Hybrid workplaces are here to stay — and workers have never felt better.
Over the past two years, as many companies adopted remote work and then shifted to hybrid models, employees have reaped significant benefits. According to a Gallup survey published in June, 71 percent of hybrid employees named improved work-life balance as a positive impact on their work environment, and 67 percent of respondents noted that their time was now used more efficiently.
However, hybrid work does not come without challenges, as many companies scramble to update their technology, team build, and enable cross-departmental professional and social opportunities. According to that same Gallup survey, 32 percent of employees felt less connected to their organization’s culture after their companies adopted hybrid work models, and 30 percent saw decreased team collaboration.
Despite the struggles of hybrid models, leaders from AlertMedia and Modernize Home Services say they are committed to giving employees the right to choose the work environment that works best for them. To make the office even more enticing and bring the team together, they’re unveiling exciting in-office perks.
Built In Austin connected with leaders at these two companies to learn more about how to craft engaging, collaborative hybrid workplaces.
In September, AlertMedia, an emergency mass communications and monitoring company, celebrated the grand opening of its Town Lake office and reinstated a beloved companywide tradition: Tuesday lunches.
While its headquarters touts perks such as environmentally friendly features, rooftop terraces and panoramic views of Lady Bird Lake, the company is still committed to granting employees the flexibility to choose where they want to work — even when those preferences change throughout the day.
Describe your hybrid remote workplace arrangement.
Over the past two years, employees have grown accustomed to the flexibility of choosing their work environment, even if their preferences change throughout the day. As a result, when AlertMedia designed our new headquarters at RiverSouth, we considered how we could incorporate the same flexibility and conveniences into our office space.
Specifically, we designed our new headquarters with the intention of making it easy for employees to work from the office — temporarily, part- or full-time — with a wide range of permanent or bookable desks, quiet spaces and collaborative areas. Additionally, all meeting spaces are equipped with high-definition video conferencing technology to support easy connection and communication with remote employees for a more inclusive work environment.
While we do not track how many days employees are in the office, we encourage teams to use the space as a central destination where they can connect with coworkers and celebrate wins, participate in training and mentorship opportunities, enjoy state-of-the-art amenities and use modern individual workspaces daily, if that’s their preference.
Specifically, we designed our new headquarters with the intention of making it easy for employees to work from the office.”
What neighborhood is your office located in?
AlertMedia’s headquarters are located on the top two floors of RiverSouth, the state-of-the-art, 15-story building located in the Town Lake neighborhood, positioned between South First Street and South Congress Avenue.
Recently dubbed the “smartest” building in Texas, RiverSouth boasts numerous smart and environmentally friendly features, hotel-style amenities and stunning panoramic views of Lady Bird Lake, Auditorium Shores and the Downtown Austin skyline.
Further supporting evolving employee preferences for flexibility and access to nature, the space offers multiple rooftop terraces as well as close proximity to the Town Lake Metropolitan Park, Lady Bird Lake Trails, waterfront break areas and more.
How have you celebrated being back in the office?
We recently hosted a company-wide grand opening of our new headquarters at RiverSouth in September. To celebrate, we hosted our first “Tuesday Lunch” event in the new building, a company milestone that we’ve continued weekly since the company was founded in 2013.
Tuesday lunches are a time when all employees can come together to celebrate milestones, share information and highlight the difference our teams and products are making in the world. Since the grand opening, we’ve also hosted multiple team get-togethers and an open house for friends and family to enjoy the space and amazing views of the city and skyline.
The downtown office at Modernize Home Services, a company that connects homeowners with contractors and home services professionals, promises food, fun and stunning views of the Texas Capitol. Keeping with its priority for interpersonal connections, the consumer web company upgraded its tech to allow for collaboration between remote and in-person employees.
Describe your hybrid remote workplace arrangement.
We believe a hybrid working environment is the future and creates the most productive workplace. According to a 2022 McKinsey survey, 92 million Americans now have the opportunity to work remotely; why should our Modernize teams be any different?
Our employees perform at a high level and get to choose which location works best for their schedules. We believe success is determined by employee performance and engagement, not by handcuffing people to their desks.
At Modernize, we embrace the fact that everyone is different. We encourage you to work from home if you feel like you’ll be more productive. Alternatively, you can join us in the office to collaborate more during team meetings, get to know your colleagues organically and enjoy the buzz of the office at your own pace.
We are consistently evolving our in-office and remote events to keep Modernize Home Services as one of the best places to work in Austin.
We believe success is determined by employee performance and engagement, not by handcuffing people to their desks.”
What neighborhood is your office located in?
We are located in the heart of downtown Austin, at the intersection of 8th and Congress avenues. We have three beautiful floors in a historic, hip building.
Our teams enjoy working from our balcony with its direct view of the Texas Capitol. We are also able to walk to great restaurants and coffee shops for colleague chats and casual happy hours.
How have you celebrated being back in the office?
We showcase different celebratory themes in our office each month, which provides an engaging experience for folks when they decide to come in. Onsite employees can expect food, fun and laughter.
We also upgraded our technology to better facilitate large events for our split audience — onsite and remote — to encourage collaboration and camaraderie.
