COMMENTS
So... like Don Draper, they can go to Cali on biz trip and make it an extended stay? LOL! I love you guys. And how nice you actually gave your policy another lookover and lots of thought. Lucky employees. Great boss.
A very interesting approach and one I'm curious to see how it works out for you a year from now.
With the right employees (and you guys certainly have plenty of them) it could be a huge boost all around. I hope it works out.
Isn't Mad Men just the best? I hope the next time I visit you have a scotch cooler waiting for me. *grin*
This reminds me of
Daniel Pink and his books on human motivation.
From my conversations with a few HubSpotters, it's clear that this freedom contributes to a more effective company as a whole.
And as a prospective employee, this is fascinating to me.
I can only hope more companies follow suit!
@CC - There is at least one bottle of scotch on my desk. Help yourself!
Isn't enough that we are following your marketing philosophy? Stop being so damn leaderful! ;)
- Axle Davids
@axle
more smartness from a company i admire. well done.
I look forward to reading a post that reflects on the impact of this new policy on team morale and productivity. In this day and age where the line is blurred between work life and home life, this policy will allow your team to work when they are most effective and to address situations in life as they arise. Kudos!
I love your post, it seems so natural, so envolving, and very wise, hope than in out latin cultures any of this policies could be adopted and learned. CEO's simply don´t get it, employees are effective and commited towards the business if the bisuness is committed to them. I believe it's totally smart.
This is very interesting, and I was discussing it the other day on Twitter. I think it's a bold move and I really hope it's successful. However, I've seen time and again at any company that there are those who take time off and those who don't. What keeps it from getting ugly is the fact that at least the people who don't take their vacation are accruing it. My fear for you is that there will eventually be an imbalance and that you'll have a group of folks who take advantage of the policy, or at least, who others think are taking advantage. This may lead to resentment down the road when someone realizes they only took a week off and their buddy in the next cubicle took 4 weeks off. I really hope I'm wrong because I love the idea that people who are given an option like this will do the right thing. It will be interesting to see what happens and I hope you'll continue to keep us posted on how it's working out.
woah, cool ... wait a minute ... we should do this with healthcare too ... that would totally rawk!
Love it. Trilogy (in Austin) did this back in the day.
You guys should also take a look at WorldBlu and the companies that make its Democratic Workplace list... there are some super future-thinking companies on that list (Rypple, Linden Lab, DaVita, and BzzAgent and Continuum near Boston).
(Disclosure: I advise them)
Kareem
@C.C. Yes, the next time you visit, we'll tap into Volpe's scotch. Btw, you are welcome ANYtime.
@Yifei Yes, Prashant at HubSpot recently introduced me to Daniel Pink. He has some really interseting insights.
@Axle LOL
@Pamela That risk exists...we'll try to manage it. One of the things we are doing is a check in during the year and pushing folks that haven't taken any time off to do so. We don't want to burn folks out.
@kareem Will check out Worldblue.
all -- i suspect you'll see more innovative stuff like this coming from us on how we "run/manage" the business...keep your eye on this channel!
Another reason to love Hubspot.
I would be interested to hear if any trends become apparent like empty desks coinciding with Bonnaroo or playoff games.
I guess the best point is that by hiring the right employees they don't need managing they just need direction and support.
By the way, I love getting my blog updates!
Love your approach. Very similar in philosophy to the Results-Only Work Environment outlined in the book "Why Work Sucks and How to Fix It"
www.caliandjody.com/book/ Smart management and makes me even a bigger fan!
I always hate when people want to know how much time they have left and then when they want to take 5 days off but they only have 3 left.
This would make many HR departments lives easier.
I am very curious to see how this works out for you.
Perhaps your tremendous vacation policy justifies the incredibly smug approaches people like Mike Volpe have towards recruiting.
@Brad -
Sorry if we wronged you in some way during the job application or recruiting process. I am sure we can improve. I am emailing you now to learn more.
classy comeback.. I like...
Corporate culture can make a break an organization - the rigorousness of the recruiting at my current organization assured me that they find the right people for the position and the company.
