I read with interest the article about bullying (Campaign, 10 November).
Probably like all account handlers in the business, some of the stories
sounded all too familiar.
My only addition to the catalogue of horror stories occurred when I
returned from my first solo flight, my task being to sell a six-page
leaflet to a local BMW dealer. Laughable now, but when you’ve only been
with the agency for three months and university is so fresh in the
memory that you still haven’t got over the hangover, it might as well
have been for the launch of Windows 95.
My boss had briefed everyone in the agency - including freelancers - not
to talk to me for as long as they could keep it up.
So, when I returned having actually sold the thing and very keen to tell
everybody so, everyone was either on the phone, in meetings, working on
a pitch or involved in billing. They kept it going for about an hour
before they could not refrain from doing in their trousers what most can
contain until they reach the toilet.
Hardly cause for psychological damage, but I found it hard to laugh at
the time.
No doubt there are far worse stories out there waiting to be told.
Leigh Baker, Wakefield Chegwin Advertising, London W14
