1. BSW Wealth Partners

Location: Boulder, Colorado
Focus:
Number of Employees: 31
Average Salary: Unspecified
Vacation Time: 15 days of PTO to start, up to 27 days after 10 years

Perks: Paid volunteer days, work from home and hybrid work schedules, home-office/workstation stipend, early Fridays for weekend adventures, annual ski trips, paid sabbatical after a decade, summer and winter fun days, custom branded gear, dinner and babysitter stipend to celebrate work anniversary, matching 401k, paid parental leave, kids’ first day of school off, plus a fully stocked breakroom, Thursday catered lunches, craft beer and unlimited seltzer, and an office located near local mountain trails

What makes it great: “We prioritize work-life balance and flexibility, allowing our team members the freedom to work independently while fostering trust and accountability. Meaningful work is at the heart of what we do. We solve impactful problems, genuinely help people, and continuously evolve to make life better for our clients. Additionally, our vibrant culture of fun and connectivity sets us apart. We believe that a workplace should inspire, support, and uplift its employees, and at BSW Wealth, we do just that.”

2. Workshop Digital

Location: Richmond, Virginia
Focus:
Number of Employees: 28
Average Salary: Unspecified
Vacation Time: 12 days of PTO

Perks: A four-day work week, your birthday off, fully remote work, hybrid work option if located near Richmond headquarters, quarterly team recreation events, and two company-wide annual offsite events

What makes it great: “At Workshop, we’re all about staying connected in our remote/hybrid world, finding creative ways to build relationships from virtual coffee dates to in-person pickleball meetups and company-wide retreats. We celebrate each other’s lives through active Slack channels, sharing everything from travel stories to pet pics. We’re passionate about our work, and we’re just as passionate about getting outside—hiking, running, cycling, or training for marathons and triathlons.”

3. Landmark Consultants, Inc.

Location: Steamboat Springs, Colorado
Focus:
Number of Employees: 18
Average Salary: Unspecified
Vacation Time: 15 days of PTO to start, up to 30 days of PTO

Perks: Full coverage of health insurance costs for employees and their dependents, a physical health benefit equivalent to a full Ikon ski pass, flexible, hybrid work schedules to encourage outdoor activities, team sponsorship for the STARS Mountain Challenge fundraiser, an annual summer camping trip, and a company ski day

What makes it great: “Landmark offers professional careers with excellent benefits in the heart of Ski Town U.S.A. Our office is just 1,000 feet from Howelsen Hill Ski Area and its summer trail network, half a mile from the Spring Creek Trailhead, which connects to the Continental Divide, and only three miles from the Steamboat Springs Ski Resort. We believe that a flexible schedule to enjoy powder days, sunshine, and fresh air are vital for a healthy, fulfilling lifestyle, which in turn allows us to consistently deliver high-quality work for our clients.”

4. Tilting Futures

Location: San Francisco, California
Focus:
Number of Employees: 20
Average Salary: Unspecified
Vacation Time: Unlimited PTO

Perks: A $750 annual stipend for professional and personal development courses, an international trip to one of the company’s program countries after two years, and a month-long paid sabbatical after three years

What makes it great: “Ours is a culture where authenticity triumphs and self-care prevails. We invest in our people personally and professionally with the tools, flexibility, and support to thrive. As a team, we bring our full human selves to the work and have a lot of fun in the process.”

5. GFM|CenterTable

Location: Denver, Colorado
Focus:
Number of Employees: 35
Average Salary: Unspecified
Vacation Time: Unlimited PTO after one year

Perks: Flexible schedules, an on-site meditation room, quarterly mental health days to unplug, a monthly “Happiness Allowance” to pursue personal passions, paid volunteer time, a vacation day for the Colorado Rockies home opener, an annual Groundhog Day party, and a paid sabbatical every five years

What makes it great: “We don’t just talk about work-life blend—we live it with flexible schedules, meaningful benefits, and a deep commitment to community impact. From sabbaticals every five years to volunteer days, Beverage Club celebrations, and onsite yoga, we create space for growth, connection and laughter. Our shared passion for making a positive impact fuels not only our work but the meaningful relationships we build with each other and our clients.”

6. WorkBright

Location: Boulder, Colorado
Focus:
Number of Employees: 45
Average Salary: $100,000
Vacation Time: Unlimited PTO

Perks: Work from anywhere, health benefits, an annual professional development plan supported by a company stipend, an annual personal development grant for one employee, monthly wellness challenges, two offsite company trips per year, rewards like AirPod Pros or $100 to take your family out to eat for important revenue milestones

What makes it great: “As a B-Corp, we consider people and culture part of our bottom line and invest time and dollars accordingly. We incorporate our core values into hiring, recognition, and performance management. We invest in the heart, head, and briefcase of our managers with annual upskilling trainings to ensure that managers have the tools to support their teams both as people and as coworkers.”

7. Gunpowder Inc.

Location: Delafield, Wisconsin
Focus:
Number of Employees: 24
Average Salary: Unspecified
Vacation Time: Unlimited PTO

Perks: Remote work opportunities and flexible schedules, comprehensive health benefits and 401(k) match, an annual team summit, professional development opportunities, company-paid cell phone and internet, paid parental leave, a dog-friendly office, holiday and anniversary gifts, winter break between Christmas and New Years Day, and annual performance bonuses

What makes it great: “Gunpowder encourages and enables its team to enjoy their interests, whether those be fishing, hunting, camping, or other activities, while working on meaningful projects for leading outdoor brands in the categories they’re passionate about. With a focus on authentic storytelling and impactful media strategies, Gunpowder empowers its employees to thrive in a creative, purpose-driven environment, helping brands connect with people on a deeper level.”

8. Global Glimpse

Location: Fully Remote/Oakland, California
Focus:
Number of Employees: 19
Average Salary: $94,000
Vacation Time: Unlimited PTO

Perks: An annual international team retreat, bi-weekly half-day “Wellness Fridays,” 100-percent employer-paid healthcare, fully remote work, 12 weeks parental leave for all employees, a “Workiversary” Milestone Program that includes flight vouchers, swag, and sabbaticals, plus a week off for winter holiday and another for summer holiday

What makes it great: “At Global Glimpse, we combine passion with joy, hard work with play, and growth with gratitude. We are redefining what it means to be a great place to work through a deep commitment to both our mission and the people who make that mission possible. Global Glimpse is a culture-centered organization that seeks to foster an inclusive workplace that enables our diverse team to be connected, feel supported, and thrive.”

9. TDA_Boulder

Location: Boulder, Colorado
Focus:
Number of Employees: 28
Average Salary: Unspecified
Vacation Time: Unlimited PTO

Perks: An annual fitness stipend for sports-related expenses, year-round half-day Fridays, 100-percent health care coverage, employee milestone anniversaries with a travel stipend, $1,000 donation to an employee-chosen charity for every fourteener ascent, and an annual outdoor company adventure

What makes it great: “We feel incredibly lucky to be building a vibrant work culture that makes it possible for our people to enjoy what they do. Our Boulder location and proximity to the outdoors has always contributed to a happy workplace, but as more of our people work remote, this recognition means that much more.”

10. C1S Group, Inc.

Location: Dallas, Texas
Focus:
Number of Employees: 53
Average Salary: $119,460
Vacation Time: 15 days of PTO, plus one day for each year with the company

Perks: Flexible work-from-home policy, catered lunch one day a week, breakfast tacos every Friday, regular happy hours, kickball, Top-Golf, and running teams, and a stocked beer fridge

What makes it great: “C1S understands that rewarding work is just one part of a rewarding life. We fiercely protect personal time spent doing all the other things that make life great, like travel, coaching a soccer team, volunteering, or checking things off your bucket list. You shouldn’t wait for retirement to start living life to the fullest.”

11. Western Environmental Law Center

Location: Eugene, Oregon
Focus:
Number of Employees: 28
Average Salary: Unspecified
Vacation Time: 20 days PTO and a three-month sabbatical after five years

Perks: Flex Fridays, 100-percent employer-paid health care, $100 monthly office stipend for remote workers, dog-friendly offices, a three-month sabbatical after five years, and two annual retreats—one on Oregon’s coast, and one near Yellowstone in Montana

What makes it great: “WELC is a powerhouse of environmental advocacy, and each staff member is a high-performing luminary in their own way. We challenge one another, help one another, and camaraderie is through the roof in part because we’re all rowing hard in the same direction—to protect the places, communities, and creatures we love in the Western U.S.”

12. GetUWired

Location: Dahlonega, Georgia
Focus:
Number of Employees: 37
Average Salary: $58,000
Vacation Time: 10 days of PTO to start, 15 days of PTO after two years, and unlimited PTO after three years

Perks: A variety of personal and professional growth training opportunities, weekly guided meditations, anniversary and additional appreciation gifts, paid parental leave, flexible scheduling, 401(k) matching, and quarterly team building events that regularly take place outdoors (lake days, tubing, low ropes courses)

What makes it great: “We’re 100-percent remote, but we still try to make sure to create those watercooler-type moments in a virtual setting so that we don’t lose that personal touch with one another. Our company’s mission, purpose, and core values are key to who we are, how we make decisions every day, and how we grow as a company. We’re passionate about helping small businesses succeed.”

13. Cheley Colorado Camps

Location: Estes Park and Denver, Colorado
Focus:
Number of Employees: 15 year-round/210 seasonal
Average Salary: Unspecified
Vacation Time: Unlimited PTO for year-round staff

Perks: Employer-paid healthcare, a generous retirement plan and profit sharing, flexible work hours during the off season, paid training for industry conferences, pro-deal access to many outdoor companies, paid volunteer hours, and company-supplied housing for some staff

What makes it great: “Working for a youth-development organization that is committed to building character and resiliency in a challenging and nurturing natural environment makes it rewarding to show up every day. Spending your days in the Colorado Rockies around amazing people is also a plus. It is also amazing to work for a fourth-generation family business where our average year-round employee has worked here for over 13 years.”

14. Cocona Labs

Location: Boulder, Colorado
Focus:
Number of Employees: 19
Average salary: Unspecified
Vacation time: 10 days of PTO to start, up to 20 days of PTO

Perks: Flexible work schedule, support of volunteer work, and great benefits

What makes it great: “Cocona Labs supports a dynamic, engaging, and exciting culture with team members across the world. We foster an atmosphere of trust and collaboration, where employees feel valued and heard. The company prioritizes professional growth, offers flexibility, and promotes a healthy work-life balance, creating an environment where everyone can thrive and contribute to shared goals.”

15. Tenacious Holdings, Inc. (Ergodyne)

Location: St. Paul, Minnesota
Focus:
Number of Employees: 85
Average salary: Unspecified
Vacation Time: Flexible PTO

Perks: Half-day Fridays in the summer, team 5K runs, a fully equipped gym with a Peloton machine, weekly workout classes, two work-from-home days per week, and an employee wellness program

What makes it great: “We are a high-performing, passionate bunch who take the work we do and our results seriously. We like to say: Come for the cause; stay for the people. Most folks who dig our vibe are passionate about helping workers and making a difference.”

16. Inntopia

Location: Stowe, Vermont
Focus:
Number of Employees: 72
Average Salary: Unspecified
Vacation Time: 15 days of PTO to start

Perks: Flexible work arrangements, random days off throughout the year, professional development program, employee service awards, lodging and activity comps at North American resorts, company-sponsored events and competitions, paid volunteer hours, medical, dental, vision and pet insurance, employee assistance program, and wellness reimbursements

What makes it great: “Somehow Inntopia always finds good people. And when you have passionate, innovative, and hard-working people, it’s a recipe for success. When a company knows the work gets done, and it gets done well, it’s easy to offer flexible schedules, encourage community involvement, and support life outside of the office.”

17. Creative Alignments

Location: Boulder, Colorado
Focus:
Number of Employees: 18
Average Salary: Unspecified
Vacation Time: 15 days of PTO to start

Perks: Flexible work schedule, an annual retreat, virtual and in-person events throughout the year, versatile health coverage options that are 75 percent employer-paid, reproductive healthcare, employer-sponsored long-term disability, employer 401(k) match, and access to a free financial advisor

What makes it great: “We believe that work should be additive in people’s lives and that happiness created through work makes the world a better place. Our reason for being is to create a great workplace and to help scaling companies that have a similar commitment hire great employees, creating a cycle of good that inspires a sense of purpose, belonging and positivity in people’s lives.”

18. CampMinder

Location: Boulder, Colorado
Focus: Number of Employees: 83
Average Salary: Unspecified
Vacation Time: Unlimited PTO

Perks: On-site retreats with yoga, cooking classes, escape rooms, and a hike with goats, 12 weeks of paid parental leave, employer-funded wellness savings accounts, employee resource groups, and flexible work-from-anywhere options

What makes it great: “If you were to ask any Minder what makes this company great, their answer would include some variation of ‘the smart, caring, authentic, fun people I get to work with.’ Many of our team members are former camp counselors or directors. Their camp experience enables them to empathize with our clients and bring the spirit of camp into the workplace. Employee engagement is the company’s top priority, and we regularly review employee feedback and implement changes based on team members’ input.”

19. Turner

Location: Denver, Colorado, with offices in New York, Chicago, and Miami
Focus:
Number of Employees: 55
Average Salary: $114,200
Vacation Time: Unlimited PTO

Perks: Paid volunteer days, a free ClassPass membership for all full-time associates, flexible and hybrid work schedules, early Fridays for weekend adventures, discounts on client apparel, gear, and hotels, dog-friendly offices, mental health speakers, zen rooms, and Calm App subscriptions paid for by the company, stocked wine fridges and a local brew kegerator, a “recess” committee that organizes games, happy hours, and outings, a professional development program, and a committee that leads engaging activities

What makes it great: “We consider ourselves incredibly lucky to make lifelong memories on an epic scale and call it work—sunrise hot balloon rides over Albuquerque, New Mexico, wear-testing experiences for our brands that take us to summit views in Colorado, rock climbing gyms in Midtown Manhattan, New York, being on-set for Top Chef in Wisconsin, taking over an entire Texas resort to disconnect with Airstream. And that’s just the last six months.”

20. șÚÁÏłÔčÏÍűSmith Explorations

Location: Truckee, California
Focus:
Number of Employees: 16
Average Salary: Unspecified
Vacation Time: Up to 26 days of PTO

Perks: Remote/hybrid/flexible work environment, near-annual, all-expenses-paid trips on company expedition cruises and wilderness adventures, 100-percent employer-paid healthcare, 401(k) matching, discounted personal travel, a powder day clause, gear discounts, team events, and a dog-friendly office located in the heart of an outdoor adventure mecca

What makes it great: “Passport stamps to far-flung destinations—check! A team that feels like family—check! How lucky we are to transform our shared love for outdoor adventure into such an inspiring workplace. It’s thrilling to craft (and experience) trips of a lifetime, and we revel in the excitement of our clients’ and colleagues’ travel stories and new experiences—whether it’s hiking near glaciers in Alaska, kayaking among icebergs in Antarctica, or snorkeling with penguins in the Galápagos. I couldn’t imagine a better group of passionate and knowledgeable individuals to surround myself with—both at work and beyond.”

21. Evotek

Location: Solana Beach, California
Focus:
Number of Employees: 202
Average Salary: Unspecified
Vacation Time: Unlimited PTO

Perks: Flexible work location, premium employee medical, dental and vision coverage, 401(k) with employer match, and an annual company overnight retreat to destinations like Napa Valley, Austin, or a private yacht in Miami

What makes it great: “The Evotek team is comprised of people with unique backgrounds and experiences who are always happy to give a helping hand. We are not only given the opportunity to learn but are encouraged to expand our knowledge and expertise through continual learning. Our many events allow us to make solid connections with each other as well as with our valued partners and customers.”

22. Obviouslee

Location: Charleston, South Carolina
Focus:
Number of Employees: 26
Average Salary: Unspecified
Vacation Time: Unlimited PTO, with a minimum of 15 days per year

Perks: End-of-year weekly closure, paid volunteer days, an annual wellness day, flexible working arrangements, yearly anniversary gifts for team members, a yearly company retreat, year-round early Fridays to get a head start on the weekend, a dog-friendly office, and access to outdoor gear and discounts

What makes it great: “Obviouslee truly values its employees’ well-being and fosters a strong work-life balance, enabling them to pursue their passions, especially in the outdoors. As a certified B Corp, Obviouslee demonstrates its commitment to social and environmental responsibility, which resonates with employees who care about making a positive impact. The company offers great benefits, all while working with purpose-driven brands that value sustainability and protecting the environment. This creates a positive and fulfilling work experience for employees who love marketing and the outdoors.”

23. Geocaching HQ

Location: Seattle, Washington
Focus:
Number of Employees: 90
Average Salary: Unspecified
Vacation Time: 15 days of PTO to start, up to 25 days of PTO

Perks: Comprehensive health benefits, 401(k) matching, free geocaching premium membership (including an extra buddy membership), time to geocache, free gear to rent on-site for adventures, unlimited free lift tickets anywhere in the world, reimbursements toward outdoor activities, a lunch subsidy, learning and development budgets, monthly social events, a sabbatical every seven years, and a special geocaching travel award every ten years

What makes it great: “At Geocaching HQ, kindness and community are at the heart of everything we do. Our leadership genuinely cares about the team, the exciting game of geocaching that brings people together, and the vibrant community who plays it. Whether we’re collaborating on projects or heading outside for a geocaching adventure, we thrive on connection and shared passion.”

24. Fortnight Collective

Location: Boulder, Colorado
Focus: Number of employees: 21
Average salary: Unspecified
Vacation time: Unlimited PTO

Perks: Winter Fridays off, professional development stipend to attend training and/or professional conferences, wellness benefit stipend to use toward personal passion or travel, an annual mountain resort retreat, and 14 weeks of paid family leave

What makes it great: “Fortnight Collective intentionally ensures all employees enjoy the perks of living in Colorado, like getting outside. That is why, from day one, we implemented Winter Fridays. It is designed to get people out and about to take advantage of whatever passion suits them. In addition to our annual mountain resort retreat at resorts like Keystone or Steamboat, we also kicked off our Boulder Beach Day (at a lake). Our office is in the heart of downtown Boulder, with a bustling town to the north and the famous Flatirons to the west. Lunchtime hikes are not out of the question.”

25. Shine United

Location: Madison, Wisconsin
Focus:
Number of Employees: 45
Average Salary: Unspecified
Vacation Time: 10 days of PTO to start, up to 20 days of PTO

Perks: Full healthcare and dental benefits, summer Fridays, weekly company-wide gatherings, outdoor adventure stipend, flexible work environment, company-sponsored community activities, quarterly Re-Energize Days (days off), and unlimited family, personal, and sick leave

What makes it great: “We may be a business, but the ethos of Shine has always been simple: Work hard, play hard, do good work for good people, and try to change the world for the better. When you see that belief in action, when the work culture, hiring guidelines, as well as life-work balance echo and demonstrate this belief, it turns out to be a pretty great place to work.”

26. Charles Cunniffe Architects

Location: Aspen, Colorado
Focus:
Number of Employees: 20
Average Salary: Unspecified
Vacation Time: 25 days of PTO to start, up to 35 days of PTO after five years

Perks: An annual ski pass or equivalent wellness stipend, weekly flex hours for outdoor recreation or personal commitments, paid month-long sabbaticals after 10 and 20 years, 100-percent paid medical and dental, FSA, 401(k) matching, paid monthly volunteer hours, paid birthday off, free bus passes and company car, hybrid work schedules, free snacks, and a stocked fridge

What makes it great: “We believe in working hard and playing harder—whether that’s on a mountain trail or a project site! Our flexible schedules, paid sabbaticals, generous benefits package and perks like a free ski pass and outdoor group outings keep our team happy, healthy, and motivated. And with paid volunteer time and ongoing community service initiatives, we’re not just building great projects, we’re making a meaningful impact every day.”

27. Workstand

Location: Boulder, Colorado
Focus:
Number of Employees: 70
Average Salary: Unspecified
Vacation Time: 14 days of PTO to start, up to 24 days of PTO after 6 years

Perks: Fully remote work, flexible work hours, Get șÚÁÏłÔčÏÍű Friday, outdoor industry discounts, new parent leave, paid time off to volunteer, monthly game hour, and weekly coffee/snack chats with company president

What makes it great: “We are proud to have a shared purpose of helping local bike shops because we believe bicycles make the world a better place. Bike shops are an important part of enriching the cycling experience for people and communities. Workstand is a company that values each employee by embracing our individuality and leaning on a bottom-up decision-making philosophy. We love getting outside, supporting one another and our families, and sharing the best pics of our pets.”

28. BrainStorm, Inc.

Location: American Fork, Utah
Focus:
Number of Employees: 61
Average Salary: Unspecified
Vacation Time: 12 days of PTO to start

Perks: Outdoor equipment, three paid volunteer days, corporate ski passes, ping pong tables, organized out-of-office activities, paid volunteer days, and annual company trips

What makes it great: “BrainStorm is exceptional because of its culture, which starts at the top. We focus on people, continuous learning, community involvement, personal growth, and creating tangible value for our customers and partners. The company prioritizes hiring individuals who exemplify its character-building values and fosters an environment where employees are encouraged and inspired to live life in bold.”

29. Duft Watterson

Location: Boise, Idaho
Focus:
Number of Employees: 23
Average Salary: Unspecified
Vacation Time: 15 days of PTO to start, up to 20 days of PTO after five years

Perks: Work-from-home Wednesdays, half-day Fridays, a Linus commuter bike for each new employee, employee contributions for self-directed charity donations, a dog-friendly office, and an annual all-agency (plus families) mountain weekend getaway

What makes it great: “We believe that an outdoor lifestyle leads to happier employees and better ideas, design, and motivation. Our team works together and plays together, given single track trails, a Sawtooth Mountain-fed river, fly fishing, a surf park, skiing, and an alive downtown are all a few steps or a short ride away. Every year, we take the entire team and their families for a weekend at places like Sun Valley and Tamarack, either for summer fun or skiing.”

30. Toad&Co

Location: Santa Barbara, California
Focus:
Number of Employees: 53
Average Salary: Unspecified
Vacation Time: 20 days of PTO to start, 25 days of PTO after 5 years

Perks: Every other Friday off, a hybrid work-from-home schedule, a dog-friendly office, outdoor wifi, lunchtime yoga classes, birthday donations to a non-profit of employee’s choice, company adventure days for time outside, a paid sabbatical after 10 years, and an annual employee campout on the Channel Islands

What makes it great: “We’re a mission-driven company full of people who truly believe in doing good (and having a good time while we’re at it). We’re super involved in our community, taking advantage of paid days off to volunteer and hosting events with other local businesses. We make a point to celebrate our wins – big or small – and keep things light hearted and fun, from our annual ‘Grilled Cheese Smackdown’ to a costume party at the holidays to our Channel Islands campout, where our CEO dusts off his secret margarita recipe each year.”

31. The Brand Leader

Location: Greenville, South Carolina (HQ); New York City; and Boulder, Colorado
Focus:
Number of Employees: 32
Average Salary: $74,500
Vacation Time: Unlimited PTO

Perks: Bagel Thursdays, spot bonuses, summer picnics, subsidized mental health care, annual retreats, a pet-friendly office, summer hours, extensive parental leave, and adoption subsidies

What makes it great: “By fostering a culture of work-life balance where each person feels valued and supported, we’ve built a company where people are passionate about serving one another and our clients. From helping employees qualify for homes to offering generous parental leave and unlimited PTO, our goal is to create men and women of character who push the limits of what’s possible in and out of the workplace.”

32. Wild Montana

Location: Helena, Montana
Focus:
Number of Employees: 27
Average Salary: $72,571
Vacation Time: 20 days of PTO

Perks: Four-day work week, fully paid health and dental insurance, a three-month paid sabbatical after five years, retirement plan, 15 paid holidays including the last week of the year, flexible work schedules, an office accessible to trail systems, a dog-friendly office, and an annual health stipend

What makes it great: “With a trusting team culture and a strong commitment to work-life balance, Wild Montana empowers employees to drive impactful conservation efforts while staying connected to the landscapes we work to protect. Time off is essential, as we believe personal connection to the outdoors is what inspires and sustains our mission.”

33. Buzz Franchise Brands

Location: Virginia Beach, Virginia
Focus:
Number of Employees: 69
Average Salary: Unspecified
Vacation Time: 10 days of PTO to start

Perks: Happy hour Fridays, half day Fridays in the summer, a pool table and ping pong table in the office, monthly company outings, and an annual company trip

What makes us great: “Whether it’s taking a walk to a nearby coffee shop, borrowing an office bike for lunch, or joining our outdoor sports teams, we believe in recharging to fuel high-energy work. Located just minutes from the beach and a couple of hours from the mountains, we take our love of the outdoors even further at our annual company offsite with activities like beachside wild horse tours, hiking, and s’mores around the campfire.”

34. The Pinnacle Companies

Location: Frisco, Colorado
Focus: Number of Employees: 109
Average Salary: $111,724
Vacation Time: 15 days of PTO to start, up to 25 days of PTO after six years

Perks: A family weekend in Denver, monthly social gatherings, a summer picnic, employee interest groups for activities like hiking and biking, outdoor gear access, employer-paid healthcare, paid volunteer hours, work anniversaries with special perks, shareholding opportunities, an annual all-inclusive retreat in Mexico, and an annual ski day at Arapahoe Basin

What makes it great: “Our culture is built on strong friendships, both inside and outside the office, with meaningful connections that extend beyond work. We foster personal and professional success through employer-paid medical plans, opportunities for every team member to become a shareholder, and development programs centered on coaching and feedback. This combination of camaraderie and thoughtful benefits creates a workplace where we grow and succeed together.”

35. Polar Field Services

Location: Littleton, Colorado
Focus:
Number of Employees: 68 full-time/ 100+ seasonal
Average Salary: $102,000 (full-time)
Vacation Time: 15 days of PTO to start

Perks: An employee stock ownership plan, 401(k) matching, 100-percent employer-paid healthcare, a $1,000 annual personal development stipend, a dog friendly office, paid cell phone plan, paid Costco or Sams Club membership, annual schwag gifts, wellness challenges, anniversary gifts, and employee recognition programs with rewards like cash or Amazon gift cards

What makes it great: “From planning snowmobile expeditions to collect ice cores on the Greenland ice sheet to supporting the launch of high-altitude balloons that bring connectivity to remote regions, the work at PFS is what draws employees to the company. As an employee-owned organization, everyone has a personal stake in the company’s success, fostering a close-knit, family-like atmosphere and promoting a shared commitment to work ethic and values.”

36. Eagle County Paramedic Services

Location: Edwards, Colorado
Focus:
Number of Employees: 100
Average Salary: $96,500
Vacation Time: 15 days of PTO to start, up to 40 days of PTO

Perks: Flexible work schedules, a $1,200 annual stipend for ski passes or other recreational pursuits, a housing assistance program with 10-percent annual loan forgiveness, and employee gifts like Osprey backpacks and Melanzana hoodies

What makes it great: “The people who work here are really fantastic. You get to work with some of your best friends and then get outside and recreate with them when you’re off duty. The schedule really contributes to being able to enjoy the incredible outdoor opportunities where we live—hiking, biking, skiing, climbing, and rafting. Plus, it’s really rewarding to know that we’re helping our community every day.”

37. Stio

Location: Jackson, Wyoming
Focus:
Number of Employees: 185
Average Salary: $87,000
Vacation Time: Accrued vacation time or flexible PTO

Perks: Flexible remote work policy, 401(k) matching, fully paid health insurance, expanded medical coverage for reproductive care, 10 paid holidays, 12 weeks of paid parental leave, paid medical leave, a work-from-home allowance, an annual gear testing stipend, and an annual team summit

What makes it great: “Stio was founded in a mountain town by people who are passionate about mountain life. This perspective serves as the foundation for our company culture. It’s a place where living our values is important. We want balance, we want to do the right thing, we want superior products to get us out into the mountains, and we want to be a part of a community that shares in that vision. When you can start there, good things will come.”

38. Optera

Location: Boulder, Colorado
Focus: Number of Employees: 51
Average Salary: $138,000
Vacation Time: Unlimited PTO

Perks: Every other Friday off, 13 paid holidays, fully paid-healthcare, a 401(k) match up to 4 percent with ESG options, 12 weeks of paid parental leave, a sabbatical program, and generous stipends for wellness and professional development

What makes Optera great: “At Optera, we dedicate our skills, talents, time, and passion toward meaningful solutions that will help stop climate change and make the world a sustainable place for future generations. Not only do we work for the planet, but our perks also enable us to get out and enjoy the planet we all love so much. You’ll often find employees using their Recharge Fridays to ski, hike, bike, or relax in nature.”

39. Wilderness Travel

Location: Berkeley, California
Focus: Number of Employees: 50
Average Salary: Unspecified
Vacation Time: Up to 20 days of PTO

Perks: Annual travel opportunities on a Wilderness Travel trip (with a plus one), a $4,000 annual travel stipend, 10 Fridays off annually, a dog-friendly office, birthday celebrations, and fun team outings like kayaking, escape rooms, an Alcatraz tour, or curling

What makes it great: “Wilderness Travel is a family-owned business with a passionate team of adventurous, globally minded travelers. We encourage employees to explore the world with a generous annual travel stipend and access to unique, once-in-a-lifetime trips, from trekking in the Himalayas to snorkeling in Indonesia and tracking pumas in Patagonia. Our home office is a dynamic hub where we collaborate with global partners, bond over happy hours and team outings, and support each other’s personal and professional growth in a welcoming and vibrant environment.”

40. Aspenware

Location: Denver, Colorado
Focus:
Number of Employees: 40
Average Salary: $140,000
Vacation Time: 20 days of PTO

Perks: A paid volunteer day, $1,000 annual reimbursement for health and well-being, an annual National Parks Pass, an Ikon Pass, $1,500 annual training reimbursement for professional development, and an annual team summit in Denver with employee ski day at local resort

What makes it great: “At Aspenware, our collaborative culture goes beyond the office through engaging activities like virtual coffee chats, company-wide challenges, and an annual team summit. While we’re focused on developing cutting-edge e-commerce solutions for mountain resorts, our team also enjoys top-notch perks like health stipends, free ski passes, and national parks access. We prioritize innovation and connection, making Aspenware a place where great ideas—and great experiences—thrive.”

41. GoPro

Location: San Mateo and Carlsbad, California
Focus:
Number of Employees: 476
Average Salary: Unspecified
Vacation Time: Unlimited PTO

Perks: Hybrid remote work options, offices close to beaches, trails, and world-class cycling, skating, and water sports, monthly reimbursement toward wellness expenses, access to free coaching and therapy sessions and a digital health platform that supports all paths to parenthood, organized hikes and days out for product testing, fireside chats with world-class GoPro athletes and ambassadors, and the latest camera and accessories (along with company challenges) with each product launch

What makes it great: “GoPro empowers employees to live their desired lifestyle while being able to show up to work as the best versions of themselves—whether in a GoPro office, their remote workspace of choice, or a bit of both. We believe that there is strength in numbers and that people do their best work when they can form lasting bonds with their colleagues, associates, and members of the GoPro community.”

