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The one stat you need to know
“According to a new report by the Conference Board, the New York-based nonprofit research group, some 54.6% liked their physical environment in 1987 versus 56.4% today, and 54.7% liked their equipment in 1987, compared to less than a percentage point more today, 55.2%. The report’s authors speculate that the increase in telecommuting offers a partial explanation, as people prefer working at home to being in the office and employers are responding by rethinking and improving equipment and workspaces.” – Forbes by Susan Adams
What this episode is about and why you should care
Have you ever thought of going to a financial firm looking for an investment advice, and suddenly, you see this person, wearing shorts. Would you be interested in working with him/her? I’m sure a lot of people would think that this is shocking. It’s very natural to think that when you go to a financial firm, you’ll see a lot less casual environment than that. Financial firms are seen as conservative, buttoned up, and suit-and-tie organizations.
On the end of the spectrum, as an employee, have you ever thought of going to an office whenever you just feel like it with your casual clothes on, and having benefits like doing yoga or meditation, getting a haircut or a massage, or playing with Nerf guns? I’m sure a lot of people would think that these are silly things that people are wasting money on, and that it can’t really make an impact in any way. But for an employee, I think this is an ideal workplace where you have so much freedom to be creative in what you do. There are no rules to stifle you on what you can do and what you can’t do as long as it’s within the guidelines of the organization.
To learn more about this very unique and incredible casual work environment, I’ve talked to Todd Etter, Chief Collaboration Officer of Motley Fool. Motley Fool is a web-based company designed to help people manage their financial life. It has topped Glassdoor’s Employees’ Choice – Best Places to Work 2014 for medium-sized companies.
What you will learn in this episode
- In depth looks on Motley Fool’s core values – collaborative, innovative, fun, honest, competitive, and motley.
- How these core values are ingrained in how employees work within the Motley.
- A look on how to work at the Motley Fool
- Perks and incentives working in a very unique organization. How these benefits ideas were created.
- Schedules of employees – Do they have to come to the office, or can they work anytime, anywhere?
- How the company uses games for business activities like meetings and annual reports.
- A walkthrough to visualize what office actually looks like – the experience when you walk in there.
- Reactions of people when they walk in at the office.
- Privacy and security – How open is Motley Fool with information within the organization?
- Tangible results of doing this casual working environment – Are these things meaningful or silly?
- What can medium-sized or larger organizations learn from what Motley Fool is doing?
- Advice for other companies wanting to change their corporate culture, or to be able to do what Motley Fool is doing.
- Role of management in creating this kind of desirable place to work in helping shape the Motley Fool into being the number one place to work in America.
- How Motley Fool balances and structures its organizational chart.
- Overview of two Motley Fool’s programs – Pick Your Own Device (PYOD), and internal recognition and rewards program, You Earned It.
- Turnover or retention rate in the company. Are people more productive?
- Advice for managers, employees, and companies on what they should be doing, and what they should be thinking about.
Links from the episode:
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