people to describe the agency include: “vibrant, stimulating and enthusiastic”; “down to earth, relaxed, and hard working”: “encouraging, inspiring, family feeling, human”; and “mutual respect”.
Our culture works because it is based on trust – our flexible working policy isn’t policed but acts as a guideline: our people can decide how they manage their working day so long as they get things done.
Going beyond the basic basics
PR isn’t a stress-free occupation. So when people are your only asset, you need to do a lot more than the basics. Every HR policy we have significantly exceeds statutory minimums – such as providing six months full maternity pay and paid paternity/adoption leave.
We place great importance on funding people’s individual interests, whether supporting professional qualifications in marketing or accountancy, or providing time off to attend post-graduate degrees in work related subjects.
Our flexible working policy started in 2003. Employees set their own working time around the core hours of 10am to 4.30pm. Home working is supported through web mail, Blackberry handhelds and broadband subscriptions. Around ten percent of our workforce chooses to work part-time because they are parents, for studying, or just because they can!
We know that PR can play hell with your personal life, so do our best to redress the balance: every Friday we distribute free chocolate, throw open the free agency bar and finish early (4.30pm); we give extra time off for your birthday plus your wedding/Christmas/study and have a policy for a three month sabbatical leave.
When weekend work is needed for client events we match that with time off in lieu. Fresh fruit, breakfast and mineral water are provided free to all employees. (However good our nutritional intentions, to date our people have eaten far more toast than fruit).
On a practical level, every employee has private medical/dental care, life assurance, long-term disability cover, free eye tests/glasses and specialist equipment as required (e.g. chairs). Our sickness policy allows a minimum 3 months full pay. A masseuse regularly visits the agency to pound away the worst stresses and strains.
Our annual leisure contribution encourages employees to participate in non-work related pursuits ranging from fencing to sailing and dancing. Good work is recognised publicly across the agency and rewarded. We also believe in spontaneously celebrating achievements and personal moments. Sometimes it’s just to celebrate surviving to the end of the week!
Personal Development
Our personal development system is designed to give real meaning and substance to our unique culture. The bedrock of our approach is a bi-annual review process, which is based on 360 degree feedback from colleagues. It is built around an agreed list of core skills and competencies so that SMART objectives can be set.
Each appraisal leads to a personal development plan (PDP) that sets out a development route for the next 6 months.
Starting at a new agency can be very daunting, so we have a two day induction session for every new joiner that consists of a series of ‘meetings’ across the agency, supported by a nominated buddy. We don’t pay lip service to supporting our people – all senior managers have mandatory training in mentoring skills, as part of our company-wide mentoring programme, Wolfe Guides.
Training
Our Wolfie College and Wolfe Bites courses provide formal, informal and on-the-job training tailored for all levels. The Wolfie College prospectus details the core training and coaching sessions we offer, highlighting target audience, content and objectives to enable tie-in with Personal Development Plans.
Sessions are designed to energise participants rather than batter them into submission, whether it is working with actors on “Life’s A Pitch” or role playing with well-renowned journalists Attending these sessions provides vital core skills and essential stamps on the Wolfie Training Passport.
Senior team leaders benefit from our six month management training programme. Monthly training sessions cover topics such as the motivation and development of team members; effective teamwork; personal management effectiveness and coaching. The success of this training scheme stems from the emphasis on peer group interaction, with each attendee having constant access to a professional mentor/coach beyond the formal sessions.
All board members participate in an eighteen month “transformational leadership programme”, which includes a 3-day leadership course and sessions in mentoring, coaching and creative facilitation. The programme combines with monthly one-to-one coaching and mentoring sessions provided by professional coaches.
For recruitment enquiries:
Please contact Paula Grant 020 7331 5363 | recruitment@uk.cohnwolfe.com