- David Gianatasio

BOSTON Interpublic Group's Mullen this week cut 40 staffers, roughly 8-10 percent of the payroll at its headquarters office in Wenham, Mass., an agency representative confirmed on Friday.

The rep issued this statement: "It was an isolated event in one practice group. It happened as a result of recent client spending reductions." He declined to elaborate, but said the layoffs were made only in Wenham and stemmed from client spending cuts in general, rather than the loss of a specific account.

This marks Mullen's second notable staff cut in recent months. In late November, the agency laid off about 30 people, which at the time would have been 5 percent of its national workforce. Mullen's other major office is located in Winston-Salem, N.C.

Mullen's move continues a recent spate of agency staff cutbacks.

In the past two weeks, McCann Worldgroup S.F. confirmed it cut 5 percent of its staff, or 40 jobs; BBDO, 10 percent, or 50 positions, at its Troy, Mich., office; PHD is thought to have cut 15 percent of its staff, or 30 employees; Enfatico, 8 percent or 80-100 people; and The Martin Agency shed 5 percent, or 24 positions.

This followed Crispin Porter + Bogusky's layoff of 60 staffers in February, slightly less than 7 percent of its workforce, and the Ogilvy Group's cutting of approximately 150 positions, or 10 percent, in January.

These newly unemployed, said recruiters, will need to adjust their expectations to new industry realities -- especially those with traditional backgrounds.

And the bleeding apparently won't stop anytime soon, as WPP Group today said broad layoffs are planned.