Cubicles. Conference rooms. Air-conditioned buildings. While these realities of modern office life are all important to getting the job done, they can also be pretty stifling for those of us who love being outside.
These companies are full of people who feel exactly the same way, so they've made getting out in the world and enjoying some fresh air part of their daily routines. Whether it's biking to work, basking in some lunchtime sunshine, or rock-climbing on the weekends, check out how these workplaces get back to nature.
1. iCracked
Where: Redwood Shores, California
Bay Area-based iCracked's mission is to repair, sell, and protect your iPhones, iPods, and iPads. (Yes, even the phone you forgot to take out of your pocket before jumping into a pool this summer.)
Staffers work hard to make sure all those iDevices get fixed, so the team has invested in making the office a peaceful oasis. Surrounded by water and lush views, the office boasts a communal dock and a boat that employees can take out to relax whenever they need to. Plus, the group owns a cabin in Tahoe, where employees head on the weekends to take in gorgeous lake views or powdery slopes.
See iCracked’s Office | Jobs at iCracked
2. WWF
Where: Washington, DC
Word Wildlife Fund is pretty much the definition of a nature-loving company. Formed in 1961 by a group of concerned biologists, WWF is the world’s leading conservation organization, supporting projects focused on saving wildlife species and their habitats. “Our ultimate goal is to save life on Earth—save the diversity of life, save the wildlife habitats, and the species that rely on them,” says Lee Poston, Director, Media & External Affairs.
WWF wants its employees to feel inspired to save the planet’s natural resources, so, every other week, it gives the team a day off (known as “Panda Fridays”) to get out of the office and into the world. The organization also encourages getting out into the field and traveling. “When you travel to places like the Congo or Asia, it renews your commitment to the organization because you get to meet the people on the ground who are making what we do in DC a reality,” Poston adds.
3. Pose
Where: Santa Monica, California
Not surprisingly, fashion discovery app Pose attracts a lot of style-obsessed types to its team. But, based two blocks from the ocean in a beachy Los Angeles neighborhood, it appeals to plenty of outdoorsy types, too.
The Pose team often bikes or walks to work, goes rock-climbing together, and even joined a group kickball league. They made it all the way to the finals but lost on a technicality—sigh. We're sure the year-round sunny skies and 70-something degree temps will cheer them up.
4. imo
Where: Palo Alto, California
A long commute can be a big energy-drainer, so social instant messaging platform imo offers a $500 housing stipend to employees who want to live within five miles of the office. As such, most employees live close enough to bike or walk to work, and co-workers who live near one another form groups to travel together. They also love doing outdoor events as a group, such as skiing in Tahoe or hiking on the weekends.
imo also does whatever it can to make sure employees don't have to be stuck at their desks all day. The office features walking treadmills equipped with laptop tables, so team members can walk and work at the same time, as well as standing desks, giving employees another alternative to sitting all day.
5. StackSocial
Where: Venice Beach, California
Startup StackSocial has a piece of seriously prime L.A. real estate: a bright, open office right on the beach, complete with a rockin’ roof deck. And employees take full advantage of it: Whether it’s a leisurely BBQ or an impromptu lunchtime ping pong game, the StackSocial team loves to hang out with each other and take a breather from all its hard work.
Staffers also have some of the most fun commutes we've ever heard of: Mark Swiggum, Manager of Business Operations, surfs in the morning, then hops on his bike to head to the office, and Director of Partnerships Ranesha Mattu can often be found skateboarding into work. “It really doesn't get better for me than here in Venice," she says.