42. East West Partners

Location: Avon and Denver, Colorado
Focus:
Number of Employees: 60
Average Salary: Unspecified
Vacation Time: Unlimited PTO

Perks: A $1,200 annual wellness bonus, 14 weeks of paid parental leave, a paid month-long sabbatical after 7 years and again every 5 years, outdoor-inspired team outings from trail repair and floating the Yampa river to crawfish boils and pickleball tournaments, dog-friendly offices, ski-in/ski-out locations, exclusive access to Denver Nuggets and Colorado Avalanche games, and a company “Snow Days” holiday

What makes it great: “One of our core values is ‘Live Where We Work,’ so our team members have the rare opportunity to grow thriving careers in stunning mountain locations like Vail, Park City, Steamboat, and Snowmass, or in dynamic urban locations like Denver and Charleston. Our work enables us to make a lasting, positive impact through sustainable, net-zero carbon projects and meaningful civic contributions. And we do it all with a team of creative, hard-working people who know how to have fun along the way!”

43. Superfeet

Location: Ferndale, Washington
Focus:
Number of Employees: 152
Average Salary: Unspecified
Vacation Time: 10 days of PTO to start, up to 25 days of PTO

Perks: Time off to volunteer in the community, $1,000 annual contribution per employee to the non-profit organization of their choice, gym and national park pass reimbursements, 100-percent employer-paid premiums for medical, dental, vision, life insurance, short and long term disability, long term care, and an employee assistance program, 401(k) matching flexible hybrid work schedules, and a dog-friendly office

What makes it great: “People are at the heart of everything Superfeet does, and that very much includes a commitment to creating an empowering and inclusive workplace culture for our team members. Superfeet team members are empowered to participate in cross-departmental committees, engaging all-company meetings and annual strategic planning that involves employees at every level. Superfeet prioritizes flexible work arrangements, from remote employees to state-of-the-art facilities, ensuring every team member has the resources and space to excel.”

44. Cactus

Location: Denver, Colorado
Focus:
Number of Employees: 75
Average Salary: Unspecified
Vacation Time: Unlimited PTO

Perks: Ski passes, an annual all-agency ski day at Arapahoe Basin, discounted ski equipment rentals, an employee group that enjoys outdoor activities like camping, hiking, and indoor rock climbing, a paid monthly fitness benefit, agency-funded group registrations for run/walk events around Denver, an annual agency kickball tournament, monthly team happy hour events, free Calm premium membership and access to YOU@Cactus, a customized mental well-being portal

What makes it great: “Cactus is a special place to collaborate with truly amazing people who do meaningful work for clients they believe in and have fun doing it. We share a belief in the power of small agency creativity and innovation to solve some of the world’s biggest problems. We have a workplace culture driven by values like respect, belonging, passion, courage, tenacity, collaboration, well-being, and critical thought.”

45. 85Sixty

Location: Solana Beach, California
Focus: Number of Employees: 88
Average Salary:ÌęUnspecified
Vacation Time: Unlimited PTO

Perks: Subsidized Ikon Passes, dog-friendly offices, locations by ocean and mountains, travel experiences around the U.S., gift cards for the company swag store, discounts for travel and outdoor products, and paid industry conference opportunities

What makes it great: “At 85Sixty, we believe in putting our people first! Our fun-loving culture is all about teamwork, flexibility, and empowering everyone to shine, whether they’re hitting the trails or shredding the slopes. We encourage our crew to connect with brands they’re passionate about, making work feel like play. With the right tools and supportive leadership, we ensure our team has everything they need to do their best work while enjoying the journey together!”

46. Pathlabs

Location: Missoula, Montana
Focus:
Number of Employees: 108
Average Salary: Unspecified
Vacation Time: Unlimited PTO

Perks: Hybrid/remote flexibility; paid civic engagement days, weekly catered lunches, Friday yoga, a casual work environment welcoming shorts, hats, dogs, and long weekend excursions, company-sponsored events like river tubing, pickleball, golf, axe-throwing, and river cleanups, events in Missoula for outdoor activities and team bonding, and charitable donation matching up to $250 annually to qualified 501(c)3 organizations

What makes it great: “We are committed to our core values, with ‘people first’ at the forefront. A laid-back, adventure-driven culture balances our fast-paced, award-winning growth. Headquartered in Missoula, Montana, we are steps away from access to world-class outdoor activities. We foster an atmosphere where we work hard, celebrate wins, and enjoy time together as humans, not just as coworkers.”

47. Arts & Letters Creative Co.

Location: Richmond, Virginia
Focus:
Number of Employees: 150
Average Salary: Unspecified
Vacation Time: 25 days of PTO

Perks: 25 holidays, including one week off to recharge during July 4th week and the holidays in December/January; 401(k) and a 4-percent company match that is 100-percent vested from day one; a suite of wellbeing resources, including an annual wellness reimbursement, two employee assistance programs, access to OneVillage one-on-one coaching, and all-agency in-person events

What makes it great: “Arts & Letters is reimagining what it means to be a creative company by doubling down on a belief that building teams is the best force multiplier for creativity. Keeping people and how they connect at the center of everything, A&L incubates more inclusive talent development programs for both managers and contributors, increases support of employees through concierge services, and launches new programs to connect employees in their local communities. A&L believes firmly that a place should work for its people, and not the other way around.”

48. Young & Laramore, Inc.

Location: Indianapolis, Indiana
Focus: Number of employees: 70
Average salary: Unspecified
Vacation time: 10 days of PTO to start, up to 20 days of PTO

Perks: Unlimited paid sick leave, company bikes for riding around downtown, showers and lockers for workday runs and rides, an annual Field Day event, office closed for the last week of the year, a two-day fall retreat at a state park or college campus, and a room for meditation or quiet time

What Makes it Great: “Every day we walk into a 120-year-old schoolhouse with a gymnasium where we can all hang out. We run together. Sometimes it’s a five-miler at lunch, other times it’s a full marathon. We compete against each other every year at our annual Field Day event as well. We love spending time together, and being active is a big part of that. We love having dogs in the office and hitting the Cultural Trail or the canal in downtown Indy for walks at lunch. We also have an annual pumpkin-carving contest and a pretty competitive chili cook off.”

49. Alianza

Location: Pleasant Grove, Utah
Focus:
Number of Employees: 286 (136 U.S. employees)
Average Salary: Unspecified
Vacation Time: 20 days of PTO

Perks: Flexible work schedules and fully remote options, a $500 annual fitness reimbursement for a gym membership or outdoor gear and apparel, in-office yoga, corporate passes for skiing, rock climbing, and golf, a fleet of e-bikes for employee use, a fully stocked kitchen with vegan and paleo options, and 100-percent employer-paid healthcare premiums

What makes it great: “Alianza encourages everyone to be their best self at work, which includes taking advantage of our Utah headquarters location and exploring new outdoor activities and wellness habits. Between the perks and flexible work options—including a collaborative, welcoming, and fully-equipped office space with stunning mountain views and a wellness room, aptly named Zen—it’s easy to balance hard work with fun, growth, and outdoor exploration.”

50. Falling Creek Camp, Inc.

Location: Tuxedo, North Carolina
Focus: Number of Employees: 18
Average Salary:ÌęUnspecified
Vacation Time: 10 days of PTO to start, up to 20 days of PTO

Perks: Access to miles of multi-use trails on 900 private acres, use of camp activity equipment, free meals during summer operations, free on-site housing for seasonal employees (available year-round for some full-time staff), paid-for certifications like Wilderness First Responder and Waterfront Lifeguard, health insurance for full-time employees, 100-percent paid vision insurance and cell phone, and half-day Fridays from September through April

What makes it great: “We exist to shepherd the journey of personal growth through love and adventure. Camp is not just for the camper: the leadership cares about each staff member’s growth and wellbeing. Employees are empowered to get out in camp, join in the activities, and make a positive impact through interacting with the camp community. They develop lifelong relationships with staff and campers and learn ever-important soft skills through managing teams, navigating interpersonal dynamics, and problem-solving day to day situations.”

Honorable Mentions

Backbone

Location: Carbondale, Colorado
Focus:

commonFont

Location: Bozeman, Montana, and Providence, Rhode Island
Focus:

First Descents

Location: Denver, Colorado
Focus:

Geographic Expeditions

Location: San Francisco, California
Focus:

Idea Ranch

Location: Tulsa, Oklahoma; Wichita, Kansas; Durango, Colorado
Focus:

Moving Mountains

Location: Steamboat Springs, Colorado
Focus:

Putney Student Travel

Location: Putney, Vermont
Focus:

Yakima Products, Inc.

Location: Lake Oswego, Oregon
Focus:

The post The 50 Best Places to Work in 2024 appeared first on șÚÁÏłÔčÏÍű Online.

1. Rule4

Location: Boulder, Colorado
Focus:
Number of employees: 17
Average salary: $154,000
Vacation time: 21 days + 1 day for each year with the company, up to 31 days

Perks: Outdoor adventure retreats (two or three a year), 100 percent employer-paid healthcare, $1,000 annual outdoor pass stipend, four-day work weeks, five-week sabbatical every five years, dog-friendly office, free pet adoptions and “pet-ternity” leave

What makes it great: “Everyone here has tried at least one new hobby or outdoor activity because our benefits support that, and because the whole team is happy to share knowledge and expertise. There’s no way I would have gone fly-fishing or off-roading or rafting or ski touring on my own, or have had the confidence to try waxing my own skis or running a half marathon. It’s a culture of growth and adventure, and we have a lot of fun while doing some pretty intense but rewarding work for our clients.”

2. Global Citizen Year

Location: Oakland, California
Focus:
Number of employees: 26
Average salary: Unspecified
Vacation time: Unlimited PTOÌę

Perks: A $750 annual stipend for professional and personal development courses, an international trip to one of our program countries after two years, one month paid sabbatical after three years

What makes it great: “Ours is a culture where authenticity triumphs and self-care prevails. We invest in our people personally and professionally with the tools, flexibility, and support to thrive. As a team, we bring our full selves to the work and have a lot of fun in the process.”

3. GFM|CenterTable

Location: Denver, Colorado
Focus:
Number of employees: 35
Average salary: Unspecified
Vacation time: Unlimited PTO after one year

Perks: Paid sabbaticals after 10 years and every five thereafter; PTO to volunteer for our favorite organizations, plus $10 donated for each hour volunteered; dogs in the office; mandatory quarterly mental health days to unplug; agency holiday for Colorado Rockies home opener, and kombucha and beer on tap

What makes it great: “Culture and community are core to our foundation, and the leadership makes it easy to do good for others. With PTO to volunteer for our passion programs, and through cash contributions to those groups, matching the time we volunteer, the company ensures we have time and resources to be good citizens in our community. But what makes GFM|CenterTable truly special is knowing that in times of personal or professional need, the team acts more like family than ‘just a job’ and supports one another above and beyond expectations.”

Ìę4. Forum Phi Architecture

Location: Aspen and Carbondale, Colorado
Focus:
Number of employees: 39
Average salary: $111,500
Vacation time: 23 days of PTO to start

Perks: Quarterly paid “Forum Phriday” events like skiing, lake day, river rafting, park events, and hut trips; monthly cultural events such as the meatball competition or chili cook off; eight hours of volunteer time off per year of employment up to 40 hours of paid time to volunteer in the community for a non-profit of choice

What makes it great: “The people at Forum Phi are what makes this firm exceptional. We have an amazing, hard-working, super-talented team of diverse individuals who bring incredible energy and culture to the company. Our team is passionate about the outdoors and all the beauty that Colorado has to offer.”

5. Turner

Location: Denver, Colorado, with offices in New York, Chicago, and Miami
Focus:
Number of employees: 50
Average salary: $109,350
Vacation time: 25 days of PTO to start, unlimited PTO after ten years

Perks: Paid volunteer days; client apparel, gear, and hotel discounts; flexible and hybrid work schedules; early Fridays to kick off weekend adventures; Monday meditations, Zen rooms, and Calm App paid by company; dog-friendly offices; stocked wine fridges and local-brew kegerator; 12 weeks of parental leave; a “recess committee” that organizes games, contests, outings, and happy hours; a professional development program; home office stipend; and individual stipends for additional development goals

What makes it great: “It’s easy to get excited and to speak authentically about the brands and destinations that we represent because each one of our team members lives that life—even off the clock. We are lucky to have a front-row seat for camping under dark skies in Wisconsin and New Hampshire, or waking up to sandhill cranes during the world’s largest migration in Nebraska. Our team has hiked through national and state parks, and climbed to the top of the Sydney Harbor Bridge in Australia, and clung to rock faces on a via ferrata in Estes Park. We’ve celebrated milestones with brands we’ve admired for years and experienced the R&D for the gear that takes us further and keeps us outside longer.”

6. BridgeView

Location: Denver, Colorado
Focus:
Number of employees: 26
Average salary: Unspecified
Vacation time: 15 days of PTO to start, unlimited PTO after five yearsÌę

Perks: Flexible work schedules and fully remote work options; Fridays end at 2 P.M. with a “no-meetings” policy; inclusive paid parental leave; birthdays plus spontaneous time off to enjoy the great outdoors; paid volunteer days and quarterly team Karma Days (community outreach events); luxury anniversary gift at five years; recognition platform with cash rewards; annual Colorado Rockies opening-day celebration event; team building on trails and ropes courses; annual company trips and retreats; mediation and relaxation app; steps challenges; and self-care bonuses

What makes it great: “Colorado’s famed natural abundance and adventurous culture have not only shaped BridgeView’s identity but also influenced the way we empower our employees to live their lives. Our modern and cozy headquarters is strategically located near Denver’s picturesque 60-mile bike path connecting the city with the suburbs to provide our team with healthy multimodal commuting options.”

7. TDA_Boulder

Location: Boulder, Colorado
Focus:
Number of employees: 30
Average salary: Unspecified
Vacation time: Unlimited PTO

Perks: Annual fitness stipend toward ski passes, athletic wear, or gym equipment; year-round half-day Fridays; monthly data stipend; $200 for birthday dinners; $1,000 contribution to a charity of employee’s choice for every fourteener climbed; annual outdoor company adventure, a three-day weekend and $1,000 toward travel for five-year anniversary; 100 percent health care coverage

What makes it great: “If you prioritize your people, they will want to prioritize the company. Your people should value their lives over labor so they are happier humans, and they will likely contribute more at work.”

8. Fortnight Collective

Location: Boulder, Colorado
Focus:
Number of employees: 21
Average salary: $139,500
Vacation time: Unlimited PTO

Perks: Winter Fridays off; recognition program that provides wellness/fitness stipends, financial rewards towards client goods, ski passes, travel stipends, paid sabbaticals and custom swag; annual mountain retreat; and 14 weeks of paid family leave

What makes it great: “Fortnight Collective puts the ‘life’ back in work-life balance. We pride ourselves on our award-winning work, but we seek to provide many great benefits outside of work for our employees because we believe that balance lives create a better agency. The office closes at 1 P.M. on winter Fridays to allow employees to get a jumpstart on ski weekends. Plus we have mandatory mental health days and an annual ski retreat to Keystone Resort for the whole agency. And to cap it off, the whole agency flew to Mexico for a three-day trip for the five-year anniversary.”

9. Crestone Capital

Location: Boulder, Colorado
Focus:
Number of employees: 56
Average salary: $146,000
Vacation time: Unlimited PTO

Perks: Health and wellness stipend, arts and culture reimbursement, donation match opportunities, fully stocked kitchen, adventure experiences and employee appreciation gatherings throughout the year, custom-branded gear including branded bikes to check out, and four weeks each year to work from anywhere

What makes it great: “We have a culture of work-hard, play-hard(er), which is driven by our core values and creates a dynamic, inclusive environment. The firm prioritizes work-life integration, offering opportunities from getting outside to hike, bike with one of Crestone’s branded bikes, or to go backcountry skiing in Steamboat, or to volunteer in the community or get a donation match up to $500. There’s a fully stocked kitchen, a ‘Get Creative’ reimbursement, employee appreciation gatherings, and career and personal development.”

10. CampMinder

Location: Boulder, Colorado
Focus:
Number of employees: 80
Average salary: Unspecified
Vacation time: Unlimited PTO

Perks: Twelve weeks of paid parental leave, an annual wellness allowance, dog-friendly office, three gatherings each year in Boulder, flexibility to work from anywhere in the U.S., Friday barbecues, weekly catered lunches, and in-house wine tastings

What makes it great: “If you were to ask any employee what they like about the company, their answer would include some variation of ‘the smart/caring/authentic/fun people I get to work with.’ Many of our team members are former camp counselors or directors, and their experience enables them to empathize with our clients and to bring the spirit of camp into the workplace. Employee engagement is the company’s top priority, and we regularly review employee feedback and implement changes based on team members’ input.”

11. GetUWired, Inc.

Location: Dahlonega, Georgia
Focus:
Number of employees: 43
Average salary: $57,000
Vacation time: 10 days of PTO to start, 15 days of PTO after 2 years, and Unlimited PTO after 3 years

Perks: Personal and professional growth training opportunities, weekly guided meditations, anniversary and additional appreciation gifts, paid parental leave, flexible scheduling, 401(k) matching, and quarterly team building events that regularly take place outdoors (lake days, tubing, low ropes courses)

What makes it great: “We’re 100 percent remote, but we still try to make sure to create those watercooler-type moments in a virtual setting, so that we don’t lose that personal touch with one another. Our company’s mission, purpose, and core values are key to who we are and how we make decisions every day.”

12. Ergodyne

Location: St. Paul, Minnesota
Focus:
Number of employees: 77
Average salary: Unspecified
Vacation time: Unlimited PTOÌę

Perks: Half-day Fridays in the summer, team 5K runs, a fully equipped gym with a Peloton machine, weekly workout classes including HIIT and Yoga classes, flex PTO, two work-from-home days per week, and an employee wellness program

What makes it great: “We are a high-performing, passionate bunch who take the work we do and our results seriously. We like to say: Come for the cause; stay for the people. Most folks who dig our vibe are passionate about helping workers and making a difference.”

13. Optera

Location: Boulder, Colorado
Focus:
Number of employees: 54
Average salary: $133,500
Vacation time: Unlimited PTO

Perks: Every other Friday off to recharge; robust 401(k) plan with ESG options and up to a 4 percent match; annual $200 wellness budget to spend towards gym memberships, athletic gear, or massages; annual $300 home-office stipend; annual $500 professional development budget towards earning certifications and acquiring and refining desired skills.

What makes it great: “Optera is a place where thoughtful and brilliant minds get to solve one of the world’s biggest problems. We are a small-yet-mighty team that is driving a big impact for the planet and future generations, while staying true to building a collaborative environment, fun professionalism, and open and respectful communication. We’re not just about work; it’s about the entire experience. We revel in a work environment that embraces flexibility, and we cherish the equilibrium between professional and personal life.”

14. GoPro

Location: San Mateo and Carlsbad, California
Focus:
Number of employees: 483
Average salary: Unspecified
Vacation time: Unlimited PTO

Perks: Hybrid remote work options; offices close to beaches, trails, and world-class cycling, skating, and water sports; office gym, showers, and lockers; access to nearby college athletic facility with a track and aquatic center; onsite and remote fitness classes like bootcamp, yoga, and meditation; monthly reimbursement toward wellness expenses; access to coaching and therapy sessions; outdoor experience awards that can include new equipment or experiences; Fireside Chats with world-class GoPro athletes and ambassadors; the latest camera and accessories (along with company challenges) with each launch

What makes it great: “GoPro attracts some very special people who are zealous about life. This ethos is echoed by GoPro’s vision of being a force for positivity, celebrating all things awesome while inspiring people to pursue their passions. And GoPro’s work philosophy carries that same message, enabling and encouraging employees to live their desired lifestyle while being able to show up to work as the best versions of themselves—whether in a GoPro office, their remote workspace of choice, or a bit of both.”

15. Inntopia

Location: Stowe, Vermont
Focus:
Number of employees: 71
Average salary: Unspecified
Vacation time: 15 days of PTO to start

Perks: Flexible work schedule; paid volunteer time; breaks for ski, bike, hike, run, yoga, meditation; ski pass and gym reimbursements; nutrition plan and personal trainer reimbursement; travel credits at partner resorts; work from home hybrid options; dog-friendly office; pet insurance plans; employee engagement committee; company BBQs including competitive sports; group trips to sporting events; and random days off for powder days, end-of-summer enjoyment, or mental health awareness

What makes it great: “If you mashed together your local coffee shop and a software company, you’d have something close to Inntopia. Tech companies are infamous for working their teams to the bone and asking them to sacrifice personal time for profits, but we do the opposite. Whether it’s young children, aging parents, beloved pets, or community involvement, we embrace the joys (and challenges) of life outside of work.”

16. BSW Wealth Partners

Location: Boulder, Colorado
Focus:
Number of employees: 27
Average salary: Unspecified
Vacation time: 15 days of PTO to start, up to 27 days PTO after 10 years

Perks: Paid volunteer days, work from home and hybrid work schedules, stipends for home office and work stations, early Fridays for weekend adventures, annual cat-skiing trips, paid sabbatical after a decade, summer and winter fun days, custom-branded gear, dinner and babysitter stipend to celebrate work anniversary, matching 401(k), paid parental leave, a fully stocked break room, Thursday catered lunches, craft beer and unlimited seltzer, and an office located near a local mountain with easy access to trails

What makes it great: “We prioritize work-life balance and flexibility, allowing our team members the freedom to work independently while fostering trust and accountability. Meaningful work is at the heart of what we do; we solve impactful problems, genuinely help people, and continuously evolve to make life better for our clients. Additionally, our vibrant culture of fun and connectivity sets us apart. We believe that a workplace should inspire, support, and uplift its employees, and at BSW Wealth Partners, we do just that.”

17. Creative Alignments

Location: Boulder, Colorado
Focus:
Number of employees: 21
Average salary: Unspecified
Vacation time: Ten days of PTO to start

Perks: Flexible work schedule, supportive and collaborative team and leadership, an annual retreat, virtual and in-person events throughout the year, versatile health coverage options that are 75 percent employer-paid, reproductive healthcare, employer-sponsored long-term disability, employer 401(k) match, and access to a free financial advisor available

What makes it great: “We are a B Corp-certified, women-founded and led company that believes work should be additive to people’s lives, and that happiness created through work makes the world a better place. This is core to everything we do, including our recruiting work for companies that also put their people first. Our purpose is to perpetuate a cycle of good, starting with work that inspires a sense of purpose, belonging and positivity. The result is an outstanding company culture and work we are proud of.”

18. Duft Watterson

Location: Boise, Idaho
Focus:
Number of employees: 21
Average salary: $65,000
Vacation time: 15 days of PTO to start, 20 days after five years

Perks: Work-from-home Wednesdays and half-day Fridays, annual funds to environmental and social equity charities of employees’ choice, annual weekend mountain retreats for entire team and families, and a commuter bike for new employees

What makes it great: “As an agency that celebrates being 180 degrees from Madison Avenue, our entire team embraces excellence, agility and empowerment, without the layers typically found at publicly held agencies. While clients range from CPG, outdoor recreation, tech, healthcare, banking and non profits, all of them support social and gender equity and limiting outsized negative environmental impacts. And we’ve done this while being one of the most awarded agencies in the region.”

19. Western Environmental Law Center

Location: Eugene, Oregon
Focus:
Number of employees: 28
Average salary: Unspecified
Vacation time: 20 days of PTO

Perks: Annual retreats with “play days” in the outdoors in places like Mount Hood, Bandelier National Monument, and Cannon Beach; “Flex Fridays” in the summer to head outside; and three months of paid sabbatical plus a $1,000 stipend every five years

What makes it great: “WELC is a powerhouse of environmental advocacy, and each staff member is a high-performing luminary in their own way. We challenge one another, help one another, and camaraderie is through the roof in part because we’re all rowing hard in the same direction—helping protect the places, communities, and creatures we love in the West. Management embraces that we are all human beings, and provides us the autonomy, trust, and flexibility to do our jobs in the way that works best for us.”

20. Obviouslee

Location: Charleston, South Carolina
Focus:
Number of employees: 30
Average salary: Unspecified
Vacation time: Unlimited PTO (15 days mandatory)

Perks: Early Fridays to get a head start on weekend adventures, an annual wellness day, end-of-year office closure, volunteer days, office SUPs so team members can hit the water, client gear on hand and gear discounts, a dog-friendly office, fully stocked snacks, a sustainability committee, and a “no asshole” policy

What makes it great: “With a solid commitment to putting people first, leading with values, and the environment, Obviouslee has created a space where employees feel valued, motivated, fulfilled, and eager to to do good. Obviouslee understands how important well-being, happiness, and growth are and we live the values of ‘Team First,’ ‘Always Evolving,’ ‘You’re Not Just Your Job,’ and ‘Enjoy the Ride,’ which are central to every decision being made.”

21. Geographic Expeditions

Location: San Francisco, California
Focus:
Number of employees: 45
Average salary: Unspecified
Vacation time: 15 days of PTO to start

Perks: Annual stipend for international familiarization trips; work abroad program allowing you to live, work, and immerse yourself in a specific location for up to three weeks; virtual yoga classes with one of the most sought-after instructors in San Francisco; access to online fitness classes; flexible schedules; support for full-time remote work; company outings including beach picnics, baseball games, and happy hours; in-person gatherings twice a year to connect, strategize, and share ideas

What makes it great: “At GeoEx, the opportunity to work is an opportunity to explore, with our dedicated team of travel experts continually embarking on adventures to far-flung destinations. With a rich history, we have cultivated a culture that celebrates exploration, fosters camaraderie, and values the collective pursuit of discovering the world’s most remarkable corners. Our Culture Committee is consistently innovating to ensure we remain connected by actively organizing events and initiatives that bring us together and reinforce our sense of community while dispersed across the globe.”

22. Koru Ltd

Location: Carbondale, Colorado
Focus:
Number of employees: 60
Average salary: Unspecified
Vacation time: 15 days of PTO to start, unlimited PTO after five years

Perks: Flexible work days to get outside (especially on powder days); a movement benefit option; Aspen Snowmass ski pass; pet-friendly workplace; company vehicles for work and personal use; comprehensive 401(k) and health insurance packages; cell phone expense coverage; fully stocked kitchen with snacks, drinks, and espresso; office located near hiking and biking trails; paid parental leave; routine team-building activities such as rafting, skiing, camping, kickball tournaments, and scavenger hunts; access to unlimited ping pong; Koru Hockey Team (2021 + 2022 Rec League champions); quarterly company gatherings; standing desks; and ample professional growth opportunities.

What makes it great: “At Koru, our people-first philosophy guides our mission to redefine the building experience by consistently providing unparalleled service, uncompromising quality, and an extraordinary journey for all those involved. We emphasize the importance of prioritizing the needs, desires, and well-being of clients, employees, and partners in every aspect of the home building process.”

23. Workstand (formally SmartEtailing)

Location: Boulder, Colorado
Focus:
Number of employees: 70
Average salary: Unspecified
Vacation time: 14 days of PTO to startÌę

Perks: Flexible hours, the ability to work anywhere in the U.S. for up to six months, outdoor industry discounts, silly contests, and a monthly game dayÌę

What makes it great: “Each of us at Workstand is dedicated to supporting and uplifting one another. Our leadership team listens to and respects all team members and believes in the benefits of bottom-up decision making. We’re proud to foster an environment that empowers employees to share their opinions and push for what they believe.”

24. Evotek

Location: San Diego, California
Focus:
Number of employees: 192
Average salary: Unspecified
Vacation time: Unlimited PTO

Perks: A benefits package including medical, dental, vision coverage; 401(k) with employer matching; a remote-first workplace; quarterly company-wide team-building meetings at various locations; annual community service day for a cause of choice; company events like taco trucks, happy hours, and Padres games; and an annual private company retreat (spouses included) to destinations like Napa Valley, Austin, or a private yacht in Miami

What makes it great: “Evotek has built a diverse culture that values doing our best and building valuable connections, both internally and externally. As an example of this, all Evotek employees are invited to attend an annual, offsite sales summit with the express purpose of team building and celebrating our successes. Evotek employees value being challenged, working hard, and having fun!”

25. Swarovski Optik North America

Location: Cranston, Rhode Island
Focus:
Number of employees: 110
Average salary: Unspecified
Vacation time: 15 days of PTO after 90 days

Perks: Outdoor products via a company loaner program; an annual training day including team contests on product use; educational reimbursement benefit; business trainings and seminars; a wellness program with walking challenges and healthy eating incentives; an Activities Committee that holds a monthly cake day to celebrate birthdays and anniversaries; and an onsite employee game room with team tournaments

What makes it great: “What truly sets Swarovski Optik North America apart is the company’s commitment to inclusion and our desire to engage employees on multiple levels with celebrations and recognition activities. The company holds many events and development opportunities throughout the year, the favorite being “training day” where all employees come together to learn about our new products while exploring different locations in Rhode Island, followed by a company outing with games and a lobster bake.”

26. rygr

Location: Carbondale and Denver, Colorado
Focus:
Number of employees: 22
Average salary: Unspecified
Vacation time: 15 days of PTO to start

Perks: Liberal flex time policy and an open hybrid/remote format; $120/month wellness stipend; generous healthcare stipend; 401(k) match; free parking and public transit use for commuters; funding and time off for professional development; a month-long sabbatical program for long-term employees; $500 gear shopping spree after 3 years of service; beer and kombucha on tap and a stocked snack drawer; loaner bikes; rooftop happy hours and regular group mountain bike rides, sunrise uphill skiing, and fitness classes; discounts on yoga classes; twice-annual offsite cultural gatherings; and screen-free days

What makes it great: “Rygr is a special place to work, one that offers challenging and rewarding careers, places supreme value on work/life harmony, and seeks to retain long-term team members who grow and learn every day. We practice the growth mindset and reward risk-taking and results. Our team cares deeply for one other and forms a tight-knit community, despite our hybrid format spread across the U.S. with offices in Denver and Carbondale, Colorado.”

27. Polar Field Services

Location: Littleton, Colorado
Focus:
Number of employees: 66
Average salary: $96,800
Vacation time: 27 days of PTO to start

Perks: Employee-owned; dog-friendly offices; annual employee surveys that motivate company change; employees vote on charitable giving; each employee is granted $1000 annually for personal development (on top of professional development budget) for a gym membership, massages, horseback riding classes, or sommelier training

What makes it great: “Our work is intrinsically exciting as we support logistics in some of the world’s most remote and beautiful locations, such as Alaska and Greenland. The employee ownership mentality and family feel of a small company make everyone similarly motivated.’”

28. Wild Montana

Location: Helena, Montana
Focus:
Number of employees: 30
Average salary: $67,000
Vacation time: 20 days of PTO

Perks: 32-hour workweeks with Fridays off; 15 paid holidays and 12 paid sick days a year; fully paid three-month sabbatical after five years; remote, in-person, and combo work opportunities; fully paid health and dental insurance; and an annual three-day paid staff trip to hike, camp, float, fish, and hang at one of Montana’s coolest locations

What makes it great: “Since 1958, Wild Montana has protected millions of acres of public lands, and our people are the reason for every one of our wins. Non-profit work can be tough, and attracting and keeping rock stars—which we’d say we have, but we’re biased—means taking care of them. We’re built around balancing work and play and making sure we’re always able to enjoy the places we’re working to protect.”

29. Shine United

Location: Madison, Wisconsin
Focus:
Number of employees: 46
Average salary: Unspecified
Vacation time: Ten days of PTO to start, 15 days PTO after five years

Perks: Full healthcare and dental benefits, summer Fridays, weekly company-wide gatherings, outdoor adventure stipend, flexible work environment, company sponsored community activities, quarterly Re-Energize Days (days off), and unlimited family/personal/sick PTO

What makes it great: “Spending each day with collaborative coworkers who rely on each other, who are passionate about the outdoors, conservationism and creating a creative environment means both working and playing hard. Every workday is a fun challenge and the play—sponsored outdoor activities, a company triathlon team, weekly beer-30, book club, catered lunches, company picnics, concerts and golf outings—can’t be beat.”

