GroundFloor Media (GFM) has a very open environment – in terms of office layout and culture. You can regularly hear people (including the leadership team) calling to one another across the office or simply jumping up and running over to chat with a colleague. Plenty of open spaces, half walls and open doors (again, including those of upper management) also encourage conversation.
A culture has been built at GFM that few companies have – one based on celebrating accomplishments, encouraging camaraderie and having fun. In fact, the agency has been named a Best Place to Work by Outside magazine the past two years in a row.
Team members routinely send out kudos to colleagues via the agency’s private Facebook group and/or email. Team leads are also encouraged to provide tokens of thanks (paid for by GFM) to team members who’ve done an exceptional job on a project, campaign, etc. Such tokens include Starbucks gift cards, bags of candy and Zappos or other similar gift cards. Leadership team members also surprise deserving team members with spot bonuses and gift certificates to spas, favorite restaurants, etc.
When it comes to having fun, GFM has a social committee that plans regular events for the team. Most recently, they enjoyed a team potluck breakfast at the office on a Wednesday morning.
In addition to having an office kegerator and Ms. Pac-Man machine, one team member recently started a weekly GFM Beer Club. Every Thursday afternoon, employees take 30 minutes to gather around a center table and taste/learn about different types of beer.
GFM also exceeds industry standards by offering a comprehensive rewards and benefits program for employees that offers an additional 22% of their individual total annual compensation. GFM employees are considered full-time when working as few as 24 hours/week.