Even an amateur chef will tell you that there are a handful of recipes that can turn on you in the blink of an eye.
Leave a caramel on the stove for 10 seconds too long and it turns from liquid gold to hardened bronze in the bottom of the pot. Overwhipped egg whites in high altitudes can cause a souffle to rise too high and ruin the dish.
A carbonara that isn’t taken off the heat soon enough becomes spaghetti à la scrambled eggs.
But in all of these recipes, it’s not just one factor that can mean the difference between a great dish and ordering pizza for dinner, it’s a combination of factors, such as heat and time.
Companies, in a way, need to think like an attentive chef — making sure that the perfect ingredients are combined in just the right way to serve employees with the work-life balance that they crave.
So what are the ingredients for work-life balance?
Built In Colorado spoke with teammates at three tech companies who all agreed: Going into the office in person allows them to ‘leave work at work’ and is now a key part of their happiness.
“When I leave the office, I feel that my workday is done, which supports a healthy work-life balance,” said Trista Pickell, senior manager of North American Workplace at Contentful.
Kevin Gassaway, account manager at AirDNA, sees the ritual of going into work as critical to his mental health.
“I never had the experience of being fully remote, but I think going into the office gives me a really solid work-life balance,” he noted. “I enjoy the routine of leaving my house for the day, taking a break to walk around downtown, seeing coworkers in person and closing my laptop to head home.”
Charlie Bjork, talent acquisition specialist, added that, at SRAM, going into the office comes with perks like group workouts and an in-office gym. For him, it paces out his day in a way that makes work enjoyable.
“There are several options for breaking up the workday, whether that is our Monday yoga class, Wednesday no-drop ride or Thursday run club,” Bjork noted.
Read about why this in-person time is so important to all three below.
SRAM is a bicycle component manufacturer.
Tell us about SRAM’s office space and how frequently your team uses it.
We have a large office — 115,000 square feet — of about 240 employees in Colorado Springs. Our engineering and technical support teams make up about half of the building, which includes bicycle maintenance spaces and a robust test lab. The other half of the building is made up of teams in product, marketing, human resources and IT.
The office has an open layout with many shared workspaces — in the café, by the fireplace, etc. — that encourage collaborative work. My favorite place in the office is the outside patio that offers a stunning view of Pikes Peak.
“My favorite place in the office is the outside patio that offers a stunning view of Pikes Peak.”
What types of amenities does SRAM your company offer for in-office work? Do you have a personal favorite?
We have a small gym with several exercise machines, weights and resistance bands, along with a locker room for employees to use post workout, after riding your bike into work or taking a lunch ride. We are close to Ute Valley park, Blodgett open space and Garden of the Gods, so options for getting outside are plentiful.
Compared to working remotely, how would you say working in the office has benefitted the way you work?
As the talent acquisition specialist in Colorado Springs, I love that the hiring managers I work with daily are available in person, making collaboration a key pillar of our success. It is also extremely rewarding and tangible to work with applicants through the hiring process and welcome them to the office, where they make in-person connections and I see them flourish at SRAM! Finally, working at the office has given me a better understanding and appreciation for the business and its employees.
Contentful is a platform that unifies content in a single hub, structures it for use in any digital channel and integrates with hundreds of tools through open APIs — all allowing developers and content creators to work in parallel.
Tell us about your Contentful’s office space and how frequently the team uses it.
We have a stunning office on the 46th floor with 360-degree mountain views and an abundance of natural light. It creates a warm, welcoming atmosphere that I truly appreciate, which is why I’m in the office four days a week.
One of my favorite spots is the cafe area, especially the booths that overlook the mountains. When things get hectic, I find it incredibly grounding to take a moment, look out at the mountains and remember their timeless presence. It helps put everything into perspective and keeps me focused on the tasks at hand. Plus, being visible to our employees allows me to be easily accessible for quick questions or support.
What types of amenities does Contentful offer for in-office work? Do you have a personal favorite?
Our company offers a range of fantastic amenities to enhance the in-office experience. We have an extensive snack and drink program, including beverages on tap, and plenty of plants to create a lively atmosphere. Employees can also enjoy an on-site gym, gender-neutral restrooms to ensure everyone feels welcome and wellness rooms for a little downtime.
We host a weekly happy hour to foster connections, and our high-tech spaces facilitate seamless hybrid collaboration. There’s even a game area for blowing off steam, along with a parking benefit and breakfast and lunch provided during large meetings. My personal favorite is the gym, which I use almost daily to stay active and energized.
Compared to working remotely, how would you say working in the office has benefitted the way you work?
Working in the office has greatly benefited my work for several reasons. Firstly, I appreciate the clear separation between work and home.
“Working in the office has greatly benefited my work for several reasons. Firstly, I appreciate the clear separation between work and home.”
Additionally, being in the office has allowed me to build valuable relationships with my colleagues through daily interactions and events. For example, I’m currently running a large project with several cross-functional collaborators. Since I’ve been working from the office for three years and have made an effort to connect with everyone, we’ve developed a shorthand that enables us to move swiftly through the project as a cohesive team, even though it’s our first time working together directly.
As a natural extrovert, connecting with people energizes me, making my workdays more fulfilling and productive.
AirDNA provides data and business intelligence for the billion-dollar travel and vacation rental industry.
Tell us about AirDNA’s office space and how frequently the team uses it.
We have a really cool two-story office right downtown by Larimer Square. It’s an older building with a lot of open spaces, natural light, plenty of meeting rooms and a rooftop to hang out on when the weather is nice. I’m in the office Monday through Friday, with the occasional work-from-home day when needed. I rotate between my desk, phone booths and meeting rooms. I’m on calls with customers through most of the day, so it’s nice having a lot of options for quiet space to take meetings.
Working upstairs at my desk is great because the whole office shares an open floor, and I can take a break from the computer to chat with coworkers.
What types of amenities does AirDNA offer for in-office work? Do you have a personal favorite?
We have lunch catered every Tuesday through Thursday, so the office is full those days, and the food is always delicious. The upstairs is stocked with snacks from floor to ceiling. I usually grab a coffee from the fancy espresso machine when I get into the office, then I switch to the unlimited supply of seltzers for the rest of the day so I don’t over-caffeinate. There is a never-ending supply of Waterloos, Kirkland seltzers, Spindrifts and LaCroixes. My favorite part of being in the office is definitely lunch. No matter what, everyone takes a break from work to eat together and hang out, and we have a great group of people to enjoy it with.
“No matter what, everyone takes a break from work to eat together and hang out, and we have a great group of people to enjoy it with.”
Compared to working remotely, how would you say working in the office has benefitted the way you work?
I am a huge fan of going into the office, and appreciate the flexibility to work from home when needed. There are too many distractions at home for me. Whether it’s doing the dishes, putting in a load of laundry or finding some other task to distract me. The office is the perfect space to focus, catch up with folks and feel that I’ve checked every box I need to for the day.
