• September 20, 2000

That memorable new ad campaign may well be the result of many Saturdays spent at the office. In a recent survey of advertising executives, 25% of respondents said they work at least three weekends a month. Only 5% of respondents said they never work on weekends.

The survey was developed by The Creative Group, a specialized staffing service that provides marketing, advertising, creative and web professionals on a project basis. It was conducted by an independent research firm and includes responses from 200 advertising executives among the nation's 1,000 largest advertising agencies.

Advertising executives were asked, "On average, how often do you work on weekends?" Their responses: * Every weekend 13% * Three times a month 12% * Twice a month 28% * Once a month 42% * Not at all 5%

"Although overtime is sometimes necessary in order to meet project deadlines or fulfill client demands, working too long without a break leads to diminished productivity and ultimately job burnout," said Liz Hubler, executive director of The Creative Group. "Taking time out to recharge can help you gain a fresh perspective and spark more original ideas."

Hubler added that spending an inordinate amount of time in the office may signal that your firm is understaffed. "If you're working every weekend, you may need to hire more people, either on a full-time or project basis. This can reduce pressure while still enabling you to meet business objectives."