30. First Descents

Location: Denver, Colorado
Focus:
Number of employees: 24
Average salary: Unspecified
Vacation time: 25 days of PTO

Perks: A paid weeklong First Descents program each year, a healthcare plan with 100 percent employer-paid coverage, one floating holiday and one personal day for last-minute adventures, dog-friendly office, and a flexible work-remote policy

What makes it great: “First Descents is a tight-knit community of individuals who have been brought together by the opportunity to help others experiencing hardships, along with a shared devotion to service, gratitude and living life to the fullest. Creating opportunities for healing through community and the outdoors is at the heart of what we do, and at the heart of every staff member involved. The many perks are only a small part of what makes our organization special. It’s the ‘Out Living It’ mantra that makes First Descents feel like more than just a job, but a well-balanced and inspiring way of life.”

31. C1S Group, Inc.

Location: Dallas, Texas
Focus:
Number of employees: 39
Average salary: Unspecified
Vacation time: 15 days of PTO to start

Perks: A pond behind the office with a walking trail, a company running team, summer hours with three-day weekends, a flexible work-from-home policy, a pet-friendly office, catered Monday lunches, and an annual charity golf tournament

What makes it great: “Designing and building great projects is hard work, so we balance it out with a regular dose of fun. Golf, kickball, sporting clays, fantasy football, washers, billiards—you name it, we’ll play it. We thrive on friendly competition and trash talk.”

32. TeamSnap

Location: Boulder, Colorado
Focus:
Number of employees: 196
Average salary: Unspecified
Vacation time: Unlimited PTO

Perks: A monthly wellness stipend, flex time to be active, sponsorship of sports teams, in-person meetings for the remote workforce, sponsored wellness breaks and activities, parental leave with a phase-back program to support return to work, paid volunteer time, and a $1,500 annual education and training allowance

What makes it great: “We live our values inside and outside the virtual walls of TeamSnap. We are wildly committed to ensuring everyone (and we mean everyone) has access to sports. We have a dedicated community impact team, provide on-site volunteering days with community sports organizations, and even spend dedicated time connecting our employees to customers in underrepresented groups to ensure we are doing our part to expand the transformative power of sports to all.”

33. The Brand Leader, Inc.

Location: Greenville, South Carolina
Focus:
Number of employees: 38
Average salary: $60,000
Vacation time: Unlimited PTO

Perks: Bagel Thursdays, spot bonuses, summer picnics, subsidized mental health care, office bikes, and an office book club

What makes it great: “Since the beginning, we’ve prided ourselves on a balance of work-hard, play-hard mentality. We provide air cover for one another when we need time away, and we honor family and at-home time by urging staff to leave at 5:30 P.M. to take ample time with family. We often hang out together for happy hours, tailgating, and Clemson games, and work with our outdoor brands to continue to push the boundaries outside.”

34. Workshop Digital

Location: Richmond, Virginia
Focus:
Number of employees: 30
Average salary: Unspecified
Vacation time: Unlimited PTO

Perks: No-meeting Fridays to focus on deep work and professional development, remote and hybrid work options, twice-annual company-wide get-togethers, and paid time off for volunteering

What makes it great: “Workshop finds creative ways to keep team members connected in our remote/hybrid-first work environment. This includes team fun budgets, ‘friend times,’ virtual (and in-person) coffee chats, fun fact Fridays, Worksgiving (for the in-town team) a pickleball meetup, multiple social Slack threads celebrating everything from travel to team pets to dishes we’ve cooked, and two all-company offsites every year.”

35. WhippleWood CPAs

Location: Littleton, Colorado
Focus:
Number of employees: 34
Average salary: $85,000
Vacation time: 16 days of PTO to start, unlimited PTO after five years

Perks: Half-day summer Fridays, monthly professional massages during tax season, Zen room for meditation and napping, employee-led lunchtime yoga, outdoor conference space, board meetings (skateboarding around parking lots in business park), onsite shower and locker facilities, a basketball hoop and customized cornhole sets, annual stay interviews to give all employees the opportunity to share feedback anonymously with the executive team, and a mental health supplementation package

What makes it great: “We take mental and physical health seriously, which is unique in our industry. We play, work, and grow as a team, improving the lives of our employees as well as our clients. Every employee’s voice matters, and we’ve grown our firm leaps and bounds because of all the creativity and efforts of our entire team.”

36. Buzz Franchise Brands

Location: Virginia Beach, Virginia
Focus:
Number of employees: 70
Average salary: Unspecified
Vacation time: Ten days of PTO to start

Perks: Gym membership discount; standing desks, ping pong, and pool table in the office for breaks; half-day summer Fridays; weekly happy hours; monthly social events; annual trip to Mexico for a convention; annual company off-site for team building in various locations in Virginia; annual credit to spend in company shop; an employee volunteer and charity matching program; professional development opportunities; 401(k) matching, and FSA

What makes it great: “Buzz Franchise Brands empowers employees to make decisions as subject-matter experts in their roles. Just as importantly, there’s a strong emphasis on work-life balance, exemplified by half-day summer Fridays and a designated Sanity Control Committee that plans monthly social events. Based in Virginia Beach, employees are rewarded for their contributions with time away from the office to recharge, connect with colleagues, and enjoy the perks of living in a coastal area.”

37. StoneAge Tools

Location: Durango, Colorado
Focus:
Number of employees: 188
Average salary: $86,000
Vacation time: 10 to 20 days of PTO

Perks: Paid volunteer time off; quarterly local charity donations decided on by employees; onsite gym; wellness opportunities like yoga classes, onsite massage, and onsite health fair; leadership coaching; hybrid work from home options; sponsored recreation events like mountain biking, golf tournaments, paintball, and softball; extra earned days off when teams meet goals; team building events like sheep herding, rafting, horseback riding, fishing, hiking, mountain biking, and snow sports; and sponsored learning opportunities

What makes it great: “The employee-owned structure of our company creates an unparalleled synergy and unique work environment. It ensures that every individual within our organization holds a stake in our collective success, which nurtures a sense of ownership, commitment, and dedication to our shared objectives. Our pride lies in the tenure of our team members, with many boasting over two decades of invaluable experience and dedication.”

38. Stio

Location: Jackson, Wyoming
Focus:
Number of employees: 182
Average salary: $87,220
Vacation time: Accrued vacation time or flexible PTO

Perks: Flexible remote work policy; best-in-class medical, dental, and vision plans (with zero premiums for employee coverage); expanded medical coverage for reproductive care; ten paid holidays; paid maternity, paternity, and parental leave up to 12 weeks; paid medical leave; annual gear testing stipend; annual Stio Summit; and 401(k) match

What makes it great: “Stio was founded in a mountain town by people who are passionate about the mountain life. This perspective serves as the foundation for our company culture. It’s a place where living our values is important. We want balance, we want to do the right thing, we want superior products to get us out into the mountains, and we want to be a part of a community that shares in that vision. When you can start there, good things will come.”

39. Geocaching HQ

Location: Seattle, Washington
Focus:
Number of employees: 94
Average salary: Unspecified
Vacation time: 15 days of PTO to start, up to 20 days of PTO after four years

Perks: Free unlimited ski/snowboard tickets to anywhere in the world; up to $300 a year towards outdoor activities; onsite gear closet; paid sabbatical every seven years; individual budget tailored to learning and growth; catered in-office lunches; and company geocaching adventures

What makes it great: “Here at Geocaching HQ, we are lucky to work for a game that inspires outdoor adventure, exploration, and community. In many ways, we embody the spirit of our game within HQ. Whether it’s going on monthly geocaching outings with your team, giving recognition awards to colleagues who went the extra mile, or just sitting down in our cafe and knowing you’re welcome there.”

40. WorkBright

Location: Boulder, Colorado
Focus:
Number of employees: 41
Average salary: Unspecified
Vacation time: Unlimited PTO

Perks: Work from anywhere policy; monthly wellness challenges with cash prizes; fitness reimbursement program; home office stipend; employer sponsored health insurance with generous dental and vision benefits; employer FSA contribution; sabbatical that includes two airfare tickets; team building budget for monthly virtual connections; meal perk system and paid company lunch at least once per month; annual professional development stipend for all employees; personal development grant awarded to one employee per year; annual company-wide retreat every October; and annual department offsite retreats to anywhere in the world

What makes it great: “Employees have a deep appreciation for our ingrained rituals that foster a sense of camaraderie and belonging. Company meetings open with positive focus and conclude with expressions of gratitude. We have a flexible culture where employees can work from anywhere but still really try and cultivate the closeness of an in-office environment. We lead in the remote workforce with creative ways to connect on a monthly basis. For example, every other week our all-company meeting devotes half the time to strengthening bonds among colleagues.”

41. Toad&Co

Location: Santa Barbara, California
Focus:
Number of employees: 45
Average salary: Unspecified
Vacation time: 20 days of PTO to start

Perks: Every other Friday off and flexible hours; hybrid work-from home; paid parental leave; $1,000 in Toad&Co clothes annually; free healthcare; monthly team lunches; disabilities awareness training; quarterly DEI training and volunteering; birthday donations to a non-profit of employee’s choice; dog-friendly office with music, beer in a company fridge, and outdoor wifi; team events such as an annual campout on the Channel Islands and volunteering in Yosemite; adventure days for time outside; a themed holiday costume party at historical Cold Springs Tavern; and community events like the Grilled Cheese Smackdown

What makes it great: “Our culture is rooted in doing good for people and the environment, and we strive to spread joy to our customers, partners, and extended community every day. We’re committed to making the outdoors more accessible to everyone and make it a priority to give back to—and volunteer with—organizations that align with our values. We love any excuse for big and small moments of fun, from our annual campout to celebrating our team’s contributions to a happy hour or BBQ to toast a recent win, wedding, or baby (aka Tadpole) on the way.”

42. Gunpowder, Inc

Location: Delafield, Wisconsin
Focus:
Number of employees: 28
Average salary: Unspecified
Vacation time: Unlimited PTO

Perks: Work from home and flexible schedules, comprehensive health benefits and 401(k) match, an annual team summit, professional development opportunities, company paid cell phone and internet, paid parental leave, a dog-friendly office, holiday and anniversary gifts, winter break between Christmas and New Years Day, and annual performance bonuses

What makes it great: “Gunpowder is built on the passions of its people. From anglers and hunters to runners, horseback riders and everything in between, everyone gets to work on businesses they love while doing what they love. The agency not only allows, but encourages, its team members to pursue their passions, chase their dreams, and raise their families to embrace the activities and places that make them happy.”

43. East West Partners, LLC

Location: Avon and Denver, Colorado
Focus:
Number of employees: 60
Average salary: Unspecified
Vacation time: Unlimited PTO

Perks: A four-week sabbatical after ten years, and every seven years thereafter; a four-day ski weekend in February; a four-day company weekend in autumn; ski markets with free ski passes, ski-in/ski-out offices, lunchtime ski/bike laps, and fitness center access; access to a private boat for Charleston employees; and tickets to Denver Nuggets and Colorado Avalanche games

What makes it great: “We not only enjoy the outdoors, we actually develop to enjoy the outdoor world. And we strive to be known as trusted partners and one of the best places in which to build a career. Our founder, Harry Frampton, instilled entrepreneurial spirit into our company that empowers our team to make decisions and have ownership and pride in our work. Our CEO, Chris Frampton, has carried that legacy on and has created a fun and rewarding work environment where everyone learns from one another making our work and time at East West Partners fulfilling.”

44. H/L

Location: Oakland, California + satellite offices in Atlanta, Miami, Phoenix, and St. Louis
Focus:
Number of employees: 170
Average salary: Unspecified
Vacation time: 10 to 20 days of PTO

Perks: Half-days ahead of any company holiday for longer adventures; complimentary Palisades Tahoe lift tickets; an agency-hosted monthly speaker series that’s featured FIFA’s head of women refereeing and two Olympic champions; access to great urban outdoor areas like Atlanta’s BeltLine, Miami’s Key Biscayne, St. Louis’ Greenway, and Oakland’s Jack London Square; an annual day of giving that empowers every employee to choose the effort they’d like to support

What makes it great: “H/L is committed to making momentum for our client partners, for each other, and in the communities we call home. Our Productivity Work Model allows people to work wherever in the country they’ll produce their best output. We bring people into our five dog-friendly offices with monthly lunches and gatherings. And outdoor enthusiasts regularly share their adventures, tips, GPX tracks, and even campsites via a #camping_and_outdoors Slack channel.”

45. Cactus

Location: Denver, Colorado
Focus:
Number of employees: 60
Average salary: $115,000
Vacation time: Unlimited PTOÌę

Perks: Ski passes, lift tickets, and an all-agency ski day at Arapahoe Basin, as well as a 40 percent season-long ski equipment rental discounts from Christy Sports; “Cactus șÚÁÏłÔčÏÍű Club,” an employee group that enjoys outdoor activities like camping, hiking and indoor rock climbing; a monthly fitness benefit, plus funding for group registrations to run in timed events around Denver; two outdoor environmental team cleanups; monthly team happy hours; a Calm premium membership, plus a customized well-being portal the agency built for employees to help them set priorities and take personal assessments

What makes it great: “We’re an agency filled with people who want to do the best creative work of their careers, people who believe in the power of small agency creativity and innovation to solve some of the world’s biggest problems. Together we’ve created a workplace driven by a set of bedrock values like respect, belonging, passion, courage, tenacity, collaboration, well-being, and critical thought. When you get to come into a mission-driven place like that every day, with dedicated advertising pros who care so much it hurts, who truly have each other’s backs, and who work shoulder to shoulder to create meaningful work that makes an impact in the world—that’s when work stops feeling like ‘work.’”

46. Karsh Hagan

Location: Denver, Colorado
Focus:
Number of employees: 62
Average salary: Unspecified
Vacation time: Unlimited PTO

Perks: 401(k) match and health insurance, annual wellness days, hybrid work schedule, free coffee, snacks, dog-friendly office, sponsored community service initiatives, and voluntary puppy yogaÌę

What makes it great: “We know that if you want to do smart, dynamic, interesting work, it’s best to work with smart, dynamic, interesting people. Any company can have a great office, a foosball table, and unlimited PTO, but those benefits don’t matter when you haven’t created a culture that fosters creativity. Creativity comes from spending time outside of the office. And culture comes from employees supporting and celebrating each other taking time for themselves.”

47. PeopleForBikes

Location: Boulder, Colorado
Focus:
Number of employees: 35
Average salary: Unspecified
Vacation time: 22 days of PTO

Perks: Financial rewards for riding bikes for recreation, transportation, or leisure; a six-week sabbatical every five years; pet-friendly office locations in Boulder, CO, and Bentonville, AR; remote work options; birthdays off; eight weeks of paid family leave; team bike rides; weekly yoga classes; and all-staff weeks for the team to work together and play outdoors

What makes it great: “Our team is passionate about our goal to make America the best place in the world to ride a bike! To support our team’s efforts, we have an internal #PeopleForParties committee focused on making 100 percent of the staff know they belong, and celebrating and recognizing team members for living out our core values and advancing our mission. We also have DEI and sustainability committees working to progress corporate social responsibility goals for our staff as well as for the bicycle industry.”

48. Aspenware

Location: Denver, Colorado
Focus:
Number of employees: 44
Average salary: Unspecified
Vacation time: 20 days of PTO to start

Perks: $1,000 annual reimbursement for goods and services that contribute to health and well-being; annual National Parks Pass; Ikon Pass; paid volunteer day; and a $1,500 annual training reimbursement for professional development

What makes it great: “Our collaborative culture thrives on a range of engaging activities. From our regular online coffee chats to virtual walks with colleagues, company-wide activity challenges, and an annual in-person gathering in Denver, we create an environment where everyone feels connected. When our dedicated employees aren’t busy crafting the next groundbreaking e-commerce products to entice visitors to mountain resorts, they’re seizing the opportunity to make the most of Aspenware’s perks, such as the health activity stipend, complimentary ski passes, and free National Parks access available to all team members.”

49. Arts & Letters Creative Co.

Location: Richmond, Virginia
Focus:
Number of employees: 150
Average salary: Unspecified
Vacation time: 25 days of PTO

Perks: 24 paid holidays; a collective weeklong break in summer; 401(k) and a 4 percent company match that is 100 percent vested from day one; suite of wellbeing resources, including an annual wellness reimbursement, two EAPs, and a concierge approach to helping employees find therapists (as needed)

What makes it great: “A&L has always been known for radical support and care along the way—not just for the opportunity to make things that change things. In a sea of agencies that are calling employees back to the office, we’re doubling down on our ‘Work Together Anywhere’ philosophy, so that ‘Letterheads’ have the freedom to work from anywhere that works for them, at any given time (including their favorite outdoor spaces!) Our wide network of talent comes together several times a year for tentpole events that surprise and delight, ensuring connection and community for those based in and outside of Richmond, VA.”

50. Backbone

Location: Carbondale, Colorado
Focus:
Number of employees: 145
Average salary: Unspecified
Vacation time: 15 days of PTO to start

Perks: Annual company campouts and ski days, $500 in Backbone Bucks to spend with client brands after three years, $120 per month wellness benefit; hybrid work environment, flexible hours, a powder day clause, gear discounts, paid volunteer hours, continuing education, home office stipend, and a monthlong sabbatical after ten years

What makes it great: “In annual surveys, ‘the people’ is always the primary answer for what employees like best about Backbone (followed closely by ‘dogs.’) Backbone represents more than 100 of the best brands and non-profits in the outdoor industry, and it gives employees the opportunity to work with companies and causes that they are truly passionate about.”

Honorable Mentions

85Sixty

Location: Solana Beach, California
Focus:

Avid4 șÚÁÏłÔčÏÍű

Location: Boulder, Colorado
Focus:

Backpacker’s Pantry

Location: Boulder, Colorado
Focus:

Big Agnes, Inc

Location: Steamboat Springs, Colorado
Focus: Ìę

Charles Cunniffe Architects

Location: Aspen, Colorado
Focus:

commonFont

Location: Bozeman, Montana, and Providence, Rhode Island
Focus:

Decked

Location: Ketchum, Idaho
Focus:

Falling Creek Camp

Location: Tuxedo, North Carolina
Focus: Ìę

Go Ape USA

Location: Frederick, Maryland
Focus:

HydraPak

Location: Oakland, California
Focus:

Idea Ranch

Location: Tulsa, Oklahoma; Wichita, Kansas; Durango, Colorado
Focus:

Merrell

Location: Rockford, Michigan
Focus:

Mountain Hardwear

Location: Richmond, California
Focus:

Moving Mountains

Location: Steamboat Springs, Colorado
Focus:

Oboz Footwear

Location: Bozeman, Montana
Focus:

Outrider Technologies, Inc.

Location: Golden, Colorado
Focus:

șÚÁÏłÔčÏÍűPR

Location: Sausalito, California
Focus:

People Productions Media Services, Inc.

Location: Boulder, Colorado
Focus:

Putney Student Travel

Location: Putney, Vermont
Focus:

Roanoke Parks and Recreation

Location: Roanoke, Virginia
Focus:

Skratch Labs

Location: Boulder, Colorado
Focus:

Small Giants

Location: Denver, Colorado
Focus: Ìę

The Garrett Companies

Location: Greenwood, Indiana
Focus:

The Pinnacle Companies

Location: Frisco, Colorado
Focus:

ThrivePass

Location: Denver, Colorado
Focus:

Trihydro Corporation

Location: Laramie, Wyoming
Focus: Ìę

USA Triathlon

Location: Colorado Springs, Colorado
Focus: Ìę

Watauga Group

Location: Orlando, Florida
Focus:

Wilderness Travel

Location: Berkeley, California
Focus:

Young & Laramore, Inc.

Location: Indianapolis, Indiana
Focus:

The post The 50 Best Places to Work in 2023 appeared first on șÚÁÏłÔčÏÍű Online.

1. Shine United

Location: Madison, Wisconsin
Focus:
Number of employees: 47
Average salary: Unspecified
Vacation time: Ten days of PTO to start

Perks: Half-day summer Fridays, free lunches, a full bar for “beer-30s,” flexible work hours and hybrid work-from home schedule, annual all-expenses-paid company gatherings, 100 percent of health insurance covered, an outdoor adventure incentive program, unlimited sick time, and a paid weeklong-plus sabbatical after 10 years that covers up to $10,000

What makes it great: “We live what we work. Anything that feeds that passion is encouraged, celebrated, revered. Need a coffee shop hangout to change up the scenery? Done. Need an afternoon hike in the big outdoors to get those creative juices flowing? See you later. Need an offsite collaborative get-together with your team? Make it happen. Shiners not only get paid to work on awesome outdoor brands but get paid to go be in the outdoors! You truly can’t beat that.”

2. GFM|CenterTable

Location: Denver, Colorado
Focus:
Number of employees: 31
Average salary: Unspecified
Vacation time: Unlimited PTO after one year

Perks: Colorado Rockies home opener day off; flexible hours; access to a logotherapist; agency art challenges for creative expression; kombucha and beer on tap; dogs in the office; PTO for volunteering, plus $10 donated for each hour volunteered, up to $400 annually per employee; paid sabbaticals after 10 years

What makes it great: “As if unlimited time off isn’t enough of a benefit, our company requires us to take one day every quarter to fully unplug in a way that fuels our mental wellbeing. We also get a monthly “Happiness Stipend” to use on things that bring us joy. It can be used for a bike rental or a paddleboard, to go skiing, or maybe to purchase some flowers to plant in a garden. But the very best part is that our leadership pushes and enables us to do good for others. We have a private foundation, the Get Grounded Foundation, that has given away nearly $400,000.”Ìę

3. Turner

Location: Denver, Colorado, with offices in New York, Chicago, and Miami
Focus:
Number of employees: 47
Average salary: $102,000
Vacation time: 25 days of PTO to start, unlimited PTO after ten years

Perks: Paid volunteer days; client apparel, gear, and hotel discounts; flexible and hybrid work schedules; early Fridays to kick off weekend adventures; Monday meditations, Zen rooms and Calm App paid by company; dog-friendly offices; stocked wine fridges and local-brew kegerator; 12 weeks of parental leave; a “recess committee” that organizes games, contests, outings, and happy hours; a professional development program, plus an individual stipend for additional development goals

What makes it great: “Authenticity with the brands we represent is vital to our jobs, so it’s pretty awesome that part of our ‘work’ includes testing or getting free gear and apparel, discounted hotel rooms, and immersion time in our destinations. And our teams engage in avid adventures as part of their regular workload, i.e. backcountry ski hut trips in Colorado; backpacking in Big Bend National Park in Texas; wellness tours of New York City practicing yoga, sound baths and cryotherapy; exploring the Civil Rights Trail in Tennessee; uncovering artisan makers in Wisconsin; or eating our way through Top Chef in Houston.”Ìę

4. SmartEtailing

Location: Boulder, Colorado
Focus:
Number of employees: 69
Average salary: Unspecified
Vacation time: 14 days of PTO to start

Perks: Half-day “Get șÚÁÏłÔčÏÍű Fridays,” compressed workweek options, commuter-bike credits, a dog-friendly office, hybrid work and WFH options, paid volunteering, deals on bikes and gear, virtual morning coffee breaks, group bike rides and park get-togethers, and a new office with a bike-tool room and bike storage

What makes it great: “There isn’t much hierarchy here, it’s just a good group of people getting $#%t done. We’re encouraged to take care of ourselves and our families with flexible work schedules and WFH options. We try to keep things fun with ‘Get șÚÁÏłÔčÏÍű Fridays,’ organized volunteer events, and regular social events or contests. Plus, dogs are always a staple of our office.”

5. Toad&Co

Location: Santa Barbara, California
Focus:
Number of employees: 35
Average salary: Unspecified
Vacation time: 20 days of PTO to start

Perks: Access to a nearby trail system; office bikes, SUPs and surfboards; outdoor wi-fi for meetings under a tree; flexible hours for surf sessions or sunset hikes; volunteer opportunities to clean up national parks, local beaches and trail systems

What makes it great: “We work hard, and play harder, and all come together with an aligned mission to do good, support one another, be kind to the planet, and have a lot of fun along the way. We operate like a family, which shines through in events like our annual camping retreat; the ‘Grilled Cheese Smackdown,’ which we host for our local community; yoga and meditation practice; and our themed holiday parties (costumes are a must).”Ìę

6. Workshop Digital

Location: Richmond, Virginia
Focus:
Number of employees: 31
Average salary: Unspecified
Vacation time: Unlimited PTO

Perks: Paid volunteer time during the workday; flexible schedules and remote work options; a health and wellness committee and a culture committee that organize quarterly challenges to encourage employees to read, exercise, and nurture hobbies; team budgets for hosting cooking classes, paddling the James River, or taking walking tours of Richmond’s haunted history

What makes it great: “Our employee-lead health and wellness committee organized ‘No Meeting Fridays’ during Mental Health Awareness Month, and the idea was so popular we made it permanent. We offer flexible schedules and a hybrid/remote work environment so all of our team members can structure their days in the most productive ways for them. As we add team members all over the country, we fly everybody to our hometown of Richmond, Virginia, twice each year to connect and get to know each other in real life.”Ìę

7. Rule4

Location: Boulder, Colorado
Focus:
Number of employees: 15
Average salary: $147,000
Vacation time: 21 days of PTO to start, plus an additional day each year up to 31 days

Perks: Every other Friday off; $1,000 annual ski pass/outdoors stipend; custom branded gear for anniversaries and microbonus rewards; five-week sabbatical every five years; small fleet of electric bikes and scooters; annual mountain retreat and camping trip; extra holiday specifically for adventures

What makes it great: “Every day in cybersecurity brings a new, exciting, and sometimes crazy challenge. So we work hard, but we do a lot of fun stuff to stay grounded and connected: skiing, camping, hiking, fly-fishing, paddleboarding, rafting, tailgating, lawn bowling, ski waxing workshops, book club, ax-throwing, and more. There’s never a day we’re not planning the next outdoor adventure.”

8. Swarovski Optik North America

Location: Cranston, Rhode Island
Focus:
Number of employees: 102
Average salary: Unspecified
Vacation time: 15 days of PTO after 90 days

Perks: Outdoor gear via a company loaner program, an annual training day including lawn games and a New England lobster and clam bake, a wellness program with walking challenges and healthy eating incentives, and an onsite employee game room

What makes it great: “What truly sets Swarovski Optik North America apart is the company’s commitment to diversity and their desire to engage employees on multiple levels. The company holds many events and development opportunities throughout the year, the favorite being “training day” where all employees come together to learn about the new products while exploring different locations in Rhode Island, followed by a company outing with games and a lobster bake.”

9. BridgeView

Location: Denver, Colorado
Focus:
Number of employees: 24
Average salary: Unspecified
Vacation time: 15 days of PTO to start, unlimited PTO after five years

Perks: Quarterly in-office massages; new adoption of the Nectar app, which enables employees to earn money and win prizes for spending time with family, taking care of their health, and walking 12,000 steps; annual outing for the Colorado Rockies baseball team opening day; year-round 2 P.M. Friday sign-offs; full paid access to the Calm app; an annual all-expenses-paid team trip to places like Cabo San Lucas, Mexico, Las Vegas, Nevada, and Aspen, Colorado

What makes it great: “At BridgeView, work-life balance is an actionable conversation. BridgeView invests in their people and invites everyone to the table to create a rich culture that fosters both personal and professional development. The leadership team is open to new ideas and change for the greater good. From hybrid work schedules, community volunteer days, and encouraging participation in Denver’s remarkable outdoors, BridgeView is an awesome place to work.”Ìę

10. WorkBright

Location: Boulder, Colorado
Focus:
Number of employees: 22
Average salary: Unspecified
Vacation time: Unlimited PTO

Perks: Monthly wellness challenges (like daily outings with pics or daily meditation) with prizes; annual fitness reimbursement program; home office stipend; matching 401k and health benefits; sabbatical programs after five years (two weeks with two domestic flights paid) and ten years (one month with two international flights paid); annual department gatherings to a destination of their choosing; an annual company-wide retreat in October (Estes Park this year) with morning yoga, guided meditations, swag bags, and a Halloween costume and karaoke party

What makes it great: “The thing employees love most is the culmination of rituals that are ingrained in our everyday culture. Meetings open with positive focus and close with props and gratitudes. We have a flexible culture where employees can work from anywhere but still really try and cultivate the closeness of an in-office environment. We lead in the remote workforce with creative ways to connect on a monthly basis; for example every other week our all company meeting devotes half the time to co-worker connection.”

11. The Brand Leader

Location: Greenville, South Carolina
Focus:
Number of employees: 30
Average salary: $66,900
Vacation time: Unlimited PTO

Perks: Office bikes, showers for lunch rides or runs, flextime plus Fridays are optional work-from-home days, “Bagel Thursdays,” a monthly coffee truck, local IPAs in a stocked fridge, summer lunchtime barbeques, quarterly book club for the whole company, annual company appreciation day in the outdoors, and subsidies for gym memberships starting in 2023

What makes it great: “We believe in creating men and women of character and to do so we try to lead by exemplifying our core values and creating a culture rich in motivation and ambition-building. We have helped employees qualify for homes, find a car, have a place to spend holidays, and more. Most importantly, we emphasize the importance of mental health, encouraging employees to take mental health days and offering subsidized therapy for any employee.”Ìę

12. TDA_Boulder

Location: Boulder, Colorado
Focus:
Number of employees: 25
Average salary: Unspecified
Vacation time: Unlimited PTO

Perks: An annual fitness stipend toward ski passes, athletic wear, or gym equipment; year-round half-day Fridays; monthly data stipend; $200 for birthday dinners; $1,000 contribution to a charity of employee’s choice for every 14er ascent; annual outdoor company adventure, such as this year’s rafting trip on the Cache La Poudre River; a three-day weekend and $500 toward travel for five-year anniversary; 100 percent health care coverage

What makes it great: “We try not to be douchey. We try not to hire douchey people. And that really helps our workplace culture. This is our 8th year being recognized by șÚÁÏłÔčÏÍű, and we could not be happier that our people are happy.”

