Since the pandemic, the way we work is completely different. Virtual meetings and remote workforces have removed traditional geographic barriers. As we grapple with the pros and cons of the new workplace norm as communicators, how can we find the sweet spot between the benefits of in-person collaboration and remote flexibility?

While many organizations struggled with the in-person-to-virtual transition coming out of COVID, fortunately our team was ahead of the curve. Shortly after founding Peritus in 2014, our president Louise moved on a cross-country and international adventure to a trio of new destinations to fulfill her husband’s Air Force service assignments:

Colorado Springs, Colo. (2015-2016)

Sacile, Italy (2016-2019)

Chapel Hill, N.C. (2019-2022)

This year we celebrate our 10-year anniversary, and it’s remarkable that Louise has been successfully running and building our firm from afar for eight of the 10 years we’ve been in business – long before Zoom meetings were trendy. Although it has come with its fair share of lessons learned, Louise’s personal chapter spent living out West, abroad, and on the East Coast to support her family built a foundation of flexibility and work-life balance that remains an integral part of our culture today.

Most of our teammates are based in Birmingham and value the in-person connection we gain working on a small team with an open office floor plan. Plus, working in a lively and creative district like Pepper Place in the heart of downtown certainly affords its perks.

We have also learned, however, that many of us can be just as (or more) effective at our job when working in a new environment. For me, a simple change of scenery or time zone can be a game changer when tackling brain-hurting projects that are challenging to accomplish during the 8:00-5:00 p.m. workday grind with distractions at every corner.

As someone who enjoys being constantly on the go, I’ve had the privilege to work remotely from 24+ different states and four different countries since the pandemic. As we continue reimagining what the new “workday” looks like, our team has tested new flexibility boundaries by restructuring meeting times, allowing teammates to work from planes, trains, and road trips, and even expanding our paid parental leave policy.

To continue building our “firm of the future,” we are in the process of launching a new Workaway program where eligible full-time teammates can spend a few weeks working in a different location to immerse themselves in a new culture, broaden their perspective and get a taste of a fully remote work experience. We drew inspiration for this initiative after learning about a Workaway program created by our friends at MediaProfile, a Toronto-based communications agency that is a fellow member of the Public Relations Global Network.

Earlier this summer, I was the first Peritus teammate called to the Workaway “line of duty” to test launch our program. Stay tuned for Part 2 to hear key learnings from my Workaway experience.

What benefits do you enjoy most at your organization or company? We’re always looking to audit and strengthen our benefits to think outside the box and ensure we are meeting today’s workforce where they are. Sometimes all it takes is being open to inspiration and exploration. Shoot me an email at hanlon@perituspr.com and I’d love to learn more about it.

Building A Culture Rooted in Flexibility