Each month we’ll share what top Human Resource and Technology leaders from US & Canadian companies are doing to take care of business, themselves and their teams.

#1 Name: Jad Esber – Founder
Company: Koodos – Boston, MA
Website: www.koodos.com
# of Staff: 7
How long with company? 1 year

1) How and why is employee wellness important to your company?

“Employee Wellness is very important to the team; I always try to be on top of my game to be more productive. I also try to make sure that everyone can unplug from time to time and find a balance of work and play time.”

2) How and why is saving money important to you and your company?

“Saving money is very important to our company but it’s not the only thing that matters. We’re still in the early stages of our business so we do watch what we spend and we try to save money where we can.”

3) What wellness programs or resources do you currently offer your staff?

“Our team organizes YouTube play lists for things like exercise, home workouts, meditations, etc. They organize a lot of group zoom workouts which is great.”

4) What obstacles and challenges are you still working on?

“We try to not be overloaded and online all the time. We are really making an effort to disconnect from work and our devices.”

5) In your opinion, what is the one thing many people in your position might miss?

“I think a lot of people might missing being intentional when it comes to their own personal wellness. We need to have conversations about how people are feeling. A lot of teams are smaller and are working very hard – like ours. We’re so focused on growth that we can’t forget to take time for wellness needs too – that has to be intentional.”

#2 Name: Spencer Horne – Digital Growth Associate
Company: Insider – Denver, CO
Website: www.useinsider.com
# of Staff: 800
How long with company? 6 months

1) How have you and your team been affected by COVID-19?

“When we all started working from home people had too much time on their hands. The team maybe didn’t feel as productive as before. I also felt that way at the beginning and I needed to stay busy. Now I appreciate things more. Meditation has helped me to not be overwhelmed by normal day to day activities. Everything was weighing heavy on me. Now I can focus and breathe and just realize that everything will eventually pass. I have a strong sense of calm, I’m more productive and I’m often in a better mood.”

2) What wellness programs or resources do you currently have at your company?

“We get things like unlimited paid time off. About a month ago a team member led a course to everyone on meditation and mindfulness – someone who works with us who is a yoga teacher. Every week we host a culture presentation from a different part of the world. This week was South America, specifically Colombia. I myself meditate every day for about 15 minutes. When I first started meditating it was a chore but not now. I recently put a sauna in my home and I use it everyday. I play tennis, volleyball and Brazilian jiu jitsu. I exercise every single day.”

3) In your opinion, what is the one thing that many people in your position might miss?

“My advice would be to write down your priorities on paper and put them in front of you all the time. It’s easy to get caught up in all the busyness. My top priorities are family, work, wellness and friends/a social life. Do things that are fun for wellness. Cut out the things you’re not getting anything out of like social media. Focus on things that are fun. Life is good. Take a deep breath and find your calm place. Form new habits and stick to them. It’s easy to start something like meditation but it takes work to stick to it.”

#3 Name: Greg McNee – VP Customer Experience
Company: Smart Technology – Seattle, WA
Website: www.smarttech.com
# of Staff: 500+
How long with company? 10 years

1) How have you & your team been affected by COVID-19?

“We’re having fewer organic conversations. From a mental perspective we have a good system in place though. We’re very flexible with people.”

2) What wellness programs or resources do you currently offer your staff?

“Before covid we had company paid yoga on-site every Wednesday. It was a nice break and a way to focus. Yoga supported everyone’s mental and physical well- being. Four years ago the company bought everyone a fitbit and we then used them to have a challenge. Activities like yoga bring people together and boost team spirit.”

3) What obstacles and challenges are you still working on?

“Mainly keeping staff up to date on covid at the moment and when everyone might be returning to the office.”

4) In your opinion, what is the one thing or secret sauce that many people in
your position might miss?

“Listen to your employees, listen with empathy. There are so many challenges right now. People have lost family members due to COVID-19.”

5) Crystal ball: What does YOUR next level of success look like in this arena?

“We want to have a greater spotlight on mental illness and have more support for this. There is much more that we can do and people need our support.”

#4 Name: Jyotin Gambhir – Owner
Company: SecureFlo – Boston, MA
Website: https://secureflo.net/
# of Staff: 5
How long with company? 10 years

1) How important is employee wellness to your company?

“Wellness is important to me and to the company. Being healthy and well allows people to focus more on their work and get more work done. I myself meditate twice a day every day and I’ve done that for the last 20 years. I miss the odd time due to work travel, but otherwise I’m pretty consistent. Meditation helps to calm me, I have a much clearer thought process and I experience peace of mind. When I was younger and before I had a meditation practice I was more impulsive,
reactive and more prone to anger. Meditation has given me a real sense of calm and I’m a better listener as an employer.”

2) How have you and your team been affected by COVID-19 in the last year?

“My friends and family have been affected by this pandemic. They have been distracted more. Our team has always done video meetings but now we do online video meetings more than ever. We’re being more conservative this year because of everything, but we do have more clients in 2021, which is great.”

3) What wellness programs do you offer your team?

“We offer our team health care benefits, trainings, discounts to an insurance company, discounts on gym memberships and other wellness programs.”

4) In your opinion, what is the one thing that many people in your position might miss?

“I really think the one thing a lot of people miss is the wellness piece. When you are healthy and well, you’re more satisfied. Employees feel like they’re more a part of the company when they do things together, especially a smaller company like ours.”

5) What does YOUR next level of success look like in the wellness arena?

“Our next step is to partner with a health care provider that manages benefits, dental, etc. We want to offer more discounts or savings on things like a gym membership, pass to a yoga studio, etc.”

#5 Name: David Jitendranath – Owner
Company: Modestack – Denver, CO
Website: www.themodestack.com
# of Staff: 25
How long with company? 16 years

1) How and why is employee wellness important to your company?

“Wellness is very important, but we’re a startup company at the moment so we don’t have the luxury of time to spend on wellness just yet.”

2) What free wellness programs or resources do you currently offer your staff?

“Nothing yet at the moment but I myself have an interest in staying healthy and fit. I go to the gym and do cross fit, among other things. For my staff, I would rather give them the money that they can use toward their own wellness.”

3) In your opinion, what is the one thing that many people in your position might miss?

“To keep in mind that wellness is really important to millennials. You want to orient your company to attract the right talent.”