13. Fortnight Collective

Location: Boulder, Colorado
Focus:
Number of employees: 30
Average salary: $130,000
Vacation time: 20 days of PTO

Perks: Winter Fridays for skiing, flexible schedules and hybrid work options, mindfulness training, wellness events including free massages, online and outdoor yoga, a one-year subscription to the Peloton app, free tickets to Warren Miller films, surprise bonuses, and an annual ski trip to Keystone

What makes it great: “This September we went to a hybrid model, which means that employees come in at least two days a week for intentional, in-person collaboration. We trust our employees to make that determination for themselves with their teams. Wandering the halls of Fortnight Collective, you’ll feel the energy from our clients who may be participating in a hack, our office pups, and our employees popping out for a walk along Pearl Street or heading to our owner Andy Nathan’s famous University of Colorado, Boulder, Tailgates.”Ìę

14. TeamSnap

Location: Boulder, Colorado
Focus:
Number of employees: 151
Average salary: Unspecified
Vacation time: Unlimited PTO

Perks: A holistic total rewards package that encourages folks to be well, including a monthly wellness stipend, flex time to be active, sponsorship of sports teams, in-person meetings for the remote workforce, and sponsored wellness breaks and activities; two months paid parental leave; $1,500 annual education and training allowance; annual team summits at various destinations

What makes it great: “We are wildly committed to ensuring everyone (and we mean everyone) has access to sports. In fact, 96 percent of our TeamSnappers cite one of the major reasons they stay at TeamSnap is our commitment to creating accessibility to sports. We have a dedicated community impact team, provide on-site volunteering days with community sports organizations, and even spend dedicated time connecting our employees to customers in underrepresented groups to ensure we are doing our part to expand the transformative power of sports to all.”Ìę

15. BSW Wealth Partners

Location: Boulder, Colorado
Focus:
Number of employees: 29
Average salary: Unspecified
Vacation time: 15 days of PTO prorated from start, up to 27 days of PTO by year 11

Perks: Offices close early on Fridays; breakroom and kitchen fully stocked with snacks, drinks, craft beer, and espresso; Thursday catered lunches; in-office corkscrew slide and putt putt course; office showers; company baseball games; office located at the base of a mountain with nearby trails; annual fully-paid cat-skiing trip

What makes it great: “BSW deeply respects the importance of balance and believes it’s equally important to have fun. There is a remarkable focus on giving back to the community. Furthermore, BSW conducts amazing work for a great clientele—work that employees go home feeling really good about.”Ìę

16. Booyah Advertising

Location: Denver, Colorado
Focus:
Number of employees: 133
Average salary: Unspecified
Vacation time: Unlimited PTO

Perks: Flex hours for skiing and other outdoor adventures; option for full-time work from home; paid parental leave; 401k with 10 percent match; no-cost-to-employee medical insurance option; dog-friendly office and pet insurance; subsidized recycling service; quarterly bonus program; beer and kombucha on tap with in-office espresso machine; quarterly volunteering opportunities; a sponsored vacation for five-year anniversaries; annual all-agency events like ski days, Colorado Rockies baseball outings, a kickball tournament, and holiday parties; quarterly team events like laser tag, brewery tours, ax throwing, and pottery painting

What makes it great: “Hands down, it’s our people. Booyah is not your typical agency with tons of office politics and competition. People genuinely want to see each other succeed, and they go out of their way to help one another grow. When someone finds a great new insight, they don’t keep it to themselves for personal gain. Rather, they shout it from the rooftops through our many internal info-sharing channels or at a monthly roundtable.”

17. GetUWired, Inc

Location: Dahlonega, Georgia
Focus:
Number of employees: 44
Average salary: Unspecified
Vacation time: Ten days of PTO to start, 15 days of PTO after two years

Perks: Quarterly team-building events like hikes, gold panning, or river tubing; “Mindset” training for mental wellbeing; weekly guided meditations; matching 401k; paid parental leave; flexible scheduling; leadership training; weekly team-based games; a dog-friendly office; a newly established fall festival with pumpkin carving, costume contests, and a chili cook-off

What makes it great: “Our people make us awesome. We have a thorough hiring process because we want to make sure that people who come on board are not only a cultural fit but add something to the mix as well. Everyone, from your office mate to leadership, is supportive and easily accessible.”Ìę

18. Geocaching HQ

Location: Seattle, Washington
Focus:
Number of employees: 93
Average salary: Unspecified
Vacation time: 15 days of PTO to start, up to 20 days of PTO after four years

Perks: Comprehensive health benefits and 401k matching; a free geocaching premium membership with extra buddy membership; paid time off for geocaching; on-site free gear rentals; unlimited free lift tickets anywhere in the world; reimbursements for mind and body wellness activities; subsidized lunches; stipend for caretakers of children, pets, or elderly parents; reimbursement toward adoption-related costs; four-week paid sabbatical every seven years; a geocaching travel award every ten years

What makes it great: “Everyone is here because we believe we can make the world a better place through geocaching. There’s a magic that happens when you’re surrounded by people like that day in and day out—people who share a zest for replenishing the world with wonder, adventure, positivity, and community. Because exploration is at the core of what we do, it naturally creates a workplace environment that allows you to let your guard down and do your most creative work.”Ìę

19. Fringe

Location: Richmond, Virginia
Focus:
Number of employees: 64
Average salary: Unspecified
Vacation time: Unlimited PTO

Perks: Monthly points to use on the Fringe marketplace; DoorDash DashPasses for meals; MasterClass subscription; “Clubhouse” with collaboration spaces, plus cold brew, kombucha, beer and cider on tap; a nearby apartment for out-of-town employees to stay while visiting headquarters; team and company-wide retreats; a “Fringe for Life” wellbeing program with team challenges to get outside; a half day off each week

What makes it great: “Virtual and in-person events every month include brewery, distillery, and winery tours throughout the mountains of Virginia, whitewater rafting through the James River in Richmond, a custom created art heist experience in the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts (with clues, hired actors, and team competition aspect), gnocchi making with an Italian grandma from her kitchen in Italy and many more. Each first Friday of the month via Zoom we play Flinko on our custom-made full-sized game board (basically Plinko from The Price is Right) and Fringers can win prizes directly from the Fringe marketplace.”

20. C1S Group, Inc.

Location: Dallas, Texas
Focus:
Number of employees: 36
Average salary: $102,125
Vacation time: 15 days of PTO to start

Perks: A pond behind the office with a walking trail, a company running team, summer hours with three-day weekends, a flexible work-from-home policy, a pet-friendly office, catered Monday lunches, and an annual charity golf tournament

What makes it great: “Each quarter, we recognize a teammate who exemplified our core value of ‘work hard, play hard’ by taking a bucket list vacation or challenging themselves in some physical endeavor (marathon, triathlon, rock climbing contest, surfing, etc.). We also love to celebrate that person who makes the ordinary workday more fun by creating laughter in the kitchen, trash talking about fantasy football on our scrabble board, and randomly inviting his or her colleagues to lunch.”

21. Western Environmental Law Center

Location: Eugene, Oregon (headquarters)
Focus:
Number of employees: 25
Average salary: $91,000
Vacation time: 22 days of PTO, plus unlimited paid sick leave

Perks: 100 percent of employee benefits premiums covered; annual retreats with “play days” in the outdoors in places like Colorado Springs, Denver, Santa Fe, Eugene, and Cannon Beach, Oregon; employees earn three months of paid sabbatical, plus a $1,000 stipend, every five years

What makes it great: “Our paid vacation and holiday package is pretty great. Working from home is A-OK, and that includes an exceptionally flexible schedule. We often close the office around the end-of-year holidays so employees don’t have to use their vacation time to be with their families. We often receive end-of-year bonuses when our finances allow, and we recently instituted transparent salary bands which came with salary raises. And get this: We actually like hanging out with one another!”

22. Fuse LLC

Location: Burlington, Vermont
Focus:
Number of employees: 34
Average salary: Unspecified
Vacation time: 15 days of PTO to start

Perks: Half-day summer Fridays and half-day winter Wednesdays; an annual fitness stipend; lunch-hour yoga; a gear room with paddleboards, snowshoes, kayaks, and bikes; rec room with indoor skate ramp, weights, spin bike, and basketball hoop; free ski pass to a resort of choice; summer kickball league; company trail building days; a company-hosted annual ski day

What makes it great: “In addition to company perks that support an active outdoor lifestyle, Fuse also provides a pet-friendly office, weekly happy hours, and a flexible hybrid office schedule with work from home options. Annually, Fuse celebrates staff appreciation week, which includes an extra day off in addition to surprise gifts and perks that are announced each day during the staff appreciation week. Fuse also recognizes staff for five, ten, 15, and 20-year anniversaries with bonuses, additional time-off, and special trips.”

23. Young & Laramore

Location: Indianapolis, Indiana
Focus:
Number of employees: 69
Average salary: Unspecified
Vacation time: Ten days of PTO to start, plus unlimited paid sick leave

Perks: Company bikes for riding around downtown; offices in a historic schoolhouse; showers and lockers for workday runs and rides; an annual pumpkin carving party; a room for meditation, prayer, or quiet time; beer Thursdays; and a two-day retreat each spring in the hills of southern Indiana

What makes it great: “We’re a building full of people who like to get out—and hang out—together, and Young&Laramore gives us plenty of chances to do that. There are agency bikes for anyone to use, which make it easy to explore Indy’s famous Cultural Trail on our lunch break. Also, in no particular order: regular happy hours where we get together and show new work we’ve made, an annual agency retreat, and events ranging from a pumpkin carving competition to a chili cookoff. Oh, and dogs are always welcome at the office.”

24. WhippleWood CPAs

Location: Littleton, Colorado
Focus:
Number of employees: 32
Average salary: $85,200
Vacation time: 16 days of PTO to start, flexible PTO after five years

Perks: Half-day summer Fridays, monthly professional massages during tax season, zen room for meditation and napping, employee-led lunchtime yoga, outdoor conference space, board meetings (skateboarding around parking lots in business park), onsite shower and locker facilities, a basketball goal and customized cornhole sets

What makes it great: “Each of us are empowered to improve firm culture with the opportunity to lead or serve on one of five committees that set policies in different aspects of firm operations and culture. This way all employees have a voice as no one on the executive team is allowed to champion one of these groups. Additionally, our management team recognizes our people’s strengths and passions and finds the role best suited for them within the company. There are no square pegs in round holes here.”

25. Optera

Location: Boulder, Colorado
Focus:
Number of employees: 31
Average salary: $120,000
Vacation time: Unlimited flexible time off

Perks: Office closed every other Friday for outdoor pursuits or personal time; a $200 annual wellness budget for things like workout classes, camping equipment, or massages; $500 annual professional development budget (plus a team-wide bonus if everyone uses it); 401k match with ESG-focused fund options

What makes it great: “I love that everyone working here is dedicated to making the world a more inhabitable place, for ourselves and future generations. But even with that urgent mission, there’s a top-down focus on how that work is done—which means a flexible work environment, amazing work-life balance, transparent communication, office dogs, group hikes, virtual game nights, monthly lunch and learns, jam sessions for those of us who are musically inclined
the list goes on!”Ìę

26. Ergodyne

Location: Saint Paul, Minnesota
Focus:
Number of employees: 70
Average salary: Unspecified
Vacation time: Unlimited PTO

Perks: Half-day summer Fridays, team 5Ks followed by healthy lunches, fully equipped 24/7 gym with Peloton, weekly workout classes including HIIT and yoga, two weekly flex days to work from anywhere, and team days to float the St. Croix River

What makes it great: “We are a high-performing, passionate bunch who take the work we do and our results seriously. We like to say: come for the cause; stay for the people. Most folks who dig our vibe are passionate about helping workers and making a difference. Having flex days allows our people to skip the commute or find an inspiring space to work outside our office walls. That said, it’s also amazing to see the good that those three in-office days do for the human spirit and our culture! That’s some soul food right there.”

27. CampMinder

Location: Boulder, Colorado
Focus:
Number of employees: 69
Average salary: Unspecified
Vacation time: Unlimited PTO

Perks: Paid parental leave, $600 annual wellness allowance through partnership with ThrivePass, flexible hybrid work options, Tuesday on-site catered lunches, dog-friendly office, and an annual two-day retreat in Boulder

What makes it great: “The spirit of summer camp is strong at CampMinder, which means we’ve turned every interest into a group activity. We’ve got coworkers making hot sauce together, a team perfecting the art of Frisbee golf, some committed trash talkers in a fantasy football league, a robust recipe-sharing Slack channel, and of course, a serious competition to bake the most beloved dog treats. Catered Tuesday lunches are always popular and the best place to generate deep questions that are featured in the staff advice column in our quarterly staff newsletter.”

28. Inntopia

Location: Stowe, Vermont
Focus:
Number of employees: 67
Average salary: Unspecified
Vacation time: 19 days of PTO

Perks: Half-day summer Fridays, paid volunteer time, flexible hours for ski/bike/hike/run breaks, ski pass and gym reimbursements, nutrition plan and personal trainer reimbursement, travel credits at partner resorts, work-from-home/hybrid options, dog-friendly office, pet insurance plans, company BBQs, group trips to sporting events, and a competitive corn hole tournament

What makes it great: “If you mashed together your local coffee shop and a software company, you’d have something close to Inntopia. Tech companies are infamous for working their teams to the bone and asking them to sacrifice personal time for profits, but we do the opposite. Whether it’s young children, aging parents, beloved pets, or community involvement, we embrace the joys (and challenges) of life outside of work.”

29. Geographic Expeditions (GeoEx)

Location: San Francisco, California
Focus:
Number of employees: 40
Average salary: Unspecified
Vacation time: 15 days of PTO to start

Perks: Annual stipend for international familiarization trips; virtual yoga classes with one of the most sought-after instructors in San Francisco; access to online fitness classes; flexible schedules; support for full-time remote work; company outings including beach picnics, baseball games, and happy hours; access to endless walking/running/biking trails right outside the office in San Francisco’s Presidio park

What makes it great: “Someone is always headed to an exotic locale—whether that’s to the Everest foothills in Nepal, to an off-the-radar fishing village in Japan, to ancient sites in Algeria, to sustainability-minded safari camps in southern Africa, or to pristine hiking trails in Patagonia. When we’re not out exploring on familiarization trips, we’re swapping travel tales and enjoying the camaraderie and collaborative spirit that’s been nurtured at GeoEx over the last 40 years. The views of the Golden Gate Bridge from our conference room are a nice perk too.”

30. Spawn Ideas

Location: Anchorage, Alaska
Focus:
Number of employees: 28
Average salary: $93,900
Vacation time: 13 days of PTO to start

Perks: Work up to 30 days from anywhere once annually, a $200 “stay active” bonus for ski passes or race entry fees, gold-level gym memberships, two-day “pawternity leave” to bond with new pets or grieve when one passes away, employee stock ownership program, an office therapy dog, hybrid work model, and half-day summer Fridays

What makes it great: “We are a team of intellectually curious, getter-done people co-creating the agency we want to be. People plug in and check out as they need to (and should). Newcomers feel immediately engaged and at home because we all respect and like one another. We appreciate new energy and ideas and do our best, always. Friendships are formed, cherished, and last beyond Spawn, like weekend moms’ hike-in camping adventures—with kids!”Ìę

31. Choozle

Location: Denver, Colorado
Focus:
Number of employees: 76
Average salary: $112,500
Vacation time: Unlimited PTO

Perks: Monthly $100 stipend toward pass, membership, or health and wellness service; an open-concept office with outdoor spaces, ping pong, shuffleboard, and kombucha and cold brew on tap; an annual company-wide gathering in the mountains

What makes it great: “Choozle has been great in the post-Covid work climate and allowing employees to work with a hybrid approach. Building relationships and instilling balance is also at the core of Choozle’s values, whether it is Weekly Slack Trivia, happy hours, company-wide Summits in the mountains, or Unlimited PTO, they do an amazing job of making everyone feel like they are supported in and out of the office.”

32. LifeOmic

Location: Indianapolis, Indiana
Focus:
Number of employees: 114
Average salary: $172, 900
Vacation time: 16 days of PTO to start; 26 days of PTO after five years

Perks: Up to $1,950 in annual incentives for completing health and wellness milestones; $1,000 bonus for smokers who quit for six months, plus paid-for smoking cessation program; weekly team lunches; annual, all-expenses-paid wilderness retreat in Utah’s Uinta Mountains that includes multiple nights camping, hiking, bonfires, rock climbing, paddleboarding, sunrise yoga, fishing, and expert-led lessons in activities like foraging and nature photography

What makes it great: “Our flexibility is awesome. You can work anywhere in the world with a good internet connection. We have multiple employees who have family members in Europe, and at least once a year, they go visit family for a couple weeks while still being able to balance workload and not burn through vacation time. We even have an employee who doesn’t have a permanent residence. He globetrots, spending a few weeks at a time in a new city.”

33. Evotek

Location: San Diego, California
Focus:
Number of employees: 173
Average salary: Unspecified
Vacation time: Unlimited PTO

Perks: Flexible hours; quarterly company-wide team-building meetings at various locations; annual community service day for a cause of choice; free healthcare; company events like taco trucks, happy hours, and Padres games; an an annual private company retreat (spouses included) to destinations like Napa Valley, Austin, or a private yacht in Miami

What makes it great: “Although we are a 100 percent remote organization with great WFH benefits, our events team puts on over 60 events a year, giving our teams fun and engaging ways to enjoy time together. We also have a new Experience team dedicated to elevating the overall experience for our customers, employees, and partners, which is unique and quite helpful in differentiating our company internally and externally.”

34. Avid4 șÚÁÏłÔčÏÍű

Location: Boulder, Colorado
Focus:
Number of employees: 31
Average salary: Unspecified
Vacation time: Unlimited PTO

Perks: $500 reimbursement on recreational expenses like climbing gym memberships, camping reservations, race entries, river trip permits, or yoga and meditation classes; free outdoor gear use; paid company recreational outings to play outside; first Fridays of every month off; an annual, all-expenses paid multi-day camping trip

What makes it great: “Avid4 șÚÁÏłÔčÏÍű’s work with campers strives to build confidence, skills, and a sense of empowerment in kids. Being an employee with Avid is just like being a camper! Avid supports me with professional development opportunities close to home and across the country. I’ve paddled in Minnesota, backpacked and rock climbed in Colorado, and mountain biked in California. I’ve laughed until crying with co-workers, both during on-screen meetings and around campfires. Avid has become an extension of my family.”

35. Forum Phi Architecture

Location: Aspen and Carbondale, Colorado
Focus:
Number of employees: 36
Average salary: $98,800
Vacation time: 15 days of PTO to start

Perks: Paid volunteer days, $1,049 annual wellness benefit, flexible schedule and work remote options, paid quarterly Forum Phriday events like hiking, cross country skiing, downhill skiing, rafting, hut trips, and lake days

What makes it great: “We started a haiku club where we all put a subject in a bowl and choose what we will write for that week. It’s fun and creative. And Forum Phridays are always unreasonably fun. We laugh so much. It makes it feel like you’re coming to work with friends and family because of the jokes we have shared, and it makes us closer”.Ìę

36. commonFont

Location: Bozeman, Montana, and Providence, Rhode Island
Focus:
Number of employees: 48
Average salary: Unspecified
Vacation time: Unlimited PTO

Perks: Profit sharing, 10 percent 401k match, office kegerator with local beer and kombucha, weekly catered lunches, stocked snack cabinet, group volunteer days for local organizations or outdoor trail maintenance, summer kickball team, group hiking, flexible and hybrid schedules, celebrations and themed parties and happy hours, and charitable giving matches

What makes it great: “CommonFont brings people and technology together—and our core value of service means we get to do work we love while helping others thrive. As commonFonters, we all strive to make a positive and lasting impact on our teammates, clients and communities.”

37. Bonusly

Location: Boulder, Colorado
Focus:
Number of employees: 104
Average salary: $133,000
Vacation time: Unlimited PTO

Perks: $500 annual wellness fund, paid-for employee get-togethers, flexible work schedule and work-from-home options, a one-time $300 home office stipend, and an annual $2,000 professional development budget

What makes it great: “Bonusly’s work-life balance is effective. We recognize our personal lives are important and so help each other out when we need to reset or take a break. After all, it’s pretty difficult to make meaningful connections if we’re feeling stretched thin. Bonusly also offers rest-from-home days to ensure there’s at least one three-day weekend every month. With all that’s going on, being able to take care of yourself is so important, and I appreciate that Bonusly helps with that.”Ìę

38. Creative Alignments

Location: Boulder, Colorado
Focus:
Number of employees: 39
Average salary: Unspecified
Vacation time: 15 days of PTO to start

Perks: Transparent Friday morning coffee chats with the CEO where employees can be heard; an active diversity, equality and inclusion team; options to take on projects of interest; regular in-person and virtual gatherings; commission for bringing in new clients; employee referral bonuses; an annual multi-day company gathering with hikes, treasure hunts, volunteering, happy hours, education, and ax throwing

What makes it great: “As a fully remote company, things like birthday cupcakes, get-well-soon soup, we-know-you’re-having-a-hard-day flowers, and recover-fast comfy PJs show up at people’s front door on a regular basis. Whenever someone needs help, personally or professionally, a whole team of kind-hearted people drop what they are doing and jump in to help. This same group speaks up with new ideas, diverse perspectives and differing opinions with the respect and openness needed for a whole company to learn and grow together.”

39. ThrivePass

Location: Denver, Colorado
Focus:
Number of employees: 63
Average salary: Unspecified
Vacation time: Unlimited PTO

Perks: Monthly deposits into a health and wellness account, company volunteer days, team building events to decompress during the day, a generous parental leave policy, a one-month sabbatical after five years with $1,000 of travel money and a one-month sabbatical after ten years with $2,000 of travel money

What makes it great: “We’re passionate about employee personal and professional growth. Want to learn a new language or become an outdoor survivalist? We encourage employees to use their annual stipend for learning and development initiatives that bring them joy. Our employees appreciate working remotely, which allows them the freedom to explore! Lastly, every month, they can enjoy their hobbies, whether it’s travel, skiing, mountain biking, yoga, arts and crafts, or nutrition, our health and wellness stipend helps them thrive.”

40. Koru Ltd

Location: Carbondale, Colorado
Focus:
Number of employees: 45
Average salary: Unspecified
Vacation time: 15 days of PTO to start, unlimited PTO after five years

Perks: Paid powder days, an annual “movement” stipend, Aspen Snowmass ski passes, company ski days, and company rafting trips

What makes it great: “We go on citywide scavenger hunts, lunch time bike rides, company ski days, and are supported through our big life events. Sometimes there are more dogs in the office than people, and you can always find the boss barefoot and in boardshorts. While it’s casual, we all work exceptionally hard to make an outstanding product and service—something that feeds right back into the ethos.”

41. Adaptive Sports Center

Location: Crested Butte, Colorado
Focus:
Number of employees: 16
Average salary: Unspecified
Vacation time: 12 days of PTO to start, plus two additional days each year up to 28, with rollover

Perks: 401k, paid health insurance, certification reimbursement, professional development scholarship, office (with sundeck) and personal ski locker that’s a one-minute walk to the chair lift, ski/bike/hike breaks, season passes, happy-hours and staff parties, paid training clinics, health and wellness stipend, “Floral/Flannel Fridays,” and office dogs

What makes it great: “The service we provide our participants and the outcomes we witness are incredible—every day is amazing. The staff and volunteer crew are a motivated and fun group with the common thread of a love for outdoor adventure and helping improve the lives of many well-deserving people. Of course, being planted in the middle of Colorado’s Elk Mountain Range gives a spoonful of spice to the above.”

42. Buzz Franchise Brands

Location: Virginia Beach, Virginia
Focus:
Number of employees: 53
Average salary: Unspecified
Vacation time: Ten days of PTO to start

Perks: Gym membership discount, standing desks, ping pong and pool tables in the office for breaks, half day summer Fridays, weekly happy hours, monthly social events, annual trip to Mexico for convention, annual company off-site gathering in various locations around Virginia, annual credit to spend in company shop, an employee volunteer and charity matching program, professional development opportunities, 401k matching, and FSA

What makes it great: “Buzz Franchise Brands empowers employees to make decisions as subject-matter experts in their roles. Just as importantly, there’s a strong emphasis on work-life balance, exemplified through half-day summer Fridays and a designated Sanity Control Committee that plans monthly social events. Based in Virginia Beach, employees are rewarded for their contributions with time away from the office to recharge, connect with colleagues, and enjoy the perks of living in a coastal area.”

43. GoPro

Location: San Mateo and Carlsbad, California
Focus:
Number of employees: 483
Average salary: Unspecified
Vacation time: Unlimited PTO

Perks: Hybrid/remote work options; offices close to beaches, trails, and world-class cycling, skating and water sports; office gym, showers, and lockers; outdoor workspaces; free onsite bike rentals and storage space for surfboards and wetsuits; access to nearby college athletic facility with a track and aquatic center; onsite and remote fitness classes like bootcamp, yoga, and meditation; monthly reimbursement toward wellness expenses; access to coaching and therapy sessions; the latest camera and accessories (along with company challenges) with each launch

What makes it great: “GoPro attracts some very special people who are zealous about life. This ethos is echoed by GoPro’s vision of being a force for positivity, celebrating all things awesome while inspiring people to pursue their passions. And GoPro’s work philosophy carries that same message, enabling and encouraging employees to live their desired lifestyle while being able to show up to work as the best versions of themselves—whether in a GoPro office, their remote workspace of choice, or a bit of both.”

44. SmartBug Media

Location: Newport Beach, California
Focus:
Number of employees: 166
Average salary: $82,800
Vacation time: 15 days of PTO to start, 20 days of PTO after five years

Perks: Monthly remote work allowance for internet, phone, and office supplies; monthly budget for meetups with other employees for things like coffee, lunch, ax throwing, or concerts; quarterly professional development days; “SmartBugPallooza,” an annual five-star conference; affinity meetups like LGBTQ+, parents, or women’s groups; work from anywhere; month-long paid sabbaticals after five and ten years

What makes it great: “At SmartBug, you can do challenging work and grow your career without having to sacrifice the things in life that matter to you most. Whether it’s time with your family, carving out space for that midday Pilates class, or taking a walking meeting with your dog, we believe in hiring professionals who are exceptional at what they do and need not be limited to an 8-to-5 schedule at a single desk. We’ve had team members backpack across South America, rock climb in Portugal, and travel from mountain to mountain to ski and snowboard during winter months—all while balancing their workload.”

45. TOMIS Holdings, Inc.

Location: Missoula, Montana
Focus:
Number of employees: 25
Average salary: Unspecified
Vacation time: Unlimited PTO

Perks: Powder day ski policy, dog-friendly office, flexible working hours and environment, company volunteer days, summer afternoon floats, monthly wellness stipend, beer Fridays, outdoor brand discounts, and bi-annual company retreats to places like Darby, Montana, and Yellowstone for rafting, skiing, and log cabin stays

What makes it great: “I love waking up and deciding if I feel like getting dressed or not. If I decide to work from home and am bored at noon, then I head in. The flexibility and trust is beyond refreshing. Truly the culture is incredible due to badass people. My best friends are my coworkers. They are who I choose to spend the evenings and weekends with, too! No matter what you feel like doing, there’s someone who wants to hike, bike, go skiing, float the river, fish—and has the gear to do it.”Ìę

46. Backbone Media

Location: Carbondale, Colorado
Focus:
Number of employees: 114
Average salary: Unspecified
Vacation time: 15 days of PTO to start

Perks: Full remote and hybrid work options; flex-time; a wellness stipend for a ski pass, gym membership, or fitness classes; powder day clause; fully stocked gear closet in the offices; pro deals on gear and apparel; office kegerator and stocked snack drawers; dog-friendly offices; Friday pickleball games and regular lunch runs; mountain bike and ski gatherings; paid volunteer time to work with local non-profits; an annual company ski day in the winter and camping trip in the summer; one-month paid sabbatical after ten years

What makes it great: “This summer, I went camping in the desert with 100 of my friends and colleagues at Backbone’s annual ‘Charge’—our take on a company retreat aimed at connecting staff and stoking a love for the outdoors. I tried rock climbing for the first time, enjoyed fully catered meals, nearly won a bunch of money in a huge dice game, and then donned my best costume and danced at an all-night party under the stars. It was an awesome opportunity to try new things and bond with team members outside of the office.”

47. Aspenware Internet Solutions

Location: Denver, Colorado
Focus:
Number of employees: 28
Average salary: Unspecified
Vacation time: 20 days of PTO to start

Perks: $1,000 annual reimbursement for gym memberships, ski passes, and gear; annual National Parks Pass; Ikon season ski pass; paid volunteer day; $1,500 training reimbursement for professional development

What makes it great: “Our collaborative culture is fostered through regular online coffee chats, virtual walks with our workmates, company activity challenges and other culture-building events. When our employees are not building the next great ecommerce products to encourage people to visit mountain resorts, they are taking advantage of the health activity stipend, free ski passes, or free National Parks passes that Aspenware offers to all employees.”

48. Cactus

Location: Denver, Colorado
Focus:
Number of employees: 70
Average salary: $100,000
Vacation time: Unlimited PTO

Perks: A “Cactus șÚÁÏłÔčÏÍű Club” with regular get-togethers for camping, hiking, and indoor rock climbing; monthly fitness stipend; paid-for running events; team environmental cleanup days; monthly happy hours; premium Calm app membership; discounted ski equipment rentals; all-agency ski days at Arapahoe Basin

What makes it great: “Together we’ve created a workplace driven by a set of bedrock values like respect, belonging, passion, courage, tenacity, collaboration, wellbeing and critical thought. When you get to come into a place like that every day, with amazingly dedicated professionals who care so much it hurts, who truly care about each other and have each others backs, working shoulder to shoulder to create brilliant yet meaningful work that makes the world a little brighter
well that’s when work stops feeling like work. And it’s what it feels like to work at Cactus.”

49. Global Citizen Year

Location: Oakland, California
Focus:
Number of employees: 29
Average salary: Unspecified
Vacation time: Unlimited PTO

Perks: Flexible work schedules; a $1,000 annual personal and professional development stipend for things like gardening classes, running stride evaluation, or guitar lessons; Thursday gatherings for coffee, lunch, or fitness; an annual weeklong team retreat; an annual weeklong office closure for rest and relaxation; a month-long paid sabbatical after three years

What makes it great: “After almost three years of being fully remote, we have been reimagining what it means to create a fun, lively, balanced culture. At our weekly staff meetings, we hear updates on projects and give shout-outs to acknowledge the outstanding work of our colleagues. At a recent in-person retreat, we sunk our teeth into imagining our ideal employee lifecycle, and we played four-square when we needed a break. We give our employees the tools and benefits they need to create their own flow between work and life. It looks different for everyone, and Global Citizen Year acknowledges this and embraces it.”

50. NEMO Equipment

Location: Dover, New Hampshire
Focus:
Number of employees: 47
Average salary: Unspecified
Vacation time: Unlimited PTO

Perks: Time off and reimbursement for adventure trips (supported by NEMO gear); a $150 annual stipend for registration, classes, or training fees; 16 hours paid volunteering time; hybrid work options; office with custom built desks, a gym, and dogs; expert-led DEI training and brainstorm sessions on issues like reversing climate change; 12 weeks of parental leave; company skiing and camping trips; all-expenses-paid sabbaticals after ten, 15, and 20 years;

What makes it great: “Cam Brensinger (our CEO/founder) has envisioned a workplace functioning similarly to an adventure you’d take with your partner—one that is built on trust, exploration, creativity, and hard work. But that doesn’t come easily, and it’s something that has evolved over the years. As the brand has grown and matured, we’ve been able to expand benefits while continuing to attract the type of folks who love an adventure, care deeply for the planet, and want a different kind of place to work.”

Honorable Mentions

Arts & Letters Creative Co.

Location: Richmond, Virginia
Focus:

Ascent360

Location: Golden, Colorado
Focus:

Best Version Media

Location: Brookfield, Wisconsin
Focus:

Carrot

Location: Roseburg, Oregon
Focus:

CE Broker (EverCheck)

Location: Jacksonville Beach, Florida
Focus:

Charles Cunniffe Architects

Location: Aspen, Colorado
Focus:

Cheley Colorado Camps

Location: Estes Park and Denver, Colorado
Focus:

Cotopaxi

Location: Salt Lake City, Utah
Focus:

Crestone Capital

Location: Boulder, Colorado
Focus:

Duft Watterson

Location: Boise, Idaho, and San Francisco, California
Focus:

Eagle County Paramedic Services

Location: Edwards, Colorado
Focus:

East West Partners, LLC

Location: Avon and Denver, Colorado
Focus:

Eighty Five Sixy, Inc.

