Ask HN: What Are Some Companies That Foster Employee Happiness and Wellbeing?

2 points by mgmeyers 7 years ago | 2 comments

After recently leaving a toxic work environment and reading the news about experiments in 4 day work weeks and 6 hour work days, I got to wondering how many companies out there actively foster a culture of employee happiness and wellbeing. I'm less interested in ping-pong and free lunches, and more interested in things like:

  - Shorter work days / weeks
  - Encouraged PTO
  - Concern for work / life balance
  - Openness to alternative working arrangements
  - Mindfulness of personality traits such as introversion / extroversion
  - Health / wellness and personal / professional development stipends

I'm not necessarily looking for companies that tick all of these boxes, but instead looking to survey the landscape.

Also, what qualities are important to all of you in terms of being happy and healthy in your jobs?

KerryJones 7 years ago |

I just started working for Patreon so it might be a bit early but I love the culture, and it has many of those traits. I have also studied building cultures for my own previous startups before and they do a lot right.

- Encouraged PTO (they suggest one week a quarter) - A lot of quiet / introversion rooms as well as space to be chatty - Full normal health benefits AND mental health benefits (emotional counseling) - Mental health days are totally accepted - People WFH as they need (though encouraged to be in the office) - A large personal development stipend ($3K/yr)

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They also provide a lot of other aspects that I think play into the culture, but really it's the people that make it for me. Everyone really cares about the mission.

mgmeyers 7 years ago | |

That does sound pretty great. After your studies in culture building, what sort of things do you look for in a company?