Businesses typically have images attached to them—the suit-and-tie and 100-hour weeks of corporate finance; the lipstick and Louboutin of the fashion mag world; the hoodies and bromances of Silicon Valley. But what do you do if you love the job you do, but not the place where you’re doing it? If you know your place in the world is crafting clever copy or planning ad campaigns but want to do your thing in an all-hands-on-deck, innovation-focused environment, we’ve got some options for you.
Refinery29
“We want to build a brand that’s as iconic as MTV or ESPN for a new generation,” Refinery29 co-founder Philippe von Borries told Re/code this year. Those aspirations have been bolstered by astounding numbers for the lifestyle site targeting millennial women and headquartered in New York. The company’s 546 percent growth over the last three years, $51.3 million in revenue for 2014, and $50 million dollar investment from WPP and Scripps has allowed it to create a new video department primed for experimental production. Staff perks include a kitchen stocked with goodies and iced coffee on tap, weekly yoga classes and a dog-friendly office.
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Chandelier Creative
Sometimes no matter how comfortable, fun and exciting office life may be, you need a place to get away from it all. New York-based ad agency Chandelier Creative has even that covered. When founder Richard Christiansen started building getaway spaces for staff to work and play in places like Montauk, he noticed that outdoor activities, fresh air and the comradery also elicited better work from his employees. Chandelier Ranch is the most recent, a four-bedroom house conceived and designed by Chandelier staff, where employees come to canoe, paint and plan out their latest projects.
Upworthy
Although headquartered in New York, Upworthy appeals to independent, self-motivated workers who want to have control over their hours. Almost all of Upworthy’s staff work remotely. Founders Peter Koechley and Eli Pariser don’t care where or when you do your work, or how many hours you spend on task, just as long as you get it done. And not only does Upworthy offer unlimited vacation time, the employer wants you to take time off, and will give you $1,000 toward your vacation if you do.
Centro
The darling of more than one publication’s best-places-to-work list, this Chi-Town-based media tech company’s CEO leads the charge on creating an environment that prizes talent over status and strives to make work life anxiety-free. There are bi-weekly yoga classes to help with that, as well as Ferris Bueller Days. These are offered on top of vacation days, for those mornings when you’d rather crash a parade than go to work, no questions asked.
Red Door Interactive
Open office? Check. Doorless, glass-walled or no-walled rooms for execs? Check. Encouraging a spirit of collaboration? Of course. Flexible schedule? Yep. San Francisco-based digital marketing agency Red Door Interactive likes to do things a bit differently, including holding most client presentations in its main space so that anyone and everyone can observe and give their input.
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