Location: Del Mar, California, and Denver, Colorado
Focus:

First Descents

Location: Denver, Colorado
Focus:

Go Ape

Location: Plano, Texas
Focus:

Idea Ranch

Location: Tulsa, Oklahoma; Wichita, Kansas; Durango, Colorado
Focus:

Karl Strauss Brewing Company

Location: San Diego, California
Focus:

Keen Footwear

Location: Portland, Oregon
Focus:

McGarrah Jessee

Location: Austin, Texas
Focus:

Merrell

Location: Rockford, Michigan
Focus:

Mitchell + Palmer

Location: Boise, Idaho
Focus:

Moving Mountains

Location: Steamboat Springs, Colorado
Focus:

New West KnifeWorks

Location: Jackson, Wyoming
Focus:

Oberalp North America

Location: Boulder, Colorado
Focus:

Oboz Footwear

Location: Bozeman, Montana
Focus:

Outrider

Location: Golden, Colorado
Focus:

șÚÁÏłÔčÏÍűPR

Location: Sausalito, California
Focus:

Peek.com

Location: San Francisco, California
Focus:

Planet Propaganda

Location: Madison, Wisconsin
Focus:

POC North America

Location: Park City, Utah
Focus:

Powder7

Location: Golden, Colorado
Focus:

Project Canary

Location: Denver, Colorado
Focus:

RA Nelson

Location: Avon, Colorado
Focus:

Rumpl

Location: Portland, Oregon
Focus:

Skratch Labs

Location: Boulder, Colorado
Focus:

Small Giants

Location: Denver, Colorado
Focus:

Sportiqe Apparel

Location: Tempe, Arizona
Focus:

SportRx

Location: San Diego, California
Focus:

Stio

Location: Jackson, Wyoming
Focus:

Studio Completiva

Location: Denver, Colorado
Focus:

Studio Shed

Location: Louisville, Colorado
Focus:

SummitCove Vacation Lodging

Location: Keystone, Colorado
Focus:

The Garrett Companies

Location: Greenwood, Indiana
Focus:

The Pinnacle Companies

Location: Frisco, Colorado
Focus:

Trihydro Corporation

Location: Laramie, Wyoming
Focus:

USA Triathlon

Location: Colorado Springs, Colorado
Focus:

Wheels Manufacturing

Location: Louisville, Colorado
Focus:

Wilderness șÚÁÏłÔčÏÍűs

Location: Jackson, Wyoming
Focus:

Research for this list was compiled by .

The post The 50 Best Places to Work in 2022 appeared first on șÚÁÏłÔčÏÍű Online.

1. Global Citizen Year

Location: Oakland, California
Focus: A that offers cultural-immersion fellowships in Ecuador, Brazil, Senegal, and India
Number of employees: 26
Average salary: Unspecified
Vacation time: Unlimited PTO

Perks: A remote-working option, a $500 annual stipend for professional-development courses, another $100 annually to learn something new, a monthlong paid sabbatical after three years, a book club, and periodic staff retreats in a host country

What makes it great: “We have created a culture that allows people to be their full selves, feel welcomed and celebrated, and continue to learn and grow throughout their journey in the organization. Once the pandemic hit, we knew it was costing people more to work at home so we provided a monthly stipend to help cover those extra costs. We knew it was important to stay close with their teammates, so we created the virtual together Thursday, in order for people to have those water-cooler and lunch conversations without leaving their living rooms. Having this supportive and values-based culture helped so many of our staff navigate these challenging times.”

2. Forum Phi Architecture

Location: Aspen and Carbondale, Colorado
Focus:
Number of employees: 37
Average salary: $98,103
Vacation time: 29 days PTO to start, increasing by a week every five years

Perks: A fully stocked office bar and kitchen; Monday-morning breakfasts; mountain-bike, uphill-skiing, and powder clubs; complimentary ski pass; and outdoor team-building events like overnight hut trips, river floats, and cross-country ski adventures

What makes it great: “It’s fun to work for Forum Phi. Creativity, collaboration, and camaraderie abound on a daily basis, and we promote everyone being themselves. We live in possibly the most beautiful place in the country and want our team to capitalize on the consistently perfect weather, gorgeous mountains, and streams around us, so our group is very outdoor-activity focused. I love to sit on our deck and work while staring out at Capitol Peak.”

3. Western Environmental Law Center

Location: Eugene, Oregon
Focus:
Number of employees: 22
Average salary: Unspecified
Vacation time: 22 days PTO

Perks: Annual retreats to explore places like Mount Hood, Santa Fe, and Colorado Springs; employees earn three months of paid sabbatical, plus a $1,000 stipend, every five years

What makes it great: “Working at WELC means you get a lot of flexibility from management on how you get your job done, and the space to try creative approaches to your work. If you need to shift your schedule to make space for something else in your life, it’s usually no problem. If you want to move to a new city, you can probably do that and keep your job. If you want to try out an unconventional approach to an issue, management has your back.”

4. Rule4

Location: Boulder, Colorado
Focus:
Number of employees: 16
Average salary: $136,000
Vacation time: 21 days PTO to start, with an additional day each year up to 31 days

Perks: A $1,000 annual stipend toward a ski pass or other outdoor activities; branded gear for work anniversaries and as micro-bonus rewards; five-week sabbatical at five years; small fleet of electric bikes and scooters; pet insurance; and an annual ranch retreat and camping trip

What makes it great: “It’s been especially apparent these past 18 months that our team takes care of each other, on every level. Even outside the fox den, everyone is generous with their time and eager to lend a hand, whether it’s dogsitting, loaning a vehicle, helping move, giving advice, or sending meals. At the office we have catered meals, fully stocked beverage fridges, and a custom arcade, and we have full remote work setups at home.”

5. Fortnight Collective

Location: Boulder, Colorado
Focus:
Number of employees: 19
Average salary: $130,000
Vacation time: 20 days PTO

Perks: Winter Fridays for skiing, flexible schedules and hybrid work options, mindfulness training, online and outdoor yoga, a one-year subscription to the Peloton app, surprise bonuses, and an annual ski trip to Keystone

What makes it great: “Fortnight Collective, purposefully situated in the heart of downtown Boulder, has always embraced its surroundings. They say location is everything and we tend to agree. For an ad agency, creativity is our asset. We heed inspiration from the outdoors. Whether that is a stroll along Pearl Street, an early-morning hike on Sanitas, or catching an afternoon downhill blue at Eldora, we embrace the outside to help drive creativity. We do have showers, so bring on the sweat. Three-hundred-plus days of sunshine is not lost on us.”

Ìę6. SummitCove Vacation Lodging

Location: Keystone, Colorado
Focus:
Number of employees: 69
Average salary: $79,500
Vacation time: Five days PTO to start

Perks: Ski-pass reimbursement, office bikes, a dog-friendly office, team fitness challenges like monthly step counting and group yoga, flexible schedules, discounted rec-center passes, and a work-from-home option

What makes it great: “We like to have fun and support our team members. As a team, we playÌęthe , which gets everyone involved in the financials and well-being of our company and gives employees the opportunity to earn bonuses throughout the year when we see company-wide performance. We celebrate wins and participate in a company-wide huddle each week that brings us together and all departments have the chance to interact. It brings a closeness and unity to our team like nothing else! At the end of our busy season (ski season!) we always celebrate with a company gathering, such as a theme party or fun group outing.”

7. Traina

Location: San Diego, California
Focus:
Number of employees: 28
Average salary: $104,000
Vacation time: Between 12 and 20 days PTO to start, depending on experience

Perks: A flexible work-from-home policy, 2 P.M. shut-down in summer, annual BBQ and Boat Day at a local lake, quarterly profit sharing, annual cost-of-living salary increases, six months partial-pay maternity leave, paid vacation between Christmas and New Years, office fridge stocked with local craft beer, an on-site gym, and walkable lunch spots

What makes it great: “We all work hard. But we also play hard—from Padres games to go-kart racing, midday movies to bowling, and spontaneous team lunches to happy hours. Occasionally we shut the office down and spend the day working on passion projects. For example, one time we each redesigned our favorite album cover and then let our followers decide whose was best.”

8. Workshop Digital

Location: Richmond, Virginia
Focus:
Number of employees: 27
Average salary: Unspecified
Vacation time: Unlimited PTO

Perks: Paid volunteering time; organized events like kickball games, softball leagues, whitewater rafting, and paddleboarding; company-sponsored kickball and bocce rec-league teams; profit sharing; and monthly health and wellness challenges

What makes it great: “Workshop Digital’s purpose is to ‘build a better agency.’ It transcends the work that we do for our clients and extends into creating a better way to work. That includes actively listening to our employees and incorporating their feedback, thoughts, and ideas into the work we do and the policies we make. We are hopeful that the model we are building for ourselves can be a useful model in the future for other companies that are striving to create healthy, happy, productive, environmentally friendly, and inclusive workplaces.”

9. CommonFont

Location: Bozeman, Montana, and Providence, Rhode Island
Focus:
Number of employees: 34
Average salary: Unspecified
Vacation time: Unlimited PTO

Perks: Office kegerator, weekly happy hours and catered lunches, stocked snack cabinet, group volunteer service days for local organizations, a summer kickball team, group hikes, flexible schedules, and charitable giving matches

What makes it great: “CommonFont exists to serve our clients, communities, and teammates. Our decisions are made with consideration for all three and never oneÌęat the detriment of another. The work we do brings people and technology together. As data nerds and tech enthusiasts, we get to do what we love while serving others.”

10. Booyah Advertising

Location: Denver, Colorado
Focus:
Number of employees: 81
Average salary: Unspecified
Vacation time: Unlimited PTO

Perks: Flex hours; full-time work-from-home option; paid parental leave; 401(k) with 10 percent match; fully paid medical insurance; paid sabbatical after five years; a dog-friendly office; annual events like ski days, Rockies games, or kickball tournaments; quarterly team events like laser tag, hikes, brewery tours, and cheesemaking

What makes it great: “Booyah goes all out. We don’t do anything halfway. That of course applies to the work we do for our clients, but it’s also on full display at our company events. Halloween is a special favorite: each team arrives in a themed and meticulously executed group costume. They vie for prizes and—more importantly—the Best Team Costume title, a badge they wear proudly over the next year. We’ve seen everything from hyperaccurate Napoleon DynamiteÌęensembles to a fully painted, head-to-toe-green Statue of Liberty. It’s a silly thing, but it’s emblematic of the fun energy and collaborative approach that are the hallmarks of our agency.”

11. Retrium

Location: Silver Spring, Maryland
Focus:
Number of employees: 20
Average salary: $138,700
Vacation time: Unlimited PTO

Perks: Walking meetings and fitness breaks, paid parental leave, a monthly health and wellness stipend, an office-improvement stipend, and an annual personal development stipend

What makes it great: “I get up in the morning and I can spend time with my husband, little boys, and dog and work out without feeling like I have to be online when the clock strikes a certain time. I love that we’re encouraged to take a walking meeting or a meditation break on a regular basis because this really refreshes and energizes me. I’ve used my wellness stipend on yoga clothes and running shoes and every time I put on my gear it reminds me of how great I have it.”

12. C1S Group

Location: Dallas, Texas
Focus:
Number of employees: 26
Average salary: $106,300
Vacation time: 15 days PTO to start

Perks: Reduced-rate classes at a nearby yoga studio, an annual charity golf tournament, flexible work options, flex-time summer schedules, team trivia competitions, taco Fridays, a running team, and catered Monday lunches

What makes it great: “Our people don’t work for C1S; they work for themselves and the life they want to live. One of our project managers is an avid rock climber and snowboarder. Earlier this year he told us he wanted to move to Colorado. We totally support his passion for the outdoors, so we encouraged him to come up with a business plan that allows him to relocate to Colorado and continue to work for C1S. He pitched it to the leadership team in February, and he has been successfully managing projects from his new home in Denver since June.”

13. Geocaching HQ

Location: Seattle, Washington
Focus:Ìę
Number of employees: 86
Average salary: Unspecified
Vacation time: 15 days PTO to start

Perks: Comprehensive health benefits, 401(k) matching, paid time off to geocache, loaner gear for adventures, free lift tickets anywhere in the world, reimbursement for mind and body activities, paid four-week sabbaticals every seven years, a professional-growth stipend, charitable donation matching, a home-office stipend

What makes it great: “This is a place where you make friends on your first day, high-five the office dogs on a weekly basis, share your unfiltered thoughts and ideas with the cofounder, get your fill of nostalgic childhood sweets from the magical snack drawers (#chocopie), play fantasy football with the CFO, and (perhaps most importantly) spend your weekends truly and unapologetically unplugged from work. Geocaching HQ is kind of like a geocache itself: truly a hidden gem amongst the tech giants and startups in Seattle, right under your nose.”

14. BSW Wealth Partners

Location: Boulder, Colorado
Focus:
Number of employees: 27
Average salary: Unspecified
Vacation time: Prorated PTO in year one, 10 days PTO in year two

Perks: Flexible work options; new headquarters at the base of Mount Sanitas; an annual all-inclusive ski trip; summer fun days with whitewater rafting, kayaking, Iron Chef–style competitions, and go-kart racing; fully funded HSAs, with healthcare for employees and their families; and local B Corp craft beers in the office

What makes it great: “BSW deeply respects the importance of balance and believes it’s important to have fun. There is a remarkable focus on giving back to the community. Furthermore, BSW conducts amazing work for a great clientele—work that employees go home feeling really good about.”

15. Choozle

Location: Denver, Colorado
Focus:
Number of employees: 61
Average salary: Unspecified
Vacation time: Unlimited PTO

Perks: Monthly $100 stipend toward a ski or park pass or wellness service; a semiannual company summit in Colorado’s mountains with a free day for massages, skiing, or whitewater rafting; outdoor spaces, Ping-Pong, shuffleboard, and on-tap kombucha and cold brew at the office

What makes it great: “Choozle is great at supporting its employees when they get together outside of working hours. In the past, they have sponsored pizza and drinks for a fantasy-football draft and also covered the race fees for a 24-hour team relay race in the mountains. Camaraderie is very important, and it’s amazing that Choozle supports these efforts. Lifelong friendships have been formed.”Ìę

16. Evotek

Location: San Diego, California
Focus:
Number of employees: 145
Average salary: Unspecified
Vacation time: Unlimited PTO

Perks: Mental-health days; annual health challenges with rewards like a Peloton bike; free health care; flexible hours; company events like taco trucks, happy hours, and Padres games; an an annual private company retreat (spouses included) to destinations like Napa Valley, Austin, or a private yacht in Miami

What makes it great: “The team is more important than anything else. A good example of this is how the leadership handled the pandemic. Under no circumstances did they ever plan to let anyone go because of COVID. Cesar Enciso, founder and CEO, communicated more than once that they’d run profitability down to zero dollars before affecting the lives of the employees—you don’t see that a lot! I’ve been presented with opportunities to grow more than once and I know that I’m the only one who can stop my own growth—Evotek will forever push me to the next level as long as that is what I want. That’s what makes this place like no other and cannot be measured against a gear cage, beer, office view, etc.”

17. GroundFloor Media

Location: Denver, Colorado
Focus:
Number of employees: 24
Average salary: Unspecified
Vacation time: Unlimited PTO

Perks: 11 A.M. Monday starts, flex time to work from anywhere or take Fridays off, Rockies Home Opener day off, an in-office resilience coach, Thursday afternoon Beer Club, $50 monthly active lifestyle allowance, office dogs, and a four-week paid sabbatical after ten years

What makes it great: “We learned during the pandemic that our team thrives when they have the chance to explore and enjoy their passions and hobbies. Some might tell you if you don’t take advantage of a powder day or afternoon rooftop patio weather in Denver, you’re doing it wrong. Others will share that seizing the perfect gardening weather keeps them focused and creative. What it boils down to is, the autonomy we are provided to get our jobs done means we can also take a day off to make sure our heirlooms are healthy, our skis and snowboards are well used, and our dream fourteener lists are not only growing, they are also being conquered.”

18. Creative Alignments

Location: Boulder, Colorado
Focus:
Number of employees: 29
Average salary: Unspecified
Vacation time: 15 days PTO to start

Perks: Flexible and remote work options; organized “play days” for things like hiking and snow sports; Bike-to-Work Day rides; company volunteer days; a company softball team and baseball games; and wine tasting and other creative virtual events during COVID

What makes it great: “I’ve worked at a lot of great companies, but Creative Alignments is the best place I’ve ever worked, hands down. Leadership fosters a transparent, inclusive, and collaborative environment where people can just be themselves and feel comfortable contributing. If someone needs help on a project, they know there’s a team of talented people at the ready with good ideas, honest feedback, commitment, and a positive attitude. It also feels good to work with clients that genuinely appreciate our partnership.”

19. Parallel Path

Location: Boulder, Colorado
Focus:
Number of employees: 21
Average salary: $100,000
Vacation time: Unlimited PTO

Perks: Annual $1,000 healthy-living stipend for ski passes, fitness classes, or food delivery services; free personal health and wellness coaching sessions; half-day “Get șÚÁÏłÔčÏÍű Fridays” in the summer; healthy snacks and beverages in the office; and monthly community lunches

What makes it great: “With our focus on health, wellness, and lifestyle brands, we get to work with companies that are generally doing good things in the world. It makes our work more fulfilling. And Parallel Path prioritizes our own personal health and well-being by paying for my ski passes or new fitness gear and making personal health and wellness coaches available to us. With unlimited PTO and Get șÚÁÏłÔčÏÍű Fridays, I get to enjoy the outdoors whenever I want.”

20. SportRx

Location: San Diego, California
Focus:
Number of employees: 78
Average salary: Unspecified
Vacation time: Unlimited PTO

Perks: An office located on a bike path, with a SAG stop for bike commuters and easy access to other trails; profit sharing; an on-site gym; a social hall for office games like Ping-Pong, shuffleboard, and cornhole; Padres games; free or discounted bike and snow gear; product-testing trips to Southern California mountain-bike trails; annual ski trips to Mammoth and Big Bear

What makes it great: “To achieve growth as a company, we understand it requires happy and fulfilled people to drive us forward. Culture (and the customer!) is at the center of everything we do. It’s the north star that guides us when making tough decisions—and promotion decisions. SportRx invests in the people within it and promotes from within. We’re actively seeking opportunities where we can align personal goals of individuals with the company goals and create a work environment where individuals can flourish.”

21. WhippleWood CPAs

Location: Littleton, Colorado
Focus:
Number of employees: 27
Average salary: $99,400
Vacation time: 16 days PTO to start, flexible PTO after five years

Perks: Skate “board” meetings; a Zen Room; half-day summer Fridays; stress-relief events like go-kart racing, ax throwing, and Topgolf after tax deadline

What makes it great: “One really big thing about our company in respect to the industry is that we only require 55 hours a week from tax staff, compared to the industry average of 80. We do quarterly themed happy hours (like Kentucky Derby, Halloween, Cinco De Mayo, wine and cheese tasting). We do a lunch and a fun event on the day after the deadline and offer a paid floating day to all staff to reward tax-season efforts. Just generally, executive leadership practices what they preach and gives everyone, at every level, respect and opportunity to grow. For an accounting firm, WhippleWood really is a fun place to work.”

22. Duft Watterson

Location: Boise, Idaho, and San Francisco, California
Focus:
Number of employees: 19
Average salary: $66,000
Vacation time: 15 days PTO to start

Perks: A new Linus commuter bike after 30 days on the job, group rides to bars or along the river, agency-wide long ski weekends (families included) or rafting trips down the Payette or Boise River, and an office kegerator and cornhole

What makes it great: “The Rocky Mountains and Boise River are literally outside our front door. So we’ve instituted half-day Fridays in 2021: everyone is encouraged to head out and ski, swim, hike, or just be with family and friends. We love to wrap hard-charging workdays around our office kegerator (kombucha included) over a game of cornhole. We also offer generous flex time for personal growth, parenting, and well-being, and—damn right—Treefort Music Fest.”

23. Ergodyne

Location: Saint Paul, Minnesota
Focus:
Number of employees: 63
Average salary: Unspecified
Vacation time: Unlimited PTO

Perks: Half-day summer Fridays, workday 5Ks followed by healthy lunches, a fully equipped gym with Peloton, weekly yoga and cardio classes, flex days to float the St. Croix River

What makes it great: “We are a high-performing, passionate bunch who take the work we do and our results seriously. We like to say: come for the cause; stay for the people. Most folks who dig our vibe are passionate about helping workers and making a difference. Having flex days allows our people to skip the commute or find an inspiring space to work outside our office walls. That said, it’s also amazing to see the good that those three in-office days do for the human spirit and our culture.”

24. Adaptive Sports Center

Location: Crested Butte, Colorado
Focus:
Number of employees: 17
Average salary: $75,000
Vacation time: 10 days PTO to start, plus two additional days each year up to 28, with rollover

Perks: Slopeside office, lunch laps, nearby trails,Ìęfree ski-season conditioning, certification-training reimbursement, and mental-health counseling

What makes it great: “People pay top dollar to vacation or live with views like we have in our office, including a rooftop deck. Our executive director regularly walks by my office and encourages me to take a ski break! Since the lifts are only a few minutes from our ski-in, ski-out office, it’s kind of expected of us to get out there!”

25. BridgeView IT

Location: Denver, Colorado
Focus:
Number of employees: 19
Average salary: Unspecified
Vacation time: 15 days PTO to start, unlimited after five years

Perks: Powder Days; year-round 2 P.M. Friday signoffs; on-site gym and professional massages; a luxury watch on your fifth anniversary; an annual all-expenses-paid team trip to places like Cabo San Lucas, Las Vegas, and Aspen

What makes it great: “We feel that the same adventurous spirit that motivates people to get outdoors and live fuller lives also drives innovation in the tech industry. At BridgeView, we’ve tapped into that feeling to create our company’s culture. We’re a tight-knit team with a discerning eye for technology and an eagerness to work and play hard, together.”

26. LifeOmic

Location: Indianapolis, Indiana
Focus:
Number of employees: 108
Average salary: $146,600
Vacation time: 16 days PTO to start

Perks: Annual pool parties and hackathons; free gym memberships and use of InBody machines; weekly catered lunches; flexible work schedules; a break room with beer, wine, and snacks; all-expenses-paid retreats in Salt Lake City (skiing in the winter, camping in the summer); paid parental leave; a company-wide wellness program with monthly and quarterly cash incentives; and 401(k) match

What makes it great: “Most people would ask, ‘Why have champagne and caviar at 10,500 feet in the Utah mountains?’ We ask, ‘Why wouldn’t we?’ And this year, we did. At LifeOmic we like to push the boundaries of what’s possible, including with our all-expenses-paid company retreats in Utah each year that include skiing, camping, painting classes, photography classes, rock climbing, live music, hiking, archery, and paddleboarding (and yes, champagne and caviar). The ability to unplug, relax, and truly be present with one another can’t be replicated on Slack or Zoom and allows us to perform at our best.”Ìę

27. The Garrett Companies

Location: Greenwood, Indiana
Focus:
Number of employees: 129
Average salary: Unspecified
Vacation time: 20 days PTO

Perks: Half-day summer Fridays, 24-hour on-site fitness center, 40 hours of paid volunteer time, annual canoe trip, weekly yoga, monthly massages, haircuts on-site, all-expenses-paid ski retreat to Telluride

What makes it great: “Culture equals people. Every business is just a handful of people working together to make things, right? Our people matter most, and every single person at The Garrett Companies plays a part in shaping our culture. We continually find ways to support the growth of this talented team. Part of this support comes by creating a working environment where ideas can grow and where thinkers and doers can be rewarded.”

28. Devetry

Location: Denver, Colorado
Focus:
Number of employees: 45
Average salary: $112,600
Vacation time: Unlimited PTO

Perks: Wellness reimbursement, work-from-home stipend, flexible schedules, professional-development hours, company outings (Topgolf, go-karting, live music, or happy hours), and an annual trip to Amsterdam

What makes it great: “We have a simple philosophy: you have a meaningful life outside of work, and we’re here to support that. While we specialize in software development, the team’s talents and interests span far beyond. We’ve got painters, builders, rock climbers, musicians, board-game aficionados, green thumbs. We often get together outside of work to enjoy shared interests, whether that be hitting the climbing gym or an evening of board-game rivalry. It’s pretty cool to work somewhere where connection and collaboration expand outside of the day-to-day work.”

29. Avid4 șÚÁÏłÔčÏÍű

Location: Boulder, Colorado
Focus:
Number of employees: 24
Average salary: Unspecified
Vacation time: Unlimited PTO

Perks: Monthly outings to crags, trails, and creeks; free use of Avid4 gear (mountain bikes, canoes, kayaks, stand-up paddleboards); free bike tune-ups; an annual, paid-for, multi-day adventure to Moab, Utah, each spring; reimbursed climbing-gym memberships; an annual three-day mountain retreat; a $500 annual wellness reimbursement; pro deals on gear; and an anniversary program that rewards full-time staff annually with branded merchandise, money for outdoor equipment, andÌęone month of paid vacation after ten years on the job with a stipend for a flight to anywhere in the world

What makes it great: “When you jump on a bike, and you’re on two wheels, it brings you back to your eight-year-old self. Or if you’re climbing or paddling, it’s just this natural happiness. And when you add kids into the mix, it further enables you to bring in this sense of joy in your life.”

30. Buzz Franchise Brands

Location: Virginia Beach, Virginia
Focus:
Number of employees: 39
Average salary: Unspecified
Vacation time: 10 days PTO

Perks: Discounted YMCA gym membership, in-office gym, half-day summer Fridays, weekly Friday happy hours, matched 401(k), and an annual convention trip to Cancun

What makes it great: “Buzz Franchise Brands has a designated Sanity Control Committee that plans monthly fun team bonding outings. Events range from baseball games to adventure-park ropes courses to dolphin-watching cruises and ax throwing! One of the biggest perks, though, are the summer Fridays. With the corporate office being located in Virginia Beach, many of us head straight to the beach to soak up some sunshine and enjoy the fresh salty air.”

31. GetUWired

Location: Dahlonega, Georgia
Focus:
Number of employees: 44
Average salary: $62,000
Vacation time: 10 days PTO to start, 15 days after two years

Perks: Flexible scheduling, leadership training, a dog-friendly office, voluntary fitness challenges, weekly team games, weekly guided meditations, office showers, 401(k) matching, and paid parental leave

What makes it great: “We have quarterly team-building events that are outside as much as possible. For example, this year we’ve had a day at the lake where we had a variety of activities, like boating, tubing, volleyball, Yard Yahtzee, poker, or just chilling on the beach. We had another team-building event at a local park, where we played capture the flag and had a massive scavenger hunt. For another event this past year, we gave the entire company the day off, provided that they go do something outside and take pictures documenting their fun. We had many people go hiking, boating, or go-kart racing.”

32. Toad&Co

Location: Santa Barbara, California
Focus:
Number of employees: 33
Average salary: $120,000
Vacation time: 20 days PTO to start

Perks: Every other Friday off, an office close to trails, brainstorms while hiking, office bikes and paddleboards, standing desks, lunchtime yoga classes, a beer fridge, an annual campout, and periodic paid sabbaticals

What makes it great: “We encourage our customers to shop with a purpose, and we share that same mission-driven spirit as employees: we’re involved in our community, hosting regular volunteer opportunities and events with other local businesses, we donate to , and all Toads get Election Day off to vote. We act more like a family than a group of colleagues—with plenty of dogs and kids as part of the fun-loving crew. At the office, it’s an atmosphere full of music, creativity, and camaraderie—and our annual Grilled Cheese Smackdown will go down in history as the most savory and delicious battle west of Mississippi.”

33. Ridgeline Insights

Location: Boise, Idaho
Focus: Ìęand
Number of employees: 23
Average salary: Unspecified
Vacation time: Unlimited PTO

Perks: Easy access to outdoor recreation, bike-room entrance, two e-bikes for staff use, summer Fridays off, and a company-wide ski/snowshoe day and tailgating

What makes it great: “Our downtown office location is walking distance to the Boise Greenbelt and numerous foothills trails that staff can easily access anytime during the workday. We also do a handful of team-building activities and host company outings. This includes boat day at Lucky Peak, skiing at Bogus Basin, an Amazing Race–style game throughout Boise, and hosting our annual awards ceremony (think cheers and jeers), allowing us to reflect on successes and poke fun at our failures. Our company works incredibly hard together and we also prioritize having good times together.”

34. Young & Laramore

Location: Indianapolis, Indiana
Focus:
Number of employees: 67
Average salary: Unspecified
Vacation time: 10 days PTO to start

Perks: Company bikes for riding around downtown; offices in a historic schoolhouse; showers and lockers for workday runs and rides; subsidized YMCA memberships; a room for meditation, prayer, or quiet time; beer Thursdays; company events like pickleball, euchre nights, and citywide pedal-pub races; and a two-day retreat each spring in the hills of southern Indiana

What makes it great: “It’s pretty inspiring walking into a 100-year-old schoolhouse every morning. There’s just something about crossing the hardwood in our gym and staring at the two-story rocket in the middle of our building that just makes you feel hopeful. School No. 9 plays a big role in our culture. Every day you feel like a teacher and student—and staying curious helps keep us sharp. Our school even has a great set of locker rooms so you can get out at lunch for a run on the Monon Trail or a bike ride on the Cultural Trail and hit the showers before you get back to work.”

35. CampMinder

Location: Boulder, Colorado
Focus:
Number of employees: 59
Average salary: Unspecified
Vacation time: Unlimited PTO

Perks: Annual $300 wellness allowance toward things like gym memberships, massages, wearable fitness devices, or ski passes; flexible work-from-home options; a dog-friendly office; summer catered lunches; regular team activities like an annual “field day” relay race at a local park

What makes it great: “Our focus on results [instead of] face time means team members can work from anywhere they have a reliable internet connection. In the past year, we’ve had employees take multi-month ski trips or explore the country in their RV, all while contributing as productive members of the team.”

36. GoPro

Location: San Mateo and Carlsbad, California
Focus:
Number of employees: 453
Average salary: Unspecified
Vacation time: Unlimited PTO

Perks: Hybrid and remote work options; offices close to beaches and trails; on-site gym and wellness spaces; free on-site bike rentals and gear storage; on-site and remote fitness classes like yoga, morning mobility, and meditation; monthly reimbursement toward wellness expenses; a Modern Health program with coaching and therapy sessions; and the latest camera and accessories with each launch

What makes it great: “GoPro’s mission is to be a force for positivity, celebrating all things awesome in the world and inspiring people to live active lifestyles. Our work philosophy carries that same message—enabling and encouraging employees to live their desired lifestyle while being able to show up to work as the best versions of themselves, whether in a GoPro office, their remote workspace of choice, or a bit of both. There is an intentional focus at GoPro on building a diverse, equitable, and inclusive organization where folks really feel they belong, and more often than not, coworkers at GoPro establish friendships that go well beyond their time at work.”

