A Dettol campaign by McCann London about getting workers back into the office has massively backfired.
The UK government is in the midst of attempting to get workers to head back to the office, with Dettol’s latest ‘Keep Protecting’ ad conveying the importance the hygiene brand has in keeping offices infection-free.
However, not all commuters are impressed with the ad, which was seen in London’s underground tube.
The ad appeared to entice workers back into the office by highlighting the things people might have missed over the last few months in lockdown, including “caffeine-filled air,” “the boss’s jokes,” and “office gossip.”
People took to Twitter to call out the out-of-home ad, suggesting it was “cringe” and spoke of an office environment that doesn’t exist in the real world.
It's like Dettol hired Jeremy Hunt as their copywriter. These are the most cringe ads I've ever seen. pic.twitter.com/2d4CEKIpmb
— Mike (@Mike_P_Williams) September 3, 2020
One Twitter follower wrote their own version of the ad with a list of their office normalities: “Systematic racism. Casual racism. Backstabbing colleagues. Inept managers. Sexual harassment. “Who you know” promotions. Mind-numbing small talk. Bad I.T. 0.1% pay rise, 5% travel fare increase.”
Systematic racism. Casual racism. Backstabbing colleagues.
Inept managers. Sexual harassment.
“Who you know” promotions.
Mind numbing small talk. Bad I.T.
0.1% payrise, 5% travel fare increase.Just thought I’d add a few they missed off 🙃🤙🏾
— Kagey (@KageyVision) September 3, 2020
Earlier this week a cropped version of the ad, without Dettol branding, made the rounds online, which people mistook for a UK government message to entice people back to the office.
