When to Return to the Office

For over a year now, office workers have wondered when they'll go back to the office and what it will look like. It's a topic we've covered in the last few days, looking at how Microsoft is rethinking its role in the office, and how the brand communicates with potential customers about the software it has to offer. Then there's the physical changes, like how Target is downsizing, cutting 1 million square feet of office space. Holding companies like IPG and Omnicom have also combined to cut 2.7 million square feet of office space.
A recent internal memo from Omnicom CEO John Wren explained how the holding company would handle returning to the office. Despite that memo, employees of Omnicom agency Zimmerman Advertising said they felt like they were being pressured to return to the office.
Now, according to an internal memo by Zimmerman interim CEO Jordan Zimmerman, employees don't need to return to the office until they feel it's safe to do so. Read Zimmerman's full memo here.

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Did you know that both versions of The Office (U.K. and U.S.) featured the same iconic "stapler in the Jell-O" prank? The U.S. adaptation with Jim and Dwight features an almost line-for-line recreation of the U.K. version. Now, fans can bring it to life themselves with a giveaway from the brand, launched around the U.S. version's 16th anniversary.

Giving away DIY stapler prank kits isn't all Jell-O is doing: Now that the show is off Netflix, here's how the brand is helping fans watch the show.

Speaking of streamers: Netflix doesn't have ads, but that doesn't mean brands don't work with the streaming giant to incorporate products into their shows. This study shows just how much exposure a brand can get in a hit show like Cobra Kai.

As the pandemic unfolded, publishers rapidly shifted from in-person events to virtual events. (We're speaking from experience here—we expanded our event schedule, offering over 50 virtual experiences for our community, with more to come.) For many publishers, that transition came with lots of experimentation—think endless choices for formats and platforms, whether they should be paid or free (or a mix of both), how to create engaging breakout rooms and what's the best way to incorporate sponsors effectively.

The New Yorker thinks it's solved the equation: Learn from this deep dive on the publisher's virtual event business.

Adweek recently debuted its columnist network, which asks executives from across the industries we cover to explain how they solved a problem. Today's column comes from Patrick Llewellyn, the CEO of 99designs: He explains how the design community needs to work as one as normalcy returns.

Here's what else our columnists have recently tackled:

More advice from the experts:

Today's webinar features DAM consultant Theresa Regli and experts from censhare and EMMsphere as they walk you through how to manage your digital content overload. It starts at 1 p.m. ET. Register here.

Briefly:

Adweek's Kathryn Lundstrom is on the ground in Austin, and talks with event organizers, brands and agencies about how they're approaching the event. Watch here.

Don't miss your chance to join Mediaweek, the premier summit for media, marketing and agency executives, at a savings of 40%. This live virtual summit, April 14-16, will bring together expert speakers, including Kyle Krueger, SVP of Media at ENGINE; Sally Scarbrough, Director of Brand Partner Marketing at Ulta Beauty; Professor Scott Galloway, Professor of Marketing at NYU’s Stern School of Business; Karla Davis, VP of Integrated Marketing and Media at Ulta Beauty, and many more, to share insights on the Main Stage, lead Workshops and lead Masterclasses. Explore the program and register today to save 40% on your pass.

LikeMeat and 72andSunny Amsterdam create insulated vests for on-the-go snacking.

Eros Innovations CMO shares leadership mistakes, wisdom, and how to manage work-life integration.

The software giant expects a new hybrid of remote and in-person collaboration.

A quarter of Americans do more frequent laundry since the Covid-19 outbreak began.

Organic success in lead gen brings new challenges as travel demand recovers.

The two platforms developed a strategy to understand audience response to content.