37. Crestone Capital

Location: Boulder, Colorado
Focus:
Number of employees: 53
Average salary: $167,600
Vacation time: Unlimited PTO

Perks: Half-day Fridays, fully stocked kitchen, patio, company cruiser bikes, health and wellness stipend, work from anywhere two days a week and up to four weeks per year, employee team-building and appreciation events, Yeti mugs awarded to employees each quarter, and community volunteer opportunities

What makes it great: “We prioritize our people and clients over everything we do and strongly reinforce our work-life integration and work-hard, play-hard mentality. When we hit our company goals, we celebrate the team’s hard work—whether that’s together under the misters on our one-of-a-kind office patio overlooking the iconic Boulder Flatirons or a special surprise event. The effect is a better work atmosphere for our team and helping clients pursue the goals that give their lives meaning.”Ìę

38. SmartEtailing

Location: Boulder, Colorado
Focus:
Number of employees: 59
Average salary: Unspefied
Vacation time: 14 days PTO to start

Perks: Half-day “Get șÚÁÏłÔčÏÍű Fridays,” compressed workweek options, commuter-bike credits, a dog-friendly office, hybrid work options, paid volunteering, deals on bikes and gear, virtual morning coffee breaks, group bike rides, park get-togethers, and a new (currently under construction) office with a bike-tool room and bike storage

What makes it great: “SmartEtailing is a purpose-driven company that makes working here meaningful. We passionately believe that local bike shops are an important part of every community. There isn’t much hierarchy here; it’s just a good group of people getting $#%tÌędone. We try to keep things fun with Get șÚÁÏłÔčÏÍű Fridays and regular social events or contests. We recently subjected our president to the Hot Ones Challenge, where he ate progressively spicier hot wings while answering embarrassing questions.”

39. TeamSnap

Location: Boulder, Colorado
Focus:
Number of employees: 102
Average salary: Unspecified
Vacation time: Unlimited PTO

Perks: A monthly $50 wellness fund; monthly $270 transit and parking reimbursement; two months of paid parental leave, up to two months of disability, plus a month of easing back in with full pay; flexible hours and location; TeamSnap App discounts; $1,500 annual education and training allowance; $150 TeamSnap swag credit on starting, plus $100 credit every anniversary; and annual team summits at various destinations

What makes it great: “One of the things I love about TeamSnap is the focus on building an environment where all TeamSnappers feel included. We have employee resource groups (Women@, Blended for our BIPOC community, and Pride for our LGBTQIA+ community) where allies and identifying members of these communities can connect and grow through shared experiences. I feel like my team accepts me for who I am and that I don’t need to bring my best self to work because my best self is just my authentic self at the end of the day.”

40. Pax8

Location: Greenwood Village, Colorado
Focus:
Number of employees: 750
Average salary: $100,000
Vacation time: Unlimited PTO

Perks: Weekly yoga and meditation classes, office lawn concerts, employee stock, an on-site gym, weekly walking groups, and monthly happy hours

What makes it great: “The leadership team at Pax8 encourages employees to be their authentic selves and appreciates everyone’s individuality. Something unique at Pax8 is that we are constantly sharing interesting facts about ourselves. It is actually a requirement for all new hires and each time someone presents. Each month at our company-wide all-hands meeting, each new employee introduces themselves and shares a fact. It is a fun and engaging way to learn about each other and is also a great icebreaker.”

41. Mann Mortgage

Location: Kalispell, Montana
Focus:
Number of employees: 472
Average salary: Unspecified
Vacation time: 12 days PTO to start

Perks: Bonus incentives, flexible work schedules, personalizedÌęergonomic workspaces, company gatherings, happy hours, lifestyle reimbursement program, anniversary meal reimbursements, an on-site fitness center and classes, and a fully stocked break room with games and beer

What makes it great: “Twice a year we escape to fun destinations such as Hawaii, Scottsdale, Coeur d’Alene, or Whitefish to celebrate our wins. Everything is top-notch, from the hotel to the activities to the food and drinks. No drink tickets here!”

42. Turner

Location: Denver, Colorado, with offices in New York, Chicago, Miami, and Los Angeles
Focus:
Number of employees: 45
Average salary: $90,000
Vacation time: 20 days PTO to start, unlimited PTO after 10 years

Perks: Access to online fitness platforms represented by the company; gear and equipment discounts; company-led meditation, yoga, and other recess activities; early Fridays to kick off outdoor fun; paid volunteer days and company-organized outdoor volunteer time; dog-friendly offices; Election Day off; wine fridge and local-brew kegerator; patio brainstorms; and added PTO for office closures between Christmas and the New Years

What makes it great: “We represent amazing destinations, and most team members have the opportunity to travel and engage in interesting adventures as part of their regular workload. We tend to be a group of explorers, and being able to tack on a long weekend to your business trip to Bermuda or Toronto or the Cayman Islands (your flight is already covered, after all) is an unparalleled perk. During the pandemic, when travel was limited, our wellness clients pivoted quickly to digital-platform delivery, and that also became a team perk that our active team used to stay sane while cooped up.”

43. Bonusly

Location: Boulder, Colorado
Focus:
Number of employees: 76
Average salary: $114,000
Vacation time: Unlimited PTO

Perks: Annual $500 wellness stipend, annual $2,000 professional development budget, bonuses for Strava workouts, $40 weekly meal reimbursement, FSA, one-time $300 work-from-home office stipend, and 401(k) matching

What makes it great: “Our hiking channel in Slack is full of beautiful pictures and hiking tips and recommendations. It’s been an awesome way to stay connected while being remote and find new gems across the U.S. We have over 1,500 custom Slack emojis to choose from (team members, pets, activities, etc.). We like to have fun at work and this is one small way we do it.”

44. Spawn Ideas

Location: Anchorage, Alaska
Focus:
Number of employees: 34
Average salary: $88,500
Vacation time: 13 days PTO to start

Perks: Work up to 30 days from anywhere once annually, a $200 “stay active” bonus for ski passes or race entry fees, gold-level gym memberships, two-day “pawternity leave” to bond with new pets or grieve when one passes away, iceÌęfishing with families, employee stock ownership program, office kegerator, and half-day summer Fridays

What makes it great: “Perks don’t alone make for great culture or a best place to work. What makes Spawn an awesome company starts with our team and their ‘never settle’ commitment to being intellectually curious each and every day—and to be, as we like to say, comfortable with being uncomfortable with change, because it’s going to happen. It turns out that a year of work from home during the pandemic only deepened the well of respect our team has for one another and made clear how much we miss this work ‘family.’ We truly like and count on one another during good and challenging times.”

45. Skratch Labs

Location: Boulder, Colorado
Focus:
Number of employees: 33
Average salary: Unspecified
Vacation time: Unlimited PTO

Perks: Flexible schedules, daily recess knockout games, hybrid office and remote work, stocked kitchen, bike-repair station, on-site deluxe massage chair, free Skratch products for employees and their friends, dog- and kid-friendly office, on-site fitness area, cooking classes with free home-delivered supplies, educational opportunities on company time with Skratch Academy, free access to a registered dietician and an exercise physiologist, industry deals on outdoor gear, and employee profit sharing

What makes it great: “The impact of something this simple—clear vision, clear values, and clear process—is extraordinarily impactful on our sense of purpose and peace of mind. We know where we are going and that gives every position in our company real meaning and importance. While perhaps trite to say, that purpose and meaning are way more important than go-karting, free food, or recess. It’s this foundation that makes a simple fact about working at Skratch ring true and that is clearly evident when our teams are out in the field or when people come to visit us—it’s the fact that we out-fun everyone!”Ìę

46. Shine United

Location: Madison, Wisconsin
Focus:
Number of employees: 46
Average salary: Unspecified
Vacation time: Two weeks PTO to start

Perks: Half-day Summer Fridays, a full bar for “beer-30s,” 100 percent of health benefits covered for employees and their families, paid sabbaticals, a rock-climbing club, a work-from-home plan, and “șÚÁÏłÔčÏÍű Corps—a semiannual, paid-for opportunity for employees have outdoor adventures

What makes it great: “The Culture Committee and the șÚÁÏłÔčÏÍű Corps are two initiatives Shine started during the pandemic not only to keep everyone connected in the company while working at a distance but also to give employees a way to remain active and keep their spirits up. The șÚÁÏłÔčÏÍű Corps means you could go cliff diving in Door County, camping at a state park, or hit a bike trail, and Shine would cover the expenditure of $150, twice a year. The Culture Committee was formed to not only give one-on-one time for all new hires while working from home, but also to find ways to engage with others via Zoom trivia nights, curbside spring planting kit pickups, whole agency-wide competitions while also giving back to a community in need, and more.”

47. ThrivePass

Location: Denver, Colorado
Focus:
Number of employees: 54
Average salary: Unspecified
Vacation time: Unlimited PTO

Perks: Annual stipends for learning and development, money each month in a health and wellness account, frequent happy hours and team events, company volunteer days, 401(k) match, health reimbursement account, a one-month sabbatical after five and ten years, remote work, and virtual events to decompress during the day

What makes it great: “​​We offer awesome office perks that our employees love—exciting team events (virtual and in-person), remote work, well-being stipends, sabbaticals, and more—but our real passion is around employee growth and empowerment. Here at ThrivePass, we support and empower our employees to be their best selves. Opinions and ideas are valued and encouraged at every level of our company. Driven by courage, authenticity, resourcefulness, and excellence, we pride ourselves on embodying these core values in every aspect of our business.”

48. Pairin

Location: Denver, Colorado
Focus:
Number of employees: 17
Average salary: $131,900
Vacation time: Unlimited PTO

Perks: An annual team retreat in the mountains with families; Friday happy hours and monthly team gatherings; espresso machine, nitro coffee, and local craft beer; a dog-friendly office complete with dog food and poop bags; 100 percent coverage options for medical, dental, and vision insurance; a discount at a local climbing gym; and jam nights, when team members bring their musical talents to the office for guitar playing and singing

What makes it great: “One of our key company values is ‘value the whole person.’ That means we recognize that your work affects your whole life, including your family, friends, health, hobbies, etc. And those things affect your work. When they are all fulfilled and moving in the direction you want them to go, you are the best version of yourself, which in turn is best for the company and everyone in your life. That’s our number-one goal. As a company founded by coaches, the Pairin team really walks the walk of professional development. Each manager is trained as a coach and each employee is individually coached to grow professionally and personally.”

49. BrainStorm

Location: American Fork, Utah
Focus:
Number of employees: 118
Average salary: Unspecified
Vacation time: 12 days PTO to start, plus three paid volunteer days

Perks: Access to four corporate ski passes; national-park pass reimbursement; hybrid work environment; monthly charity events; office snacks and beverages; Financial Peace University course reimbursement; standing desks, along with treadmill and cycling workstations; foosball, Ping-Pong, and spike ball; $50 monthly to buy a meal for uniformed service members; $100 to do good during the holidays; a ten-day sabbatical after ten years; and adventure-grant opportunities for things like climbing Kilimanjaro, mountain-biking Iceland, or fishing remote rivers in Chile

What makes it great: “While we have the fun perks like snacks and office games, our culture has deep roots. One of the most obvious manifestations of our culture is in the numerous giving-back events throughout the year. It’s easy to say that giving back is part of your culture, but we take six days every year for community service and outreach. These events tend to be among the most memorable and important for every member of the BrainStorm team.”

50. TrackVia

Location: Denver, Colorado
Focus:
Number of employees: 77
Average salary: $110,200
Vacation time: Unlimited PTO

Perks: A wellness room and on-site gym, paid sabbaticals, regular happy hours, and team outings like hikes and baseball games

What makes it great: “TrackVia isn’t the typical office. We spar intellectually over the office shuffleboard one moment and then grab a pizza together the next. We believe in rallying great people with diverse backgrounds and considerable skills to deliver the industry’s best products and experience for our customers. We work hard but also keep things fun, casual, and highly creative. We challenge ourselves, tackle problems in clever ways, and genuinely just like each other.”

Honorable Mentions

829 Studios

Location: Boston, Massachusetts
Focus:

Arts & Letters Creative Co.

Location: Richmond, Virginia
Focus:

Axcient

Location: Denver, Colorado
Focus:

Backbone Media

Location: Carbondale, Colorado
Focus:

Backcountry Hunters & Anglers

Location: Missoula, Montana
Focus:

Best Version Media

Location: Brookfield, Wisconsin
Focus:

Charles Cunniffe Architects

Location: Aspen, Colorado
Focus:

Cotopaxi

Location: Salt Lake City, Utah
Focus:

Eagle County Paramedic Services

Location: Edwards, Colorado
Focus:

Egg Strategy

Location: Denver, Colorado
Focus:

EverCheck

Location: Jacksonville Beach, Florida
Focus:

Evoke at Cascades

Location: Bend, Oregon
Focus:

Evoke Entrada

Location: Santa Clara, Utah
Focus:

First Descents

Location: Denver, Colorado
Focus:

Fuse

Location: Burlington, Vermont
Focus:

G5

Location: Bend, Oregon
Focus:

Geographic Expeditions (GeoEx)

Location: San Francisco, California
Focus:

Global Rescue

Location: Lebanon, New Hampshire
Focus:

Go Ape

Location: Plano, Texas
Focus:

Hanson Dodge

Location: Milwaukee, Wisconsin
Focus:

Inntopia

Location: Stowe, Vermont
Focus:

Keen Footwear

Location: Portland, Oregon
Focus:

Moving Mountains

Location: Steamboat Springs, Colorado
Focus:

New Belgium Brewing

Location: Fort Collins, Colorado
Focus:

Nuun Hydration

Location: Seattle, Washington
Focus:

Oboz Footwear

Location: Bozeman, Montana
Focus:

Outlaw Partners

Location: Big Sky, Montana
Focus:

Outrider

Location: Golden, Colorado
Focus:

Pearl Izumi

Location: Louisville, Colorado
Focus:

POC Sports

Location: Park City, Utah
Focus:

Powder7

Location: Golden, Colorado
Focus:

Promotional Products Association International

Location: Irving, Texas
Focus:

Realeflow

Location: Parma Heights, Ohio
Focus:

Small Giants

Location: Denver, Colorado
Focus:

SRG (Sterling-Rice Group)

Location: Boulder, Colorado
Focus:

Stio

Location: Jackson, Wyoming
Focus:

Stream

Location: Boulder, Colorado
Focus:

TDA_Boulder

Location: Boulder, Colorado
Focus:

Technicians For Sustainability

Location: Tucson, Arizona
Focus:

The Brand Leader

Location: Greenville, South Carolina
Focus:

The Payroll Department

Location: Durango, Colorado
Focus:

Tony’s Coffee

Location: Bellingham, Washington
Focus:

USA Triathlon

Location: Colorado Springs, Colorado
Focus:

Verde Brand Communications

Location: Boulder, Colorado
Focus:

Wilderness Travel

Location: Oakland, California
Focus:

WorkBright

Location: Boulder, Colorado
Focus:

WorkInProgress

Location: Boulder, Colorado
Focus:

Editor’s Note: This story has been updated with a more recent number for Retrium’s average salary.

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Death and danger are inexorable facts of summiting MountÌęEverest, but a longtimeÌęguide thinks a new systemÌęcanÌęhelp preventÌęone of the most common issues there: high-altitude pulmonary edema (HAPE).ÌęLukasÌęFurtenbach,Ìęwho has been running expeditions in the Himalayas since 2001 and founded Furtenbach șÚÁÏłÔčÏÍűs in 2014, plans to implementÌęa new pulse oximeterÌęsystem on Everest during the 2021 season that, he claims, will make climbingÌęthe world’s tallest peak as safe as flying. (The odds of dying on Everest are about , compared toÌęabout in a plane crash.) Whether thatÌęisÌętrue or not remains to be seen.

Dr. Leo Montejo, an anesthesiologist and founder of the telemedicine company WiCis, created a system to track climbers’ health metrics on the move using I-Streme, an Android app he developed that sends live data via satellite back to Base Camp, and a Nonin WristOx2 3150 pulse oximeter. In 2019, Dr. Montejo brought a version of the system to Furtenbach to test with his team on Everest. They’ve since parted ways to develop different versions of the system.

Pulse oximeters measure oxygen saturation (SpO2) by calculating the percentage of the blood’s hemoglobin with oxygen attached to it. At sea level, 94 to 100 percent saturation is considered normal; at, say, 18,000 feet (just above Base Camp),Ìęa climber’s oxygen saturationÌęmight range from 60 to 90 percent on supplemental oxygen. Saturations below that range suggestÌęhypoxia and, in theory, could point to the onset of illnesses like HAPE, an accumulation of fluid in the lungs that can be deadly. Pulse oximeters aren’t new—they’re prevalent among hang-glider pilots and balloonists, andÌędoctors use them to monitor patients with lung disease or, lately, COVID-19. But on Everest, their use has generally been limited to Base Camp readings to gauge acclimatization. That’s partly due to a technology gap thatÌęthe newÌęsystem may be closing.

Furtenbach notes thatÌęsensors in use todayÌędon’tÌęwork when climbers are active,Ìęwhich is the most essential time to gauge saturation. “SpO2 is the main indicator for whether somebody’s developing altitude-related health problems, like HAPE,” he says. If guides and SherpasÌęcan constantly measure a climber’s oxygen-saturationÌęlevels while they’re active, Furtenbach’s thinking goes, theyÌęcan keep a better eye on clients and use the readings as a data-based impetus to increase oxygen flow or turn back at-risk climbers before the summit. In the past, Furtenbach says, making these types of decisions “was always not based on facts, it was always a decision based on our experience—hard to understand for the client. Now we can just show theÌęnumbers and say, ‘It would not be wise if you go on.’”

Furtenbach’s team, which operates on Everest’s north side,Ìętested the system last year with one of the team’s guides, three clients, and Dr. Montejo acting as expedition doctor. Climbers using the oximeter wear a sensor on aÌęfinger inside gloves that Furtenbach adapted and a large display on their wrist outside their down suit. As with all climbers who are using supplemental oxygen, a regulator is attached toÌęaÌębackpack strap. The new system, which utilizes Summit Oxygen cylinders and mask, allows a flow rate ofÌęup to eight liters per minute, according to Furtenbach, an increaseÌęfrom the standard maximum rate of four liters per minute. With one element still in testing, wearersÌęsleeping in the higher camps wake toÌęthe system’sÌęvibrating alarmÌęif oxygen-saturationÌęlevels drop below some preset critical value (typically about 85 percent, though the number is individualized for each climber). Furtenbach says that everything worked well during these on-mountain tests.Ìę(He has since switched to another app, still in development, which he hopes will work better at very high altitudes.)

A complementary benefit of the system could be to conserve supplemental oxygen. “Because we don’t say you climb on four liters a minuteÌęor whatever,” Furtenbach explains. “We say you climb on the oxygen-flow rate that your body needs. And this is very individual.”

Protocol for using the oximeter is theoretically straightforward. Sherpas check clients’ oxygen-saturationÌęreadings every ten minutes and, if necessary, adjust oxygen flow. When satellite connections allow, real-time data also streams down to Base Camp,ÌęwhereÌęan expedition doctorÌęmonitors and radios guides if someone’s numbers are consistently low (when the connection fails, guides radio down to base camp. In such cases, a climber’s Sherpa will increase the oxygen-flow rate by half a liter per minute, as many as three times. If there’s no improvement, they’d likely decide to turn a client back.Ìę

ThisÌęmethod, however, strikes some as problematic. “To make a decision about the safety of a climber based solely on a number appearing on display on the outside of a glove atÌęminus 30 degreesÌęCelsius seems to me to be closer to reckless than safe,” saysÌęMonica Piris, an expedition doctor for Alpenglow Expeditions, a rival guiding company.Ìę“Similarly, titrating someone’s oxygen flow based on this number also seems crazy. People who are using supplementary oxygen to climb Everest should be using as much oxygen as they possibly can.”

Dr. Piris considers pulse oximeters fickle devices in the best mountaineering circumstances. Readings bounce around constantly from motion, which blurs readings, or from poor circulation in cold fingers.ÌęBelow 80 percent saturation, levels in which Everest climbers typically live, readingsÌębecome less accurate. (At this point, the data is no longer based on comparisons to actual blood samples done in labs, and pulse-oximeter companies aren’t required by the FDA to report data below 70 percent saturation.)ÌęThe new sensor, madeÌęby Nonin and designed especially for active measurement, works “perfectly”Ìęwhile climbing in the cold, FurtenbachÌęsays.Ìę

Yet even if oxygen-saturationÌęnumbers are accurate, the spectrum of well-being that oxygen saturation indicates varies so widely between individuals that it’sÌęimpossible to create a one-size-fits-all protocol. The main crevasse for Furtenbach’s team to hurdle is that there’s still no consensus for normal oxygenation ranges on Everest. Because pulse oximeters have never been used while summiting, Dr. Piris notes that “we have no idea if it’s normal to summit with saturations in the fifties, in the seventies, or in the forties.”

The new system still bears promise. “It’s potentially great,” says Peter Hackett, a pioneer in altitude research and director of the Institute for Altitude Medicine, who has also summited Everest. “There’s no question in my mind that it makes the climb safer, because they can diagnose pulmonary edema more quickly. That’s the main reason. In cases of HAPE, SpO2 will always be very low.”Ìę

A lot goes into an oxygen-saturationÌęreading, and while useful, theÌędataÌęcan be deceptive. If a climber takes a few big breaths at 18,000 feet elevation, Dr.ÌęHackett says, their readingÌęmight jump from 70 to 80. During active climbing, oxygen saturation drops, because red blood cells go through the lungs more quickly when you exercise. There isn’t enough time for them to equalize with the oxygen in your lungs. Any pulse oximeter measures the amount of oxygen at your fingertip in a given moment, oxygen that was in your lungs about 30 seconds earlier. The lag time makes it tricky for guides to interpret the number, depending on whether they’re looking for oxygenation while you’re active or at rest. (It would likely be difficult, given the terrain, for a guide to reach a client in time to observe active oxygenation.) And some people are just shallowÌębreathers at high altitude, so their numbers will always be lower. It doesn’t mean they’ll have problems.

These complexities may turn thorny when guides and clients become too reliant on oxygen saturationÌęto direct their actions. “If a climber wants to show theirÌęguide that their number is high,” Dr.ÌęHackett notes, “all theyÌęhaveÌęto do is take three or four big breaths.”Ìę

Two-time Everest summiterÌęKuntal Joisher, who is based in Mumbai, India, and who watched Furtenbach testing the new pulse oximeter atÌęthe north-side Base Camp last year, feels that such a device would only complicate his climb. Joisher says he would have toÌętake oxygen-saturation numbers into account contextually but would never change oxygen flow based on that alone.Ìę

“If I’m very near the summit,” Joisher says, “my decision would be very different than if I’m very far from the summit. That device does not know where I am. Knowing Lukas, I’m sure he’s going to be really rigorous and diligent about using the oximeter. But you still need to know what you’re doing as a guide, as a Sherpa. You need to understand how to look at a client, how to talk to a client, and how to understand where the client is.”Ìę

Like Dr. Hackett, Joisher believes oxygen saturation is best used in tandem withÌęother symptoms: headache, nausea, fatigue, loss of mental acuity. “Let’s say you look at a client and think, Man, this guy’s knackered, he’s not acclimatizing,”ÌęJoisher says. “Then you look at the reading and see the oxygen saturation is 55. So you know, OK, what I’m thinking is actually true, let’s ask this guy to turn around. Instead of saying, ‘Hey let’s look at the reading. It’s 55. You need to go down,’Ìęmaybe it’s just a malfunction. Maybe they’reÌęjust tired, and if they restÌęa bit, they’ll improve.”

“The SpO2 and HR [heart-rate]Ìęreadings would be just one part of the decision-making process,” Furtenbach says of his team’s plan for the system. “But a very substantial one, since biometrics don’t lie, and the devices don’tÌęhaveÌęemotions, summit fever, or other motives.”

In the meantime, Dr. Hackett’sÌęadvice to FurtenbachÌęis: collect data, get some experience, and empirically try to determine the oxygen levels at which climbers perform well. “Look at it as a research project, because we just don’t know,” Dr. Hackett says. “At this point, it definitely has to be considered experimental. I would consider using them to make on-mountain decisionsÌęa bit dicey.”

Furtenbach thinks the pulse ox system is ready for climbers, though his team is using the lack of a 2020 Everest season to field-test other sensor additions to monitor metrics like heart rate and hydration levels. “Everybody will be using this on our team next season,” he says, although he agrees that more use and data will help perfect the system. “We would like some more experience with clients, because not many people have used it so far.” Furtenbach wouldÌęlike to have at least one full season using the pulse oximeter with a dozenÌęto two dozenÌęclimbers before making another round of tweaks, which he suspects would enable Furtenbach șÚÁÏłÔčÏÍűs to offer the system as a whole package, including software and hardware, for other teams to use in future seasons.

Joisher thinks the new system mightÌęproveÌęmost helpful to Sherpas who don’t know their clients’ abilities well on commercial expeditions like Furtenbach’s. It would give them another piece of information for smart decision-making. As for himself, he prefers the hard-won data of pure experience. “Having that good trust, having that good partnership, that’s the style I like,” JoisherÌęsays.Ìę“I don’t like depending on technology so much. I don’t see this as being a game changer.”Ìę

Other guiding companies may consider incorporating the system into their protocol if it becomes available in 2022 or beyond. “Overall, I think more data is better than less,” Adrian Ballinger, founder of Alpenglow Expeditions and a friendly rival to Furtenbach, concedes. “So if it’s possible to get accurate pulse-oximeter information on a real-time basis, that sounds great. But I’m not sure it would significantly change my decision-making. Climbing Everest with a fully certified guide company that runs the mountain in an ethical way, with small groups and low client-guideÌęratios, is incredibly safe as it is.”

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I can’t tell you how often I’ve peered into the recycling bin with a questionable item in hand, likely made from a complicated blend of materials that left me hesitant yet hopeful, and then dropped it in with a shrug. This is called “wishcycling,” and it refers to the act of wrongly putting a material into curbside bins with the hope that it will be recycled. My go-to attitude was: Let them figure it out. That’s their job. But in these days of awakening one’s self to better habits and spreading the light, wherever we find it, a nagging discomfort lurked.

So I began to investigate. What actually happens to this stuff?ÌęAnd what could I do to maximize my positive contribution? What I found amid the tangles of a sometimes complicated industry was simple in essence. It isn’t their job. It’s mine, and it’s yours. The onus to understand and ease the processes we take part in is ours. For the outdoor gearheads among us, we can start with the packaging our toys come in.

First, recycling in the U.S. is not totally broken, as has been claimedÌę. The good news is that while it is ailing, it’s not wrecked. China, once the dumping ground for nearly half of the world’s recycling waste, threw a wrench in the industry’s spokes when its “National Sword” policy banned imports of most plastics and other recyclable materials two years ago. But that decision ultimately spurred domestic innovation and funding towardÌęinitiatives like refurbished paper mills and plastics-recovery facilities. Recycling is an evolving industry, and we must learn how to evolve our behavior alongside it.

I decided to see what work was required on my end and what happened to materials after they left my bin. To do this, I chose an ordinary gear purchase and then tracked its discarded packaging through the recycling process from my house in Santa Fe. I opted for a tent from the North Face. The journey that follows reflects the most common path through the system, though its details differ from region to region. It’s a simplified picture of a systemÌędriven bothÌęby technological and economic complexity.

My tent arrives simply, with minimal packaging:Ìęone large cardboard box, a flat piece of corrugated cardboard liner inside, and soft plastic encasing the tent itself, called case wrap. Inside the wrap, the only other disposable materials are the tag and a one-page instruction manual made of mixed paper. Their journey? To be reborn into new material without getting lost to the landfill along the way.

I check (done easily via a Google search) for specifics on which materials the facilities accept. Then I prepare them the best I can by discarding any attached materials that either can’t be recycled or would complicate the process. Removing the tape and labels from the cardboard box isn’t necessary—the tape will eventually separate at the paper mill during pulping and be skimmed off—but doing so puts less waste burden on the facilities, so I do it and throw them away. I cut and flatten the cardboard box and put it in my recycling bin with my other recyclable items, since Santa Fe has one mixed, single-stream bin for its approved materials, which excludes glass and organics (Santa Fe residents have to transport glass to recycling centers themselves because of the cost of transport). The other panel of cardboard and the mixed paper go in the bin as is. I move the bin to the end of my driveway as usual, ready for pickup. Santa Fe accepts all plastic containers, though most areas only take number-oneÌęand number-twoÌęplastics. (Check the bottom of the object for the plastic type, and cross-reference that with what your municipality accepts. Number-one plasticÌęis thin and clear, as found in disposable water bottles, while number twoÌęis thicker, like detergent containers and milk jugs.) Soft, flexible plastics like case wrap should never go in curbside bins, for reasons we’ll come back to, so I leave it out.

My local trash service also collects my recycling. Cardboard and paper tumble into a different segment of the truck than glass and aluminum. Because Santa Fe operates on a “hub and spoke” system, in which smaller municipalities funnel materials to a central hub, the cardboard and paper rumble across town to the Buckman Road Recycling andÌęTransfer Station. HereÌęthey’re loaded onto bigger trucks alongside plastics and transferred to Albuquerque’s materials-recovery facility (MRF), Friedman Recycling.

Friedman, a single-stream facility that moves 30 tons of material per hour, sorts everything by size and material robotically, like many modern MRFs. The truck dumps the cardboard and paper onto the tipping floor, from which a loader operator pushes them into the metering bin. The bin feeds them into a conveyer, carried at speed to the presort station, where human hands give a first quick pass to extract problematic objects, like plastic bags, PVC, and greasy pizza boxes. Both cardboard and paper make it through, still together and surrounded by assorted plastics and newspaper. Even a few covert plastic bags sneak in unseen. Too late to worry about that now, though it will cause problems later. Onward.

The pieces carry on to the first disc screen, a vertically rotating maw of formidable teeth spaced tenÌęinches apart. Cardboard surfs over the screen, and paper, with a finalÌębreezy wave, falls to a separate debris roll screen—a gauntlet of horizontal rollers that further sort materials by size. Plastics ride along beside the paper. A single plastic bag wraps lazily around the roll screen’s rotating steel arms, but paper bounces over the two-inch gaps, shot with air puffs. Glass breaks all around it and slips through the gaps along with other smaller, heavier items. Every passing second leaves paper increasingly alone with its compatriots.

The paper then approaches yet another sorter screen with plastic containers. The screen’s angled, gnashing discs grab newspaper and fling it upward and away. Paper and the last of the plastic containers bopping around it fall through the screen and onto another conveyer. Cardboard and paper now sit in their respective holding containers to wait for the fibers baler. They are exactly where they need to be. Each material is fed into the baler separately, which compacts and wraps them into 1,500-pound bales that are loaded into trailers that will truck them to the nearest paper mill.

Now the whirring sound of the sorters’ spinning maws ceases. The MRF shuts down for two hours while workers tie into harnesses to climb along the discs and hand-cut each of the plastic bags that wishcyclers like my former self sent into the facility where they gunk up the process. The workers toss them unceremoniously. It costs the facility more money to transport the bags to the landfill along with other nonrecyclables, renderingÌęthe process more expensive and laborious. It’s up to us to form better habits so our communities can afford to implement ever more efficient recycling programs.

Meanwhile, the case wrap has another, better fate in store. Its kind are too often dismissed as trashÌęor else doomed to burden MRFs by the nation’s misguided wishcyclers. But I’d checked that it would be accepted, along with other plastic bags, at several grocery storeÌę around town. While traditional MRFs can’t handle flexible plastic,Ìę. Designating a plastic grocery bag, for example, asÌę is a function of consumer behavior and market demands. If you use a bag once and toss it, as most of us do, it’s single use. While plastic bags are reusable, case wrap is less so. I take mine to a bin at Sprouts and bid it farewell. A recycler picks it up and ships it to a closed-loop facility—where materials are recycled back into the same product—designed to handle plastic retail bags and other film plastics.

