Patagonia goes beyond traditional rewards and benefits.
Emphasis on a culture that integrates work and life.
Key Features of Patagonia's Culture
On-Site Childcare: Supports employees in parenting while working.
Flexible Schedules: Employees encouraged to surf if conditions are favorable.
Volunteer Leave: After one year of service, employees receive two months of paid leave to volunteer for environmental causes.
980 Schedule: Offices closed every other Friday to promote work-life balance.
Employee-Centric Approach
Customized Benefits: Employees can select benefits that matter most to them.
Feedback Mechanisms: Regular feedback from employees is encouraged.
Research and Impact Assessment: Partnered with a local university to conduct surveys regarding changes in work schedules and their impacts on personal life.
Outcomes of Changes: Increased outdoor activities, longer vacations, improved relationships, and higher productivity reported by employees.
Performance Management System
Separation of Base Pay and Bonuses: Encourages skill development without conflating performance with compensation.
Feedback Implementation: Shifted focus to regular feedback and eliminated the traditional rating system.
Crowdsourced Feedback: Used input from peers and colleagues to assess performance.
Positive Outcomes of HR Practices
High Demand for Jobs: More applicants than can be processed due to strong brand alignment with values.
Low Employee Turnover: Cost-effective in training and recruitment.
Diversity in Leadership: Women represented at all management levels, including a female CEO and equal representation on the board of directors.
Philosophy and Values
Importance of courage in corporate values and practices.
Authentic commitment to support the company’s stated values through HR policies and initiatives.