Last week we officially closed the New York 33Across office to employees. Since the onset of the pandemic, our team has displayed integrity and resiliency and has proven that they can work wherever there is a will and decent WIFI access. As the country began to open back up, we polled employees about their preferred work environment and the overwhelming majority preferred to remain remote.
I’ve been so profoundly impressed with how effectively the team has adjusted and thrived moving to 100% remote. Trust has always been a big part of the culture at 33Across, and it became an even greater part of our culture as we went fully remote. Fact is, trust is a far more powerful tool than anything else, and trusting your team to get their jobs on their own schedule has proven to be the best way to work for us. We’ve got a relatively senior team, many with children and other obligations, and all who value getting 2-3.5 hours of time formerly dedicated to commuting back in their day. It’s proven to be the best thing we could have done as employee morale is high compared to prior years.
The other benefit is that removing the enormous overhead of a New York City office 33Across allows us to reinvest that money in our most important resource – our employees.
Here are some of the changes we’ve made:
- Increased our employee healthcare package: for employees in our core plan, we cover 100% of medical, dental, and vision premiums
- Monthly stipend that can be used towards internet fees or a killer snack stockpile
- Virtual employee events to maintain our 33Across spirit
- Increase in rewards and employee recognition
One thing we’ve all collectively learned is the need to be flexible. In 2022, we plan to look into options that allow us to meet in-person with customers or brainstorm with each other when necessary.
While we will miss our beloved coffee machine, Tuesday lunches, and seeing colleagues, the memories of our rooftop views, Halloween parties, and client events will live on.
