The CEO of a $1 billion company explains why he makes everyone who walks into the office take their shoes off
If you land a job at Gusto, a $1 billion company that provides payroll, benefits, and workers' comp insurance to small businesses in the US, you may want to get a pedicure before your first day - or at least invest in a few new pairs of nice socks.
Joshua Reeves, the cofounder and CEO of Gusto, recently told Adam Bryant of The New York Times that he's implemented a no-shoe policy at work.
"We started the company in a house in Palo Alto, and because I was raised with shoes off in the home, that house was a shoes-off home, too," Reeves explained. "When we moved to a proper office in San Francisco, people said, 'Let's keep this.'"
Now Gusto in two locations - San Francisco and Denver - and they have huge shoe racks at the entrance of both offices. "We have socks and slippers and spa sandals for people who come in as guests," he told Bryant.
"Companies can be sterile and cold," Reeves added. "We want our workplace to be really comfortable. In some ways, people feel more like themselves when their shoes are off."
And his employees agree. "Taking off my shoes makes me feel like I'm at home," a Gusto employee tells Business Insider. "It creates more of a family dynamic, which helps us do collaborative work as a team everyday."
- I quit McKinsey after 1.5 years. I was making over $200k but my mental health was shattered.
- Some Tesla factory workers realized they were laid off when security scanned their badges and sent them back on shuttles, sources say
- I tutor the children of some of Dubai's richest people. One of them paid me $3,000 to do his homework.
- Why are so many elite coaches moving to Western countries?
- Global GDP to face a 19% decline by 2050 due to climate change, study projects
- 5 things to keep in mind before taking a personal loan
- Markets face heavy fluctuations; settle lower taking downtrend to 4th day
- Move over Bollywood, audio shows are starting to enter the coveted ‘100 Crores Club’