The case wrap is trucked to such a facility’s loading dock, and soon it scoots down a conveyor belt where workers remove contaminants by hand. Down the line, it’s jostled through float tanks and magnets, where some of its neighbors, including a stray bowling ball, are plucked out as waste and separated. It’s chopped to smaller sizes and sent through a series of extrusion processes that will melt and scrub it of grime.

The plastic formerly known as case wrap is now in the form of goop encased in tubes. It hardens with cool, recirculated water and is chopped into small pellets. Because this is a closed-loop system, it will become another plastic bag—or parts of many—in the manufacturing plant next door. ThereÌęit’s dumped into a heated vat that melts the pellets back into a liquid state, then siphoned up a tube where it solidifies, stretches flat, and winds onto a large spool of sheeting to be cut into recycled bags.

Before long, the former case wrap, which once held a tent, will carry broccoli, bulk cashews, and a jar of local green chile mustard, because someone forgot their cloth bag. The cardboardÌęwas pulped into sheets of fiber, sold to a manufacturer, and eventually remade as a cereal box. Paper, it transpired, was also pulped and has been reincarnated as a paper-towel tube.

For materials that make it through the system even once (), this is too often the end of life. An individual material that’s recycled two or three times is remarkable, but plastics can generally go through the system tenÌętimes before losing some of their properties, and cardboard can cycle around five or six times, as long as we consumers do our part. Unfortunately, that’s rare.

As gearheads, our responsibilities areÌęclear:ÌęBuy only what you need, and use it well. Seek products from companies that opt for minimal, recyclable packaging. Let them know what you think, because you’re powerful. Reuse what you can as often as possible, and when you’ve given it a good life, don’t merely wish it well. Recycle intelligently.

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1. TDA_Boulder

Location: Boulder, Colorado
Focus:
Number of employees: 21
Average salary: $103,000
Vacation time: Three weeks paid time off (PTO) to start
Perks: Half-day summer Fridays, local brews and kombucha on tap, powder days, and fun outings like Rockies baseball games
What employeesÌęsay: “We’re incredibly fortunate to live and work in an outdoor playground. People can leave the office at lunchtime for a trail run up Mount Sanitas or head over to Boulder Creek to wet a line. AndÌęit doesn’t hurt that our office looks and feels like a ski chalet, complete with a working wintertime fireplace.”Ìę

2. Forum Phi Architecture

Location: Aspen and Carbondale, ColoradoÌęÌę
Focus:
Number of employees: 29
Average salary: $72,000
Vacation time: 18Ìędays PTO to start
Perks:ÌęA complimentary ski pass, powder days when there’sÌęmore than sixÌęinches of new snow, and hosted outings like river floats, scavenger hunts, hut trips, and BBQs in the park
What employeesÌęsay: “Our firm’s culture is based on embracing and immersing ourselves in the natural beauty around usÌęand a flexible work schedule, allowing for a solid work-life balance. That immersion allows for a boost in energy and creativity, and the effect is a better work atmosphere for our team and better design for our clients.”

3. GroundFloor Media

Location: Denver, Colorado
Focus:
Number of employees: 24
Average salary: Not provided
Vacation time: Unlimited PTO
Perks: On-tap kombucha and beer, a meditation room, a cafĂ©, a Mrs. Pac-Man machine, and a paid sabbatical after tenÌęyears
What employees say: “Our recent office renovation includes a meditationÌęroom, which offers a quiet space for employees to reset at any time throughout the workday. Team members are also greeted by a different office dogÌęon various days of the week. These pups immediately energize the moodÌęand bring a smile to our team members’ and clients’ faces.”Ìę

4. Ergodyne

Location: SaintÌęPaul, MinnesotaÌę
Focus:
Number of employees: 56
Average salary: Not provided
Vacation time: Unlimited PTO
Perks:ÌęAn on-site gym, twice-weekly yoga, company outings like wine tastings and chili cook-offs, and a wellness program that turns points for healthy activities (endurance events, yoga, eating fruits and veggies) into dollars at the year’s endÌę
What employeesÌęsay: “The general vibe, personal freedoms, and high-performing, creative environment is incredibly rewarding, and it’s sticky—meaning it results in good people staying for a long time. And let’s be honest, the few short months we have with gorgeous weather, we like our people to get outside when they can. Monthly 5Ks around the lake, half-day Fridays, tailgating before ballgames, and more allow our folks to enjoy this beautiful state at its best.”

5. Power Digital Marketing

Location: San Diego, California
Focus:
Number of employees: 95
Average salary: $68,000
Vacation time: Unlimited PTO
Perks: Healthy catered lunches, a dog-friendly office, monthly company events from yacht parties to busingÌęto local breweries, and an annual all-inclusive trip
What employeesÌęsay: “We prioritize our people over everything—except our office dogs—and strongly reinforce our ‘work hard, play hard’ mentality. When we hit our aggressive company goals at the end of the year, we celebrate big with an all-inclusive, company-wide trip. Past trips have included Hawaii, Costa Rica, and Jamaica.”

6. BSW Wealth Partners

Location: Boulder, Colorado
Focus:
Number of employees: 25
Average salary: $139,000
Vacation time:ÌęFiveÌędays PTO after 90 daysÌęto start
Perks: Annual, all-inclusive ski trips; whitewater rafting, kayaking, Iron Chef–style competitions, and go-kart racingÌęon summer fun days; local B CorpÌęcraft beers on tap; remote work options; and breathing exercises before meetings
What employeesÌęsay: “We deeply respect the importance of balance and believe it’s also important to have fun. We may find ourselves fly-fishing beautiful waters, skiing a powder day, biking a backcountry trail, or even scaling a 1,000-foot wall.ÌęșÚÁÏłÔčÏÍű might also mean yoga, meditation, or simply sharing good conversation over a cup of coffee or tea.”

7. WhippleWood CPAs

Location: Littleton, Colorado
Focus:
Number of employees: 26
Average salary: $99,200
Vacation time: 16 days PTO to start
Perks: Half-day summer Fridays, professional massages during tax season, a Zen room, employee-led lunchtime yoga, a 401K, and parking-lot skate “board” meetings
What employeesÌęsay: “We close the office early for a stress-relief event after the tax deadline. This past year, we went to Main Event for our outing. We provided a hot buffet lunch and drink coupons, and then our staff had unlimited passes for the arcade games, high ropes course, laser tag, and bowling. It was a hit.”

8. Global Citizen Year

Location: Oakland, California
Focus: A that offers cultural-immersion fellowships in Ecuador, Brazil, Senegal, and India
Number of employees: 22Ìę
Average salary: Not provided
Vacation time: Unlimited PTO
Perks: A $500 annual stipend for professional-development courses, another $100 annually to learn something new, a trip to a host country after two years, a book club, and periodic staff retreats in a host country
What employeesÌęsay: “After three years, we get to—and are encouraged to take—a one-month paid sabbatical to learn, grow, and recharge our batteries. One staff member went to Mexico City to do an intensive language-immersion course, and another did a trek in Nepal.”

9. Western Environmental Law Center

Location: Santa Fe, New Mexico
Focus:
Number of employees: 20
Average salary: $71,300
Vacation time:Ìę20Ìędays PTO annually, with a maximum tenÌędays that can roll over to the following year
Perks: Periodic days off for good weather, anÌęannual staff retreat, and a three-month paid sabbatical every five years
What employeesÌęsay: “We’re small enough that we all know and care about each otherÌębut big enough to take down powerful corporate polluters and government scofflaws. Likewise, we get to do high-level, large-scale work and execute it in places we know and love to explore—places like the Valle Vidal in New Mexico and the Rogue River in Oregon.”

10. SheerID

Location: Portland and Eugene, Oregon
Focus:
Number of employees: 103
Average salary: Not provided
Vacation time: Unlimited PTO, but a minimum of three weeks each year is mandatory
Perks: Cold brew on tap, monthly catered meals, an on-site gym, a stocked kitchen, and commuter reimbursement
What employeesÌęsay: “Our designer commutes and doesn’t have a car. She had her bike stolen,Ìęand literally within a day, everybody had chipped in to buy her a new bike. That speaks to our culture here. It’s an environment where everyone is together. Even our work is based on helping out others.”

11. Duft Watterson

Location: Boise, Idaho, and San Francisco, California
Focus:
Number of employees: 15
Average salary: Not provided
Vacation time: Minimum three weeks PTO to start, plus more on request
Perks: Periodic Friday afternoons off to ride, ski, or float the Boise River to a microbrewery;Ìęa refrigerator stocked with microbrews;Ìępaid lunches out and happy hours;Ìęprofit sharing;Ìęand an annual, all-expenses-paid weekend to a mountain resort for staff and families
What employees say: “‘One hundred and eightyÌędegrees from Madison Avenue’ isn’t just our tagline, it’s our mantra. Look outside our windows [in Boise]Ìęand you see views of our tree-lined historic downtown and the Boise Mountains and Bogus Basin. We take breaks for mountain-bike rides, skiing, or floatÌętrips down the Boise RiverÌęto clear our heads.”

12. The Frontier Project

Location: Richmond, Virginia
Focus:
Number of employees: 18
Average salary: $77,500
Vacation time: Three weeks PTO the first year, unlimited PTO thereafter
Perks:ÌęA twice-annual health and wellness credit toward things like race fees, meditation retreats, Reiki treatments, or stand-up paddleboards; CEO-led yoga and meditation sessions; paid days off for volunteering
What employeesÌęsay: “When you’re ‘in it,’ you can take yourself too seriously and lose sight of the good stuff, so we have very intentionally set-up practices to help us stay sane, healthy, and grounded. We bring our dogs to work, welcome new babies to join their parents during post-leave transitions, and invite friends to set up shop at our studio for the day.”

13. Pairin

Location: Denver, Colorado
Focus:
Number of employees: 21
Average salary: $95,000
Vacation time: Unlimited PTO
Perks: An annual mountain retreat, Friday happy hours, indoor bike racks, team hikes, a local climbing-gym discount, musical jam nights, and employer-paid health care
What employeesÌęsay: “As a company founded by coaches, the Pairin team walks the walk of professional development. Each manager is trained as a coach, and each employee is individually coached to grow professionally and personally.”

14. SmartEtailing

Location: Boulder, Colorado
Focus:
Number of employees: 57
Average salary: Not provided
Vacation time:Ìę14Ìędays PTO to start
Perks: Happy-hour rides to local breweries, a dog-friendly office, back-patio meditation twice a week, partially reimbursed gym memberships, profit sharing, and deals on bikes and gear
What employeesÌęsay: “Employees can earn commuter credits for riding their bike into the office, which can be used towardÌępurchasing cycling gear. What we do is bigger than helping people sell bikes. The company encourages, rewards, and supports active lifestyles and giving back.”

15. Choozle

Location: Denver, Colorado
Focus:
Number of employees: 53
Average salary: Not provided
Vacation time: Three weeks PTO to start
Perks: Board-game lunches, a kickball league, a $100 monthly health and wellness stipend, a $250 quarterly education stipend, day trips to ski Arapahoe Basin, and a biannual summit in Colorado’s mountains with a free day for massages, skiing, or whitewater rafting
What employeesÌęsay: “I was told my first week by both cofounders that, as a team member at Choozle, my opinions and ideas are not only heard and valued but encouraged. That sentiment means more than stocking the kitchen with beer kegs and snacks—although that helps. I’ve never felt like I couldn’t bring an idea to the forefront, not even in my first few days.”

16. BridgeView IT

Location: Denver, Colorado
Focus:
Number of employees: 16
Average salary: Not provided
Vacation time: Three weeks PTO to start, unlimited after five years
Perks: Half-day summer Fridays, office dogs, work-from-home flexibility, an on-site gym and professional massages, a stocked fridge with beer and wine, opening-day Colorado Rockies games, annual ski trips, quarterly paid days off to volunteer, and a luxury watch on your fifth anniversaryÌęÌę
What employeesÌęsay: “In-office massages, team outings, ski trips, an early out on Friday—those are just the pluses. The real deal is in the daily work rhythm. [The company] supports us individually in how we each perform our best, in the office and outside the office.”

17. Lone Cone

Location: Boise, Idaho
Focus: , and
Number of employees: 18
Average salary: $58,000
Vacation time: Unlimited PTO
Perks: Flexible scheduling, the ability to work remote, a downtown office just steps away from the foothills, gear discounts, routine “play days” for boating or skiing, and “Amazing Race” runsÌęthrough Boise
What employeesÌęsay: “The great outdoors and driving sales on Amazon might seem like polar opposites, but we find ways to bridge the gap. When the weather’s nice, we open the warehouse door and bring the outside in during group meetings.”

18. Mathys+Potestio

Location: Portland, Oregon
Focus:
Number of employees: 25
Average salary: $70,000
Vacation time: Unlimited PTO
Perks: Every other Friday off in the summer, fully funded health care, a commuting stipend, a Costco membership, and twice-annual “fun days” for hiking, whitewater rafting, wine tasting, brewery hopping, and cutthroat cornhole tournaments
What employeesÌęsay: “We love our perks, from office dogs to Trail Blazers tickets to our beer-and-snack-stocked fridge. But the true benefit of working at M and P is the high level of trust and responsibility each employee has. It’s a simple—but still rare—recipe: hire great people that know how to perform and have fun, and give them the freedom and support to do both.”

19. Bonusly

Location: Boulder, Colorado
Focus:
Number of employees: 28
Average salary: $99,000
Vacation time: Unlimited PTO
Perks: Organized outings, like twice-weekly afternoon climbing trips, hikes around Boulder, and skiing; $500 annually toward gym memberships or yoga classes; year-round bonuses for fitness gear; sparkling water, local beer, and kombucha on tap
What employeesÌęsay: “We use our own Bonusly product to recognize and thank team members for helping each other out, accomplishing great results, and going above and beyond. Team members get to both feel appreciated for their contributions and also turn their accomplishments at work into rewards, like hiking and camping gear, donations to their favorite charity, and even a new puppy.”

20. Spawn Ideas

Location: Anchorage, Alaska
Focus:
Number of employees: 43
Average salary: $88,500
Vacation time: 12Ìędays PTO to start, and an additional four weeks (on top of 21 days) after 15 years
Perks:ÌęAn in-office kegerator,Ìęan in-office gym,Ìęhalf-day summer Fridays,Ìępaid time off for volunteering,Ìęweekly organized hikes,Ìęemployee stock ownership,Ìęfamily ice fishing,Ìęa “Pawternity leave” to bond with new pets or grieve when one passes, andÌęaÌę$200 annual bonus to put toward state-park passes, ski passes, and race-entry fees
What employeesÌęsay: “Spawners often do more recreationally in a weekend than people dream about for their bucket list. Our Anchorage office overlooks the Tony Knowles Coastal Trail—walking, skiing, biking, and ocean views—and as bona fide perpetual adventurers, we enjoy the camaraderie that comes with challenging work and enviable outdoor fun.”

21. Uncharted

Location: Denver, Colorado
Focus:
Number of employees: 15
Average salary: Not provided
Vacation time:Ìę25 paid flex days, plus 10 holidays, and your birthday off
Perks: Work from anywhere on Tuesdays and Fridays;Ìęa snack-stocked kitchen;Ìęan annual staff retreat in the mountains; a monthly team activity, such as biking to a local park, re-creating school field days, or cheering for the Rockies; and impromptu get-togethers, like the staff volleyball-league games, board-game nights, and concerts at Red Rocks
What employeesÌęsay: “Our team works tirelessly to support people who are tackling the world’s biggest problems, but we know it’s important to make time for our other passions. Our incredible time-off policy has led to visiting slobbery sled dogs in Alaska, exploring and eating our way acrossÌęEurope, and braving extended backpacking trips in Colorado.”

22. Montana Wilderness Association

Location: Helena, Montana
Focus:
Number of employees: 25
Average salary: $52,800
Vacation time: 24 days PTO, plus a week off during the winter holidays
Perks: Four paid trail days annually to explore the Montana wilderness;Ìęan annual three-day staff adventure, like backpacking or a river trip; aÌępaid three-month sabbatical after five years;Ìębonuses for green commutes and exercise;Ìęwalking meetings;Ìęindoor bike storage;Ìęand an annual WildFestÌęshindig around the state for work, with hiking and beers.
What employeesÌęsay: “We have six dog-friendly offices, and each one is in a skiing, paddling, biking, hiking, fishing or climbing hot spot across the state, so a dawn-patrol or after-work adventure is always on the cards.”

23. Creative Alignments

Location: Boulder, Colorado
Focus:
Number of employees: 30
Average salary: Not provided
Vacation time: Three weeks PTO to start
Perks: Catered lunch every Wednesday, impromptu midday group walks on a creek path, in-office showers, a softball team, healthy snacks, a dog-friendly office, and an annual paid ski day and hiking day
What employeesÌęsay: “CA has a very open and flexible work environment, with people supported and empowered to do their job well. This does not just apply to professional support. If someone in the company is in need, professionally or personally, there is a line of people available to help them at the drop of a hat.”

24. commonFont

Location: Bozeman, Montana
Focus:
Number of employees: 21
Average salary: Not provided
Vacation time: Unlimited PTO
Perks: Company-volunteer events to maintain trails, animal-T-shirt Fridays, themed bowling parties, fully stocked snack bar, craft-brew kegerator, catered lunches, and company happy hours
What employeesÌęsay: “commonFont’s high-energy teammates engage in monthly fitness challenges that often develop spontaneously. When visitors arrive and the entire office is doing wall sits, burpees, or star jumps, we try to encourage them to join in.”

25. Avid4 șÚÁÏłÔčÏÍű

Location: Boulder, Colorado
Focus:
Number of employees: 22
Average salary: Not provided
Vacation time: Unlimited PTO
Perks: Monthly outings to crags, tails, and creeks;Ìęfree use of Avid4 gear (mountain bikes,Ìęcanoes, kayaks, stand-up paddleboards); free bike tune-ups; an annual, paid-for multi-day adventure to Moab, Utah, each spring; reimbursed climbing-gym memberships; an annual three-day mountain retreat; pro deals on gear; and an anniversary program that rewards full-time staff annually with branded merchandise, money for outdoor equipment, and a one-month paid vacation with a flight and a stipend to anywhere in the world
What employeesÌęsay: “We’re lucky. We get to go rock climbing and mountain biking, paddling, and hiking with kids, so it’s a relatively easy job for us. And we have a lot of fun stories about people meeting at Avid and falling in love.”Ìę

26. CampMinder

Location: Boulder, Colorado
Focus:
Number of employees: 55
Average salary: Not provided
Vacation time: Unlimited PTO
Perks: Weekly seasonal-produce deliveries; a meditation room; a $300 annual wellness allowance; outings to breweries, arcades, and camp-inspired relay races; a program called Love Leaves in which employees enterÌęfor an end-of-year prize, like an all-expense-paid trip to South America
What employeesÌęsay: “Our office is full of ‘camp people,’ which in our humble opinionÌęare the absolute best kind of people: The ones you’d want to skip rocks on the water next to at sunset. The ones you love to laugh with, or at, as they plunge their face into a whipped-cream pie to fish out exactly ten Skittles as fast they possibly can.”

27. LifeOmic

Location: Indianapolis, Indiana
Focus:
Number of employees: 69
Average salary: $125,000
Vacation time: 16 days PTO to start
Perks: Annual pool parties; free gym memberships; weekly catered lunches; flexible work schedules; a breakroom with beer, wine, and snacks;Ìęand a biannual all-expenses-paid retreat in Salt Lake City (skiing in the winter, camping in the summer)
What employeesÌęsay: “How many companies get to go spend two weeks at their CEO’s house in Utah with 70 of their coworkers each year? These trips include a professional chef, morning yoga, skiing down the Park City slopes, and camping in the Uinta Mountains. Companies that tent together, with no electricity, plumbing, or cell service, win together.”

28. Trineo

Location: Boulder, Colorado
Focus:
Number of employees: 15
Average salary: $110,000
Vacation time:ÌęFourÌęweeks PTO
Perks:ÌęAÌępaid volunteer day,Ìęweekly yoga,Ìęan on-site gym, and the annual TrineoCon,Ìęconsisting of mountain biking, ski trips, helicopter rides, or water-skiingÌę
What employeesÌęsay: “We’ve introduced a new program called Seva Days. SevaÌęis the Sanskrit word for “service,”Ìęand formally, it meansÌę“selfless service.”ÌęDuring our 2019 TrineoCon, we will be spending part of our day helping improve our planet and the impact we have on it.”Ìę

29. SportRx

Location: San Diego, California
Focus:
Number of employees: 65
Average salary: Not provided
Vacation time: Unlimited PTO
Perks: Annual ski trips to Mammoth and Big Bear, California; Padres games; lunchtime mountain-bike rides; an on-site warehouse gym;Ìęand free or discounted bike and snow gear
What employeesÌęsay: “Yeah, we’ve got beer on tap, and there’s free food, and we go to baseball games, and we do mountain-biking and skiing events. All that stuff’s cool. But the really special thing at SportRx is that if you have some greatness in you, this is the place you can let it out, and it will shine, and it will be noticed, and we’ll help get it out of you. If you think you were meant to live a big life, then your goals can be achieved here.”

30. Sterling-Rice Group

Location: Boulder, Colorado
Focus:
Number of employees: 132
Average salary: Not provided
Vacation time: 17 days PTO to start
Perks: Beer and kombucha on tap;Ìęyoga at the local farmers’ market;Ìępaid fees for sports teams like kickball, basketball, and volleyball;Ìęan all-company powder day at the local ski hill;Ìęcompany bikes;Ìęand on-site massage and acupuncture
What employeesÌęsay: “We’ve participated in the Ragnar relay race sinceÌę2015. This yearÌęthe SRG team consisted of eight employees, which won the corporate division by more than an hour.”

31. FlexJobs

Location: Remote
Focus:Ìę
Number of employees: 57
Average salary: Not provided
Vacation time: Unlimited PTO
Perks: Virtual desk flow yoga and belly-dance classes; annual subscriptions to a meditation app; and a “clean living” stipend for fitness activities like race registrations, paddleboard classes, or fitness boot camps
What employeesÌęsay: “We’ve hiked and biked a total of 335-plusÌęmiles as a team over the course of a month, by logging our miles in a Slack group and holding one another accountable to our fitness goals.”Ìę

32. Shine United

Location: Madison, Wisconsin
Focus:
Number of employees: 44
Average salary: Not provided
Vacation time: Two weeks PTO to start
Perks:ÌęA rock-climbing club, sport-watching parties, weekly “Beer 30” gatherings at the downstairs bar, half-day summer Fridays, and a $10,000 sabbatical stipend after tenÌęyears
What employeesÌęsay: “Working at Shine means turning up in the morning to find a mimosa and Bloody Mary bar after a big campaign win. Or biking to the food carts at lunch or the downtown farmers’ market with colleagues.”

33. Realeflow

Location: Parma Heights, Ohio
Focus:
Number of employees: 39
Average salary: $74,000
Vacation time: Unlimited PTO
Perks: Half-day summer Fridays; work-from-home flexibility; company outings, like Cleveland Indians games; a three-week paid sabbatical after six years with two round-trip tickets to anywhere in the world; and a fridge stocked with healthy snacks, local beer, and spiked seltzer
What employeesÌęsay: “We are totally dedicated to making working at Realeflow a fun, laid-back experience that allows everyone the time and flexibility to always be able to put family first.”ÌęÌę

34. Young &ÌęLaramore

Location: Indianapolis, Indiana
Focus:
Number of employees: 60
Average salary: Not provided
Vacation time: Two weeks PTO to start
Perks: Company bikes for riding around downtown; showers and lockers for workday runs and rides; a subsidized YMCA membership; a room for meditation, prayer, or quiet time; beer Thursdays; company events, like softball, euchre nights, or citywide pedal-pub races; and a two-day retreat each spring in the hills of southern IndianaÌę
What employeesÌęsay: “We offer every employee a hundred bucks to spend on something that feeds their creative side. We call it the Y&L Creativity Fund. And people are doing cool stuff with it: taking cooking classes, learning calligraphy, studying improv, getting a new guitar. Anything counts, as long as it inspires you or helps you see the world differently or gives you tools to create.”

35. Promotional Products Association International

Location: Irving, Texas
Focus:
Number of employees: 78
Average salary: Not provided
Vacation time: 18 days PTO to start
Perks: An annual animal-themed obstacle race to raise money for animal rescue; team-building fitness challenges, like marshmallow archery, black-light dodgeball, axÌęthrowing, and escape rooms; volunteer walks for a cause; chair massages; an outdoor patio; and flexible summer hours
What employeesÌęsay: “PPAI is dedicated to our team’s quality work life, whichÌęinvolves committees that organize our annual Race for the Rescues and cornhole Tournament andÌęhostÌętwo annual staff outings, along with quarterly birthday celebrations, Halloween-costume contests, chili cook-offs, and food-truck treats.”

36. East West Partners

Location: Denver, Colorado
Focus:
Number of employees: 773
Average salary: Not provided
Vacation time: 12 days PTO to start
Perks: Regular ski and hike breaks; organized ski days; an annual wellness incentive equal to the value of a local mountain-resort ski pass; free fitness classes; organized events, like kickball games, softball leagues, Rockies games, and trips to Moab, Utah; a company snowshoe-running team; and an annual ski-hut trip
What employeesÌęsay: “East West commits to supporting wellness by sponsoring an employee snowshoe team to participate in the Beaver CreekÌęMountain Running SeriesÌęand funding windbreaker team jackets. These races are really a fun way to meet some other coworkers and enjoy a healthy mountain adventure.”

37. Southwest Michigan First

Location: Kalamazoo, Michigan
Focus:
Number of employees: 27
Average salary: $97,000
Vacation time: 15 days PTO to start
Perks: Fully stocked kitchen, half-day summer Fridays, chair massages, and HIIT and yoga classes in the courtyard
What employeesÌęsay: “Some of the best parts of working at Southwest Michigan First are the little things—they really add up. In the summer months, we have half-day Fridays to take advantage of the beautiful Michigan weather while it lasts. And for every day in between, our kitchen is always fully stocked with our team’s favorites, whichÌęwe each add to our shopping list.”

38. Fuse

Location: Burlington, Vermont
Focus:
Number of employees: 35
Average salary: Not provided
Vacation time: Two weeks PTO to start
Perks: Office dogs; an annual season ski pass; rec space with a skateboard halfpipe, fitness equipment, and weekly yoga classes; an annual stipend for outdoor activities, gear, race fees, or gym memberships; and an extra week of vacation and special gifts, like surfing, snowboarding, or diving trips, every five yearsÌę
What employeesÌęsay: “Fuse has stand-up paddleboards for staff to use on nearby Lake Champlain or anywhere in Vermont. We also have a camper van to use to access camping, hiking, and climbing areas.ÌęIn addition to our staff getting a season’s pass to their resort of choice, we have an annual Fuse ski andÌęride day at Stowe Mountain Resort.”Ìę

39. Geocaching HQ

Location: Seattle, Washington
Focus:Ìę
Number of employees: 74
Average salary: Not providedÌę
Vacation time: Three weeks PTO to startÌę
Perks: Two paid hours of geocaching each month, access to a stocked gear closet, unlimited ski and snowboard lift tickets to any mountain in the world, an internal geocaching program with global travel opportunities, and a paid four-week sabbatical every seven years
What employeesÌęsay: “From the unique perks to the collaboration and support you get from your coworkers and leaders, Geocaching HQ truly embodies the meaning of work-life balance and playing where you work.ÌęWe are driven by passion, authenticity, and effectiveness, and these core values are illustrated throughout the organization, from its leadership to each and every lackey.”

40. Small Giants

Location: Scottsdale, Arizona
Focus:
Number of employees: 20
Average salary: Not provided
Vacation time: Two weeks PTO to start
Perks: Team activities like monthly hikes, daily walks, and lunch workouts; a dog-friendly office; paid-for continuing education; a midyear retreat that includes kayaking and wine tasting at a vineyard; and an annual two-night, all-expenses-paid retreat for staff and families
What employeesÌęsay: “In June, the entire company determines the status of how our annual goals are tracking, and then we have lunch and a kayaking day. In December, the company heads to Prescott, Arizona, for a two-night, all-inclusive retreat to plan and set goals for the coming year and enjoy needed downtime. We have a hiking club, wine club, book club, wellness club, and many more. Additionally, we offer yoga classes and a completely flexible work environment for all.”

41. First Descents

Location: Denver, Colorado
Focus:
Number of employees: 20
Average salary: Not provided
Vacation time: 27 days PTO
Perks: Kombucha and beer on tap, adjustable sit-to-stand desks, weekly office meditation, a monthly health and wellness stipend, paid maternity leave, an annual ski day, and pro-deal gear discounts
What employeesÌęsay: “We are a community of people ‘Out Living It,’ so it only makes sense we’d spend quality time outside as often as possible. We have what we refer to as quarterly Freaky Fridays,Ìęwhere we spend time outside the office as a team. Past excursions have included an annual A-Basin ski day, tubing down the South Platte River, and a day adventuring at Wellington Lake.”

42. BrainStorm

Location: American Fork, Utah
Focus:
Number of employees: 133
Average salary: Not provided
Vacation time: 12 days PTO to start, plus three paid volunteer days
Perks: Corporate ski passes to a local resort; bimonthly out-of-office activities, like Provo River floats, volleyball tournaments, or snow tubing; bimonthly service outings to volunteer at animal shelters or clean up parks and rivers; adventure-grant opportunities; and a paid sabbatical after tenÌęyears
What employeesÌęsay: “Perks like being able to volunteer at local schools every week or the BoomÌęCampaign, where employees can accomplish a big goal, like climbing Machu Picchu or learning to make chocolate in France, allow employees to grow and develop personally, not just professionally.”

43. Foundant Technologies

Location: Bozeman, Montana
Focus:
Number of employees: 95
Average salary: $75,000
Vacation time: Unlimited PTO
Perks:ÌęA dog-friendly office,Ìęoffice sports teams,ÌęMountain Bike Mondays on nearby trails,Ìęwellness benefits to offset the cost of fitness and ski packages,Ìęand a $1,000 annual-vacation bonus ($1,500 after five years)
What employeesÌęsay: “Because of our open-vacation policyÌęand added vacation bonus money, many team members have been able to take trips they wouldn’t otherwise have been able to afford. One team member took his honeymoon in Croatia. Another has been to Norway for an extended photography and hiking trip. And still another is went on a two-week exploration of Thailand in April.”

44. Buzz Franchise Brands

Location: Virginia Beach, Virginia
Focus:
Number of employees: 25
Average salary: Not provided
Vacation time: Two weeks PTO to start, plus a paid volunteer day
Perks: Weekly happy hours, a discounted gym membership, monthly social events, an office pool table and Ping-Pong table, a workout room (the “sanity suite”), an annual off-site company trip, professional-development opportunities, and a nearby beach
What employeesÌęsay: “Between our regular Lunch and Learns and monthly social events, we are constantly learning something new, from finance and software to axÌęthrowing, shuffleboard, painting, and more. The best part is that we’re doing it with a great group of people—a.k.a. Buzzards—who we truly enjoy spending time with.”