"50 years from now, someone will build a hit show that pokes fun at today's corporate culture"
wait, you mean, BESIDES the office?
:-)
way to go. this is very much the policy we're aiming for at oneforty, inspired by that awesome Netflix deck...
http://www.hackingnetflix.com/2009/08/netflix-posted-a-128-page-internal-presentation-on-the-company-culturereference-guide-on-our-freedom-responsibility-culture.html
Hi Laura.
Good point re The Office being a good spoof on today's corporate culture!! Dilbert is another good one.
The awesome Netflix deck is what got our wheels turning on this idea. We are going to do a lot more...would be happy to collaborate with oneforty on some of this stuff -- share ideas and best practices etc.
@Mike Brad's not my real name Mike. Try just treating applicants respectfully going forward. In my entire career, I don't think I've ever experienced the lack of professional courtesy you showed me during the application process, despite my enthusiastic efforts to get my foot in the door at Hubspot. Being selective is wonderful. Being imperious and disrespectful -- not so wonderful.
@Brad Your messages make me sick to my stomach. I'm really sorry to hear that you weren't treated with utmost respect in the process. I just wrote a post on HubSpot's wiki about your message and how we might improve.
Brian, I love this idea. You and the team are building a great company, with great people and a great product. We are proud to be partners.
How do I get hold of some stock?
All the best,
Mark
Brian,
I have to say that I'm very encouraged to here that, and my treatment during the recruitment process notwithstanding, you all are clearly doing some amazing things at Hubspot.
Are you familiar with the Camphill movement? Camphill communities work with people with disabilities, people who need services and support for daily living. Those who work in these communities are paid what they need to live. There are no salaries per se. Some people have greater needs than others and are paid accordingly. Same with their vacations and sick days. They take them when they want, much like you are doing at HubSpot. Camphills have been around for decades and can be found around the world – so your vacation model has proof that it can work.
Ha! File this one under:
"Holding a tray of cookies in front of a child then slapping his hand when he takes one".
I've seen this before, and what typically happens is that managers "bully" employees when they tell them they are taking time off to the point that employees fear they will be perceived as lazy or weak if they do. A vacation policy that seems too good to be true usually is - especially when you are an employee! INNOVATIVE way to milk more hours out of sales folks though guys...
Well I applied for a position at Hubspot just yesterday. I am wonderfully qualified and, due to the lacking economy, I have been working on a fishing boat for several months. I wanted to share our time off policy with you. It goes as follows: Waves 10 foot or larger, day off. Waves less than 10 foot, you work even if you are just moments from death.
I prefer the Hubspot way of thinking!
Brian,
Do you consider remote candidates for your sales team?
Katherine -- We centralize our sales org in Boston for now... Brian.
The concept is great and "No vacations" is an awesome idea. I have never seen the Madmen show as I cut expenses to the bone while I look for work. I intend to do something similar for my employees and contractors if my project ever takes off.
There are tons of applications for production and metrics.
An employer once sold me a great career opportunity with all the internet buzz, bells and whistles the reality was quite different...
In the three plus years I spent there, I did not take my vacations at all... go figure!
I should not have ignored the huge hidden signs that a sales person is only as good as their last sale and no one really cares about relationship building; but I needed the job... and the economy is bigger than me and my efforts.
Good luck on the project it sounds great and I will sign up to try it out!
As someone who's accustomed to rolling over the max amount of vacation days every year, and sick days really meaning "work from home" days, this plan sounds crazybananas to me! But I love it! It's nice for a company to recognize folks who work nights and weekends simply because they like what they do. Cheers!
Exactly. People who love their job and feel like their company trusts their judgment will not mind it when work happens to intrude at nights or into the weekend.
Resentment starts when the company is always counting vacation/sick time on their end, but not recognizing when an employee works past the traditional work day.
Happy employees are more productive employees ;) Kudos for being such a visionary... or human. I can't decide lol
congrats. We just went to the same approach a few months ago. Best decision we ever made...employees love it and we're actually seeing less not more time being taken off for "vacation"
@TomMartin
http://www.helpmybrand.com