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A Brooklyn-based public relations firm recently began experimenting with a four-day workweek, and so far company officials say the switch has yielded positive results. Praytell employees, who last year started working Monday through Thursday with an on-call shift on Friday, have shown an outpouring of support and productivity since the switch, said Sanji Moore, company vice president of people and operations. “We’ve been super surprised about not only the employees’ response to it – which has been obviously very positive – but we haven’t seen any change in the quality of the work being done, our efficiency in meeting deadlines and clients have been very supportive of it as well,” Moore said during an interview on “Mornings On 1” Friday. Praytell's findings mirrors that of British companies who participated in a recent pilot four-day workweek program. A majority of the 61 businesses that were part of the pilot have chosen to implement the change permanently after reporting a slew of positive results, including increased revenue and employee satisfaction, according to the Associated Press.

A year ago, PRWeek reported on the agencies experimenting with a four-day workweek in the U.S. They included Praytell, which has offices in New York, Chicago and Los Angeles and is owned by independent agency network Project Worldwide. “We have removed ‘pilot’ from ‘four-day workweek,’” says Andy Pray, CEO and founder of Praytell. “We have adopted it as the way we work, to the point that we alert clients to it in the first 10 slides of new-business pitches.” The agency’s staff work Monday through Thursday, though a staffer may work the occasional Friday based on client need, and in addition there is no expectation that this work take place in an office. In fact, he says such a mandate makes little sense under a four-day workweek. He points to Praytell staff in New York, some of whom have commutes of an hour to and from the agency’s office in Chelsea. “If you cut off Friday, are you really going to ask them to donate eight hours of commuting time, because the reality is there is only so much time in a week,” asks Pray.

Amy Devlin, executive director of strategy of GPJ: "In my opinion, C2 Montréal always gets networking right. They remove the awkwardness and intimidation of networking by creating the conditions for meaningful interactions to happen. They do this by taking you out of the real world and into the unexpected. Past networking experiences at C2 have included a circle of chairs suspended from the ceiling or pairing people up to chat under an umbrella through a simulated, indoor forest complete with rain. It’s this level of thoughtful experience design that creates unique shared moments that become a memorable mark of your event experience."

“Collabing with well-known artists that resonate with three different generations and having them participate in a contest in Decentraland’s virtual venue, Triangle Studios, is the perfect recipe for pop-culture success! Doritos continues to create ads that stick to their brand values, allowing them to keep their fans engaged and retained.” —John Higgins, CEO, OS Studios

Smart speaker maker Sonos has consolidated its global PR business with Praytell, ending its nearly five-year relationship with Edelman, PRovoke Media has learned. Formally named Sonos’ global and North America PR agency of record, Praytell will handle all brand, product and corporate communications for the home sound systems company. Tech practice head Jennifer Velez will lead the work.

Since 2018, the Ram BandVan program, a partnership between G7 and Ram, has featured and helped a variety of up-and-coming artists who’ve gone on to grow their fanbase and perform on bigger stages. From solo artists to trios playing a variety of hits, the Ram BandVan has been able to help these artists along their journey. Most recently, singer-songwriter Ashley Cooke got behind the wheel of the ProMaster BandVan for a leg of her tour schedule.

PRWeek has unveiled its 2023 U.S. awards shortlist and Praytell is nominated for Outstanding Midsize Agency.

As we close the books on another year, it’s time to take a closer look at the major themes that defined these past 12 months, from the highs to the lows and everything in between. “If we look back at the start of this year, we can see the rise of things like crypto, the secret place where you can get rich fast, or Web3 being the ‘promised land,’” said John Higgins, CEO and cofounder of OS Studios. “When brands heard about the buzz, they wanted to have a seat at the table first or at least make their presence known immediately. Many people believed NFTs would be the next big thing and have a great impact as opposed to the impact they actually have today. The hype for what could’ve been is almost silent now following the many failed metaverse collabs and projects. The past 12 months have been fairly difficult for the metaverse.”

Women We Admire is pleased to announce Top 50 Women Leaders of New York for 2022. We acknowledge these individuals for not only their professional achievements, but also their philanthropic and community efforts. Their contributions span across all sectors and are as diverse as the state itself. This year’s awardees are leading within some of the state's largest industries including financial services, healthcare, professional and business services, manufacturing, education, and more. The list includes Robin Kleban, SVP & Group Account Director, George P. Johnson Experience Marketing. Robin is a Senior Vice President and Group Account Director at George P. Johnson Experience Marketing (GPJ). She has been with the company since 2007, holding various strategic account leadership roles. GPJ is the world’s leading event and experiential marketing agency, and part of the Project Worldwide network. In her role at GPJ, Robin devotes her time to the developing and managing teams that create enduring value for the agency’s clients. She oversees a team of diverse thinkers who believe in the transformative power of human engagement and true relationships. She delivers that ethos through a management style that fosters collaboration, fearless ideation and allowing everyone to show up as their authentic selves. Kleban has three decades of marketing experience across various industries. Before GPJ, she spent 10 years in publishing, including 5 years as VP of marketing at Gannett, Inc. and several years as marketing manager for Film & Video magazine. She is active in several local organizations, including sitting on the board of Dutchess Outreach.