45. Ascent360

Location: Golden, Colorado
Focus:
Number of employees: 33
Average salary: Not provided
Vacation time: Three weeks PTO to start
Perks: Monthly team-building events, like hikes, happy hours, and cornhole; a dog-friendly office; an annual company ski day; paid time off to camp and run the Ragnar relay race in Snowmass, Colorado; a subsidized gym membership; stock options; and pro deals on gear
What employeesÌęsay: “Ascent360 is nestled in the foothills, only a short drive away from downtown Denver or the solitude of the Rocky Mountains.ÌęWe have great views and amazing options for mountain biking, trail running, road cycling, CrossFit, and more right outside our doorsteps.”

46. Skullcandy

Location: Park City, Utah
Focus:
Number of employees: 130
Average salary: Not provided
Vacation time: Unlimited PTO
Perks: Powder days; an in-office halfpipe skate ramp, basketball court, foosball andÌęPing-Pong tables, beer on tap, a band room with musical instruments, and an event space; an outside patio with a fire pit; half-day summer Fridays; food trucks every other Thursday and team BBQs every other Friday; ski-pass and gym-membership reimbursements; weekly yoga; indoor storage for bikes and boards; a custom skate deck awarded on employees’ three-year anniversary and every year after; and an annual company ski day at Park City Mountain Resort
What employeesÌęsay: “One of our company values is First Chair, Last Call,Ìęwhich is our way of saying work hard, play hard,Ìęand we live this every day. With three different ski areas within 15 minutes of our office and 450 miles of trails out our back door, we work hard so that we can get out and play at every opportunity, winter or summer. When we aren’t playing outside, we’re hosting beer-making competitions, chili cook-offs, themed BBQs, and a very competitive Halloween-costume competition.”

47. The Garrett Companies

Location: Greenwood, Indiana
Focus:
Number of employees: 60
Average salary: Not provided
Vacation time: Four weeks PTO
Perks: A 24-hour fitness center, weekly yoga classes (twice weekly in summer), monthly massage therapy, and haircutsÌęall on-site; half-day summer Fridays; office teams for adventure racing, 5Ks, and Spartan races; office Ping-Pong, standing-long-jump, and 100-meter-dash challenges; and a one-week, all-expenses-paid ski retreat in Telluride, Colorado
What employeesÌęsay: “In short, our company is awesome because our perks are over the top, we provide incredible career-growth opportunities,Ìęno one feels captive, and people can see the results of their talents every day.”

48. C1S Group

Location: Dallas, Texas
Focus:
Number of employees: 22
Average salary: Not provided
Vacation time: 15 days PTO, plus one paid service day
Perks:ÌęA remote work policy, “walk and talk” meetings on aÌętrail behind the office, a flex-time summer schedule, standing desks, and a fitness team that competes in paid-for challenges and fun runs
What employeesÌęsay: “We are incredibly proud of the work we do, but we always remember that our people are so much more than employees. They are fathers, mothers, first-time uncles, church leaders, world travelers, caregivers, rock climbers, surfers, music lovers, newlyweds, sports fans, and fashionistas. C1S embraces and supports the whole person.”

49. Infinite Energy

Location: Gainesville, Florida
Focus:
Number of employees: 299
Average salary: $95,000
Vacation time: Two weeks PTO after one yearÌęto start
Perks:ÌęAn on-campus, 24-hour gym; CrossFit, yoga, and tai chi classes; a half-mile campus walking trail; outings to zip lines, local springs, and ropes courses; chair massages; on-campus food trucks; free concert tickets; and a new in-office escape room
What employeesÌęsay: “Most days, Infinite Energy is buzzing with excitement. Whether it’sÌęa Ping-Pong tournament going on outside, a dunk tank being set up to raise money for charity, or a team packing up to head to the beach for the afternoon, there’s rarely a dull day in the office. We’ve had goats stop by, been given a crisp $100 bill for meeting a goal, or surprised with a catered breakfast just to say thanks.”

50. Powder7

Location: Golden, Colorado
Focus:
Number of employees: 21
Average salary: Not provided
Vacation time: Two weeks PTO after one yearÌę
Perks: Flexible scheduling (and midweek ski days), ski-pass reimbursement, company-paid ski trips, biking and running trails near the office, company happy hours and bonding events, and a professional-development budget for each full-time employee
What employeesÌęsay: “If you want to go skiing, whether it’s a blower pow day or a ripping groomer day, you can grab skis from our employee demo fleet of 50-plus pairs. You’ll also have no trouble finding someone to go with you—and stopping for a spicy chicken sandwich and Colorado IPA on the way back. In summerÌęwe nerd out on mountain biking, trail running, and boating together.”

HonorableÌęMentions

AmeriCan șÚÁÏłÔčÏÍűs

Location: Santa Rosa, California
Focus:

Asia Transpacific Journeys

Location: Boulder, Colorado
Focus:

Backbone Media

Location: Carbondale, Colorado
Focus:

Beach Cities Health District

Location: Redondo Beach, California
Focus:

Best Version Media

Location: Brookfield, Wisconsin
Focus:

Bluetent

Location: Carbondale, Colorado
Focus:

Carrot

Location: Roseburg, Oregon
Focus:

Charles Cunniffe Architects

Location: Aspen, Colorado
Focus:

Colorado Outward Bound School

Location: Denver, Colorado
Focus:

EverCheck

Location: Jacksonville Beach, Florida
Focus:

FBC Remodel

Location: Denver, Colorado
Focus:

G5

Location: Bend, Oregon
Focus:

Gcommerce

Location: Park City, Utah
Focus:

Geographic Expeditions

Location: San Francisco, California
Focus:

GuÌęEnergy Labs

Location: Berkeley, California
Focus:

Haberman

Location: Minneapolis, Minnesota
Focus:

Hanson Dodge

Location: Milwaukee, Wisconsin
Focus:

Hurricane Island Outward Bound School

Location: Camden, MaineÌę
Focus:

IDX Broker

Location: Eugene, Oregon
Focus:

JRF Ortho

Location: Centennial, Colorado
Focus:

JumpCloud

Location: Boulder, Colorado
Focus:

Kion

Location: Boulder, Colorado
Focus:

Maui Resort Rentals

Location: Lahaina, Hawaii
Focus:

Mazama Media

Location: Bend, Oregon
Focus:

Mondo Robot

Location: Boulder, Colorado
Focus:

Moving Mountains

Location: Steamboat Springs, Colorado
Focus:

N2 Publishing

Location: Wilmington, North Carolina
Focus:

Namasté Solar

Location: Boulder, Colorado
Focus:

Natural Habitat șÚÁÏłÔčÏÍűs

Location: Boulder, Colorado
Focus:

New Belgium Brewing

Location: Fort Collins, Colorado; Asheville, North Carolina
Focus:

Ninkasi Brewing Company

Location: Eugene, Oregon
Focus:

Nuun Hydration

Location: Seattle, Washington
Focus:

Outward Bound California

Location: San Francisco, California
Focus:

Pax8

Location: Greenwood Village, Colorado
Focus:

Putney Student Travel

Location: Putney, Vermont
Focus:

R&R Partners

Location: Las Vegas, Nevada
Focus:

RA Nelson

Location: Avon, Colorado
Focus:

Scott Dunn USA

Location: Solana Beach, California
Focus:

Spire DigitalÌę

Location: Denver, Colorado
What it does:

Spyderco

Location: Golden, Colorado
Focus:

Stasher

Location: Emeryville, California
Focus:

Stio

Location: Jackson, Wyoming
Focus:

SummitCove Vacation Lodging

Location: Keystone, Colorado
Focus:

TeamSnap

Location: Boulder, Colorado
Focus:

The Honest Kitchen

Location: San Diego, California
Focus:

ThrivePass

Location: Denver, Colorado
Focus:

Toad&Co

Location: Santa Barbara, California
Focus:

Turner

Location: Denver, Colorado
Focus:

Wilderness Travel

Location: San Francisco, California
Focus:

Workshop Digital

Location: Richmond, Virginia
Focus:

The post The 50 Best Places to Work in 2019 appeared first on șÚÁÏłÔčÏÍű Online.

1. Southwest Michigan First

Location: Kalamazoo, Michigan
What they do:
Number of employees: 25
Average salary: $97,000
Vacation time: 15 days paid time off; 18 after five years
Perks: Fully stocked kitchen, half-day summer Fridays, and chair massages.
What they say: “We give small gifts to each team member at unexpected times. These offerings are occasionally left as a morning surprise. For example, on a morning before the Fourth of July, our team arrived to find a box of sparklers on our desks, and this past autumn, our team arrived one day to find a small pumpkin and a baked seasonal treat. It’s our intent that team members always feel appreciated.”

2. Peak Design

Location: San Francisco, California
What they do:
Number of employees: 36
Average salary: $100,000
Vacation time: Unlimited PTO
Perks: Countertops that convert into ping-pong tables, hanging bike storage racks, a home-brewing station, and a monthly brew day.
What they say: “We have unlimited vacation, and we can work from anywhere. If you want to go climbing or golfing on a Wednesday afternoon, just do it. If you want to visit your family in Wisconsin and work from there for a week, no sweat. We’re instilled with the trust and freedom to make our jobs conform to the lives we want to live, not the other way around.”

3. Whipplewood CPAs

Location: Littleton, Colorado
What they do:
Number of employees: 25
Average salary: $94,800
Vacation time: 16 days PTO; 21 after 15 years
Perks: Half-day summer Fridays, a private room for meditation and power naps, access to a private trail system in the Rocky Mountain foothills, and professional massages for all employees during tax season. Employees are encouraged to practice self-care with a monthly wellness raffle: post-work runs, healthy meals, finishing a good book, and other activities earn an entry for the $50 gift card toward workout clothes, equipment, or other wellness items.
What they say: “After the tax deadline, we close the office in the afternoon for a stress-relief event. This year, we did ax throwing. Last year, we raced go-carts.”

4. Adaptive Sports Center

Location: Crested Butte, Colorado
What they do:
Number of employees: 15
Average salary: Not provided
Vacation time: Ten days PTO per year for the first two years
Perks: Free season pass to Crested Butte Mountain Resort and a paid ski, camping, or hiking trip somewhere in Colorado at the end of each season.
What they say: “Powder days find the office pretty quiet some mornings, as we allow employees to flex their time. This is the kind of office where bikes and skis share space with our stand-up desks and you stash dog treats in your drawers so you can snuggle with the pets that roam the building.”

5. Ergodyne

Location: St. Paul, Minnesota
What they do:
Number of employees: 51
Average salary: Not provided
Vacation time: Unlimited PTO
Perks: On-site gym facilities, weekly yoga and personal training sessions, and a “wear clothes” dress code.
What they say: “We have fun team outings, such as canoe trips down the St. Croix and throwing axes at Bad Axe Throwing. From ‘bring your dog to work’ days to the concert and sports tickets, espresso, sodas, beer, lunches, and eclectic Spotify mixes playing overhead, it’s the tangibles and the intangibles.”

6. BSW Wealth Partners

Location: Boulder, Colorado
What they do:
Number of employees: 23
Average salary: $130,000
Vacation time: Ten days PTO after one year; 20 days after five years; unlimited unpaid days
Perks: Annual, all-inclusive Colorado ski trips in winter and whitewater rafting, climbing, and laser tag outings in summer; paid three-month sabbaticals for employees who’ve stuck around for ten years; and a fridge stocked with local beer.
What they say: “We have employees who compete in Ironman competitions, surf sand dunes, lead international yoga retreats, scuba dive to haunting depths, climb jagged crags, and more. The shared spirit of adventure permeates into the workplace.”

7. Global Citizen Year

Location: Oakland, California
What they do: A that offers cultural-immersion fellowships in Ecuador, Brazil, Senegal, and India
Number of employees: 17
Average salary: Not provided
Vacation time: Unlimited PTO
Perks: A $500 annual stipend for professional development courses, a trip to a host country after two years, a monthlong paid sabbatical after three years, and periodic staff retreats in a host country. Plus, Bollywood workout classes.
What they say: “Each year, you get to pick something personal that you’ve wanted to learn, and the organization will pay for it. People have taken a cheesemaking class and guitar lessons. Someone else took a succulent arrangement class. It’s a fun nod to the fact that you do have a life outside work.”

8. GroundFloor Media

Location: Denver, Colorado
What they do:
Number of employees: 24
Average salary: $86,500
Vacation time: Unlimited PTO after one year
Perks: Full-time employees get $600 each year to put toward gym memberships, fitness classes, outdoor recreation, and gear. An annual Outward Bound Professional team-building event is often held off the grid in the Rocky Mountains.
What they say: “During the summer months, we check out B-Cycles and ride to grab lunch at food truck hot spots, and we’ve taken our weekly beer club on the road to experience Denver’s multitude of craft breweries in person. During the winter months, powder days are encouraged if you don’t have meetings, but we’re also okay with taking conference calls from a chairlift.”

9. Choozle

Location: Denver, Colorado
What they do:
Number of employees: 64
Average salary: $80,000
Vacation time: 15 days PTO; two months PTO after four years
Perks: Flexible Fridays; a yearly summer camping trip; summer and winter team trips to Breckenridge with free days for activities like snowshoeing, skiing, or horseback riding.
What they say: “Although we do have perks such as local beer taps, ping-pong tables, office dogs, team outings and summits, and cool swag, none of that can replace knowing that we really are a family.”

10. Power Digital Marketing

Location: San Diego, California
What they do:
Number of employees: 60
Average salary: $65,000
Vacation time: Unlimited PTO
Perks: Healthy catered lunches, monthly team outings to breweries or a party bus to a yacht, and an annual company-wide paid trip as a reward for meeting goals.
What they say: “We draw a line in the sand and set aggressive goals every year. When we hit those goals, we celebrate with a trip. Past trips have included Hawaii, Costa Rica, and Jamaica. Next year, we’re headed to Cabo San Lucas, Mexico.”

11. Avid4 șÚÁÏłÔčÏÍű

Location: Boulder, Colorado
What they do:
Number of employees: 20
Average salary: Not provided
Vacation time: Unlimited PTO
Perks: Monthly outings to local crags and trails, free gear rentals and bike tune-ups, reimbursed gym memberships, an annual multiday adventure in Moab, andÌęa chanceÌęto win two round-trip tickets and a stipendÌęto complete a dream adventure.
What they say: “Our mission is to empower others to be healthy in the outdoors, and we’ve got to walk that talk. Part of our work on a weekly basis is to get outside as a group and adventure together. It’s built into the job and is part of what we’re getting paid for.”

12. J&A Racing

Location: Virginia Beach, Virginia
What they do:
Number of employees: 16
Average salary: Not provided
Vacation time: Two weeks PTO to start; one week added every five years
Perks: Flexible schedule, summer Fridays out of the office, plus free memberships to gyms and yoga studios.
What they say: “We’re greeted daily with three yellow labs, one black lab, and an English bulldog. Dogs make our office fun and exciting.”

13. Hailey Sault

Location: Duluth, Minnesota
What they do:
Number of employees: 22
Average salary: Not provided
Vacation time: Two weeks PTO; four weeks PTO after five years
Perks: Lunch-hour yoga, quick access to Lake Superior trails, office gym with trainer-led workouts, and an annual retreat to northern Wisconsin to ski, snowshoe, play a little pond hockey, and hang out by the fire.
What they say: “There are the ungodly views. Definitely plural. There’s the endless view of Lake Superior. There’s the one-of-a-kind view of the iconic Aerial Lift Bridge, with 1,000-foot ships passing underneath. There’s the working harbor with lighthouses punctuating the concrete piers where sailboats and tugboats linger. And then there’s the forest-meets-city hillside of Duluth.”

14. Spawn Ideas

Location: Anchorage, Alaska
What they do:
Number of employees: 42
Average salary: $83,500
Vacation time: 15 days PTO after one year
Perks: An office kegerator, in-office gym, half-day summer Fridays, access to the 11-mile Tony Knowles Coastal Trail, and a $200 annual bonus to put toward state park passes, ski passes, and race entry fees.
What they say: “Spawn’s social committee has a constant schedule of activities for our team, including camping, fishing, kayaking, picnicking, and potlucks.”

15. Asia Transpacific Journeys

Location: Boulder, Colorado
What they do:
Number of employees: 26
Average salary: $60,000
Vacation time: Three weeks PTO per year for the first three years
Perks: Flexible and remote scheduling, plus discounts on airfare, hotels, guides, car rentals, trains, and more.
What they say: “We all contribute and are a close-knit group. We have great office space, well-rounded benefits, and, most important, we have flexibility in our schedules. Meeting great people and exploring is part of what we do.”

16. TDA Boulder

Location: Boulder, Colorado
What they do:
Number of employees: 22
Average salary: $98,000
Vacation time: Two weeks PTO per year for the first two years
Perks: Half-day summer Fridays and an annual stipend toward gym, yoga, or ski passes.
What they say: “When an employee climbs one of Colorado’s 14ers, we donate $1,000 in their name to the charity of their choice. We also have three beverages on tap: one nitro cold-brew coffee, one kombucha, and one beer.”

17. SmartEtailing

Location: Boulder, Colorado
What they do:
Number of employees: 55
Average salary: Not provided
Vacation time: 14 days PTO
Perks: Every three years, employees get $100 to $200 toward the purchase of a bike frame. Commuting by bike, carpool, or your own feet earns up to $3 a day toward cycling gear and bike purchases.
What they say: “We have a weekly putting challenge in the office where you win the coveted trophy and get to design the course the following week. And, of course, daily planks, because a team that planks together stays together.”

18. Mathys + Potestio

Location: Portland, Oregon
What they do:
Number of employees: 22
Average salary: $64,360
Vacation time: Unlimited PTO
Perks: Every other Friday off each summer, a commuting stipend, and summer fun days for whitewater rafting, hiking, and wine tastings.
What they say: “We subscribe to what we call a ‘people-positive culture.’ Yes, we have all the perk stuff, but it’s more about providing a supportive work environment where people feel empowered to do the best work they can.”

19. The Garrett Companies

Location: Greenwood, Indiana
What they do:
Number of employees: 46
Average salary: Not provided
Vacation time: Four weeks PTO
Perks: A 24-hour fitness center, weekly yoga classes, massage therapy, oil changes, and haircuts, all on-site. Half-day summer Fridays and an annual ski retreat to Telluride.
What they say: “Office Feats of Strength are random challenges we do to blow off steam, bond, and ultimately earn some bragging rights. Past events have included the standing long jump, 100-meter dash, Mario Kart, and the clichĂ© ping-pong.”

20. Backbone Media

Location: Carbondale, Colorado
What they do:
Number of employees: 61
Average salary: Not provided
Vacation time: Three weeks PTO
Perks: A gear closet filled with the latest products from the company’s clients, kombucha and craft beer on tap, Blue Bottle espresso, and plenty of whiskey and tequila on hand.
What they say: “The office empties out every day at midday so employees can recharge on group rides, trail runs, and Nordic ski sessions or at the gym and in the yoga studio. In summer, we have Dirty Thursday group mountain bike rides. In winter, we have a powder-day clause that encourages employees to ski if there’s fresh snow. We don’t do retreats, but we do plan semiannual company charges that feature whitewater rafting and a campout in summer and a ski trip to Aspen in winter.”

21. Development Counsellors International

Location: New York City, New York
What they do:
Number of employees: 52
Average salary: Not provided
Vacation time: 16 days PTO to start
Perks: Employees can schedule an annual agency exchange to visit other regional offices in Denver, Los Angeles, or Toronto. Each employee can work remotely once a week.
What they say: “Group activities designed to promote company values of pursuing happiness and being a knowledge sponge have included kickboxing, sushi making, hiking, aerial yoga, and fitness boot camps.”

22. Montana Wilderness Association

Location: Helena, Montana
What they do:
Number of employees: 24
Average salary: $51,600
Vacation time: 16 days PTO to start, plus 15 paid holidays
Perks: Office dogs, outdoor meetings, four additional paid “trail” days, and bonuses for green commutes and exercise.
What they say: “You start your career at MWA with a total of 35 paid days off every year. Throw in the three-day staff backpacking trip, which counts as ‘work,’ and a paid three-month sabbatical after five years, and you’d be fair to wonder how we get so much done.”

23. Foundant Technologies

Location: Bozeman, Montana
What they do:
Number of employees: 85
Average salary: $75,000
Vacation time: Unlimited PTO
Perks: Healthy lunches, office sports teams, Mountain Bike Mondays on nearby trails, and wellness benefits to offset the cost of fitness and ski passes.
What they say: “Everyone latches on to our unlimited vacation, but that’s pretty common. We went ahead and implemented a ‘paid’ paid vacation. Not only do our team members get PTO, if they take two consecutive days off, they’re eligible for a $1,000 bonus to use toward that vacation. After five years, that bumps up to $1,500 annually. We encourage truly unplugging and getting away.”

24. SportRx

Location: San Diego, California
What they do:
Number of employees: 35
Average salary: Not provided
Vacation time: Unlimited PTO
Perks: Annual Mammoth and Big Bear ski trips, Padres games, nearby road and mountain bike trails, and free or discounted bike and snow gear.
What they say: “We have this strange, unique philosophy about being nice. We’re nice to each other. We’re nice to our vendors. We’re nice to the UPS guy. It’s a small thing that goes a long way. And we always have two great beers on tap, so that helps.”

25. Salsify

Location: Boston, Massachusetts
What they do:
Number of employees: 223
Average salary: $112,000
Vacation time: Unlimited PTO
Perks: Two months paid maternity/paternity leave, Friday lunches, and a fully stocked kitchen. Plus, shuffleboard, cold-brew kegerators, in-office gym membership, on-site dental and eye exams, and a $5,000 employee referral bonus.
What they say: “In partnership with Boston Public Schools and the City of Boston, Salsify regularly hosts a group of middle school students for daylong field trips in our office. We guide students as they design, build, and speak about initial prototypes for their own problem-solving software. They spend the day learning what it’s like to work in the tech community and, most important, have fun while doing it.”

26. N2 Publishing

Location: Wilmington, North Carolina
What they do:
Number of employees: 230
Average salary: $62,655
Vacation time:ÌęTenÌędays PTO after one year, plus the two final weeks of the year
Perks: There’s Gainzville, the in-office gym complete with a full-time fitness instructor, plus a surf club, a walking club, and a volleyball team that competes at a local brewery. Competitive employees can find more fitness outlets in the dodgeball and ping-pong tournaments, plus an annual $100 bonus to put toward registration fees.
What they say: “Being so close to the beach, no one looks twice if you show up to the office with sand between your toes and a pair of board shorts on.”

27. Pairin

Location: Denver, Colorado
What they do:
Number of employees: 17
Average salary: $88,000
Vacation time: Unlimited PTO
Perks: Team hikes, local craft beer, indoor bike racks, employer-paid health care, and an annual mountain retreat.
What they say: “As a part of a company founded by coaches, the Pairin team really walks the walk of professional development. Each manager is trained as a coach, and each employee is individually coached to grow professionally and personally.”

28. Sterling-Rice Group

Location: Boulder, Colorado
What they do:
Number of employees: 128
Average salary: Not provided
Vacation time: 17 days PTO
Perks: Paid fees for sports teams like kickball, basketball, and volleyball, and extra PTO for those who compete in the 200-mile Ragnar Relay. Plus, an all-company powder day at the local ski hill, company bikes, and on-site massage and acupuncture.
What they say: “Twice a year, we get together as a company for a summit, which is an opportunity to connect, learn, and share great work. Examples include a scavenger hunt in Denver, zip-lining or whitewater rafting, trips to Red Rocks Amphitheater, a day at a local biodynamic farm, and much more. Last year, SRG used the summit as an opportunity give back to the community by partnering with Wish for Wheels to build bikes for the first-grade class at Whittier Elementary in Boulder.”

29. GeoEx

Location: San Francisco, California
What they do:
Number of employees: 56
Average salary: Not provided
Vacation time: Three weeks PTO to start
Perks: Twice-weekly office yoga, office keg of local brew, camping and kayaking trips on the Russian River, Giants baseball games, bike parking and showers, annual familiarization trips to GeoEx destinations, offices in San Francisco’s Presidio National Park.
What they say: “Our familiarization trips can find you hiking in the Himalayas, mountain biking in Chile’s Atacama Desert, or on safari in Africa. Around the office, there’s yoga, pints of local craft beer from the company keg at the end of the day, and a weekend camping trip together.”

30. Bonusly

Location: Boulder, Colorado
What they do:
Number of employees: 21
Average salary: Not provided
Vacation time: Unlimited PTO
Perks: Employees get up to $200 to put toward gym memberships and yoga classes, year-round bonuses for fitness gear, and local beer and kombucha on tap from the office kegerator.
What they say: “Our flexible work policy empowers our outdoorsy employees to organize outings, like twice-weekly afternoon climbing sessions, hikes around Boulder, and winter ski trips. Small groups of employees also take afternoon breaks for meditation, while others go for walks around the neighborhood to rejuvenate.”

31. EverCheck

Location: Jacksonville Beach, Florida
What they do:
Number of employees: 29
Average salary: $67,798
Vacation time: 15 days PTO
Perks: 12 weeks paid parental leave, monthly fitness stipend, plus organic produce and juices stocked in the kitchen.
What they say: “We’re about one block from the beach, and our casual atmosphere lends itself to walking meetings and lunchtime surf sessions. You’ll frequently see surfboards and wet baggies stacked in the hall. We also have beach cruisers so we have another means of transportation besides our vehicles when we’re at the office.”

32. JRF Ortho

Location: Centennial, Colorado
What they do:
Number of employees: 22
Average salary: Not provided
Vacation time: One month PTO
Perks: Employees get $600 a year for fitness activities and free visits to a local health clinic.
What they say: “We’re lucky because we’re 20 minutes from the mountains, and there’s a state park a few blocks away for mountain biking or trail running. And ropes course outings—it’s all about building teamwork and trust. We’re really good at that.”

33. Young & Laramore

Location: Indianapolis, Indiana
What they do:
Number of employees: 64
Average salary: Not provided
Vacation time: Two weeks PTO to start
Perks: Company bikes for riding around downtown; showers and lockers for workday runs, rides, walks, and exercise; subsidized YMCA membership; and a room for meditation, prayer, or quiet time.
What they say: “We host Beer Thursdays, where we get the whole agency together to review, celebrate, and raise a glass to recent work we’ve produced for clients. Each spring, we shut down for two days and hold an all-agency retreat at a state park in the hills of southern Indiana to soak up nature and remind ourselves who we are, what we do, why we do it, and how lucky we are to do it together.”

34. Turner

Location: Denver, Colorado
What they do:
Number of employees: 45
Average salary: $90,578
Vacation time: Two to three weeks PTO to start, plus three days PTO for volunteering
Perks: Employees are encouraged to engage in “sweatworking platforms,” such as skiing, cycling, and sailing with clients and journalists. They also have access to free and discounted gear and a professional development program that includes “life skills” like meditation sessions and a sommelier-led Wine 101 series.
What they say: “We make our offices as comfortable—and as fun—as possible. Dogs are welcome. There are kegerators, wine fridges, and games and lounges for more casual meetings and creative brainstorms. We also take group fitness classes and enjoy craft beer swaps.”

35. Powder7

Location: Golden, Colorado
What they do:
Number of employees: 19
Average salary: Not provided
Vacation time: Five days PTO after one year
Perks: Biking and running trails near the office, ski pass reimbursement, an annual ski trip to Wolf Creek, and impromptu foosball tournaments.
What they say: “We’re constantly finding ways to enjoy time together: skiing, biking, running, playing softball, going to concerts and outdoor films, and hitting happy hours. The kicker is that many of these bonding times are supported in one way or another by the company itself.”

36. CampMinder

Location: Boulder, Colorado
What they do:
Number of employees: 47
Average salary: Not provided
Vacation time: Unlimited PTO
Perks: Weekly seasonal produce deliveries, a meditation room, and a $300 annual wellness allowance.
What they say: “True to our core value to ‘give joy,’ we plan regular opportunities to unwind and have fun together. Over the past year, these events have included a holiday party at a local brewery, a spring outing to play bar games at , and an end-of-summer celebration at the Boulder Reservoir, where we broke into two teams and participated in a camp-inspired relay race.”

37. Koru

Location: Carbondale, Colorado
What they do:
Number of employees: 20
Average salary: Not provided
Vacation time: 15 days PTO to start; unlimited PTO after five years
Perks: Season pass at Aspen; powder days when there’s ten inches or more; annual skiing, rafting, and camping trips; and opportunities for a three-week “trip of a lifetime” to places like New Zealand, Argentina, or Spain or floating the Grand Canyon.
What they say: “A true Colorado company, we love our pups, and we enjoy bringing them to work.”

38. Geocaching HQ

Location: Seattle, Washington
What they do:
Number of employees: 81
Average salary: Not provided
Vacation time: Three weeks PTO to start
Perks: Two hours of paid geocaching outings a month, access to a stocked gear closet, unlimited ski and snowboard lift tickets, internal geocaching program with global travel opportunities, and a paid four-week sabbatical every seven years.
What they say: “There are few places where you’d actively choose to spend your free time with your co-workers, but Geocaching HQ is one of them. When you love the people you work with and the people you work for, it’s a recipe for happiness.”

39. Small Giants

Location: Scottsdale, Arizona
What they do:
Number of employees: 16
Average salary: Not provided
Vacation time: Two weeks PTO to start
Perks: Stocked kitchen, free biweekly yoga sessions, sponsored continuing education, annual two-day retreat, 16-week maternity leave, swing-set meetings, and a campfire brainstorming area.
What they say: “We truly live our commitment to a collaborative culture. Our midyear retreat is a check-in on our progress on strategic initiatives. Last year, it concluded with kayaking and a winery tour and tasting.”

40. Beach Cities Health District

Location: Redondo Beach, California
What they do:
Number of employees: 75
Average salary: $81,147
Vacation time: Three weeks PTO to start
Perks: A 9/80 work schedule with every other Friday off, discounted personal training, community exercise center, and a wellness program with participation rewards like exercise apparel and Fitbits.
What they say: “Employees are encouraged to start walking groups—or moais, as we call them—and have access to indoor and outdoor meditation spaces. Because we get more than 300 days of sunshine a year, employees frequently take walking meetings or wellness breaks and participate in free community fitness events hosted by BCHD, including Zumba in the park and yoga on the beach.”

41. Bluetent

Location: Carbondale, Colorado
What they do:
Number of employees: 65
Average salary: Not provided
Vacation time: 12 days PTO to start
Perks: Powder mornings, afternoon hikes and mountain bike rides, a pup-friendly office, yoga and fitness classes, annual travel stipends, a kegerator, and a microbrew fridge.
What they say: “Bring together engineers, marketing guides, copywriters, designers, sales ninjas, extroverts, introverts, and outdoor extremists under the same roof in the heart of the Rocky Mountains, and what do you get? An inventive and curious team that influences the best kind of chaos.”

42. Ascent360

Location: Golden, Colorado
What they do:
Number of employees: 29
Average salary: $89,224
Vacation time: Three weeks PTO
Perks: Hump Day hikes, annual ski trip to Copper Mountain, and a $500 referral bonus for new hires. Plus, a weekly Beer 30 Club, where employees gather around the keg near the end of the day to socialize.
What they say: “We name our conference rooms after cool destinations. An employee can go to that destination to get on our ‘Wall of Victors,’ and then they get to rename the room. They also get to expense part of their trip. We’ve had employees go to Machu Picchu and the Grand Canyon. The new names they chose? The Great Barrier Reef and the Ajanta Caves in India.”

43. Camp + King

Location: San Francisco, California
What they do:
Number of employees: 41
Average salary: Not provided
Vacation time: Unlimited PTO
Perks: Subsidized commutes, a stocked bar cart, and a program that invests in employees’ personