#19 in the Green Goldfish Project – Full Contact API
Taken from a post from ABC News on Yahoo news:
The CEO of Denver-based internet start-up FullContact API said in a market that is competitive for top talent, he wants to keep his employees happy and refreshed. The flip-flop wearing founder offers his employees $7,500 for what he calls “paid, paid vacation,” however there are rules.
“One, you actually have to take a vacation to get the money,” Lorang said. “Two, you have to disconnect from work, so that means no calls, no emails, no tweets, no work of any kind.”
Even Lorang admitted he has trouble following his rules. “I suck at it,” he said.
Not surprisingly, employees said they loved having the company pick up the tab for their vacations.
“It’s a real break for your brain,” said Robbie Jack, a FullContact API employee. “You come back refreshed and reinvigorated and more excited about the stuff you were working on when you left.”
If the idea of having a boss pick up the tab for a dream vacation is tantalizing, good news: Lorang is hiring.
“We’re probably going to hire about 12 folks in the next six months,” he said.
Here’s a video report from Daily Motion and Buzz 60 on this sweet benefit:
Marketing Lagniappe Takeaway: Putting a $7,500 exclamation point on a paid vacation. In the competitive world of recruiting developers, Full Contact API stands out in a sea of sameness.
Today’s Lagniappe (a little something extra thrown in for good measure) – Here’s a YouTube video from EW looking back on classic film Vacation:
What is the Green Goldfish Project?
The Green Goldfish Project is a quest to find 1,001 examples of marketing lagniappe for employees. Happy employees = Happy Customers. A green goldfish is the little signature extras given to employees. They help differentiate a company, increase employee retention and drive positive word of mouth.
What’s Your Green Goldfish?
