I’ve only been working at AMG a little over six months, but it feels like I’ve been here for years. It helps that I previously worked with a few AMGers, but I doubt things would’ve been any different if I had come in here not knowing anyone. The entire team is extremely welcoming and patient with newcomers. Everyone is upbeat, helpful and has a very strong work ethic.

There’s a “work hard, play hard” mentality that resonates with everyone at AMG. No one seems to takes themselves too seriously and everyone is game for a good time. I mean, this is the kind of place where you go from being completely immersed in a task one moment to being ambushed by darts in a Nerf war the next.  Stress reliever? You bet.

This laid-back atmosphere helps smooth the workday and, believe it or not, increases productivity. Trust me, I’m the traffic manager, I know this stuff.

In fact, experts agree that playtime or breaks during work hours can foster self-expression, idea generation, creativity and curiosity. And when the work you do depends on great ideas and collaboration, enabling all of these things is the key to success.

According to a recent article published by the New York Times, working in 90-minute intervals turns out to maximize productivity. And did you know there’s a National Institute for Play? They believe that play should be woven into the fabric of social practices, including the workplace, in order to promote health and innovation.

If you can take a break, you’re bound to be more relaxed, have time to establish bonds with the team, feel more connected and satisfied with your workplace, which shows up positively in the quality of the work and the overall company culture.

At AMG, we don’t mind working hard or putting in a few extra hours because we know how lucky we are to work for a flexible and laid-back employer who understands the importance of a stress-free environment – especially for creatives and the like.

I’ve worked at various agencies and other industries prior to ending up at AMG, and I can honestly say that the culture here is one of a kind and for all the right reasons.