Best Agencies to Work For is possibly the only predictive award that PRovoke Media gives out. We’ve noticed a direct correlation between the agencies on this list and those that take home our biggest honor (often times at some point in the future) — Agency of the Year recognition.

That’s, in part, because firms that take culture seriously tend to attract and retain smart and creative talent who, in turn, produce stellar work. It’s a simple formula but one that’s easily overlooked amid the breathless pace and tremendous pressures that are an inevitable reality of agency life. But this pace is exactly why agencies shouldn’t underestimate the power its culture has on the work its employees produce.

This year, however, the accolade takes on deeper significance as the industry faces unprecedented challenges amid a global pandemic. For the most innovative and humane agencies, this crisis is a chance for reinvention, perhaps to fix what’s broken about the agency model. We talked to CEOs of many of the agencies on this year’s North American Best Agencies to Work list — and a few from years past —  about the way they are managing this crisis and whether it’s making them rethink the traditional workplace. That analysis can be found here.

Meanwhile, the #1 Best Agencies to Work For in each category are listed below. The full analysis on the winners — and the top 5 ranking agencies in each category can be found here.  The #1 agencies in each category will be recognized at the SABRE Awards North America virtual ceremony on May 28 at 6:30pm ET. Tickets can be purchased here.
  
2020 BEST AGENCY TO WORK FOR, LARGE 
#1 Allison+Partners (MDC Partners) 
See the top 5 here. 

2020 BEST AGENCY TO WORK FOR, MIDSIZE 
#1 Walker Sands (Independent) 
See top 5 here.

2020 BEST AGENCY TO WORK FOR, SMALL
#1 Highwire (Independent) 
See top 5 here.

2020 BEST AGENCY TO WORK FOR, BOUTIQUE
#1 Zapwater (Independent) 
See top 5 here.

You can also read more about the process via our FAQ.