A local advertising agency is being recognized for company initiatives that they say push back against some of the business norms of the past.

Ray Creative Agency was recently named, along with four other businesses from this province, in Atlantic Business Magazine’s list of best places to work in Atlantic Canada.

President and Executive Creative Director Jenny Smith started the company 10 years ago after working at a few other similar organizations.

She says that overall, advertising agencies have a bad reputation for over-working people. She recalls working nights and weekends often, and ultimately people weren’t put first.

Smith says they have put initiatives in place to help change that culture. One such program came during the pandemic when they introduced a four-and-a-half-day work week by giving everyone Friday afternoons off.

After making the reduced work week permanent, she says they found that people were a lot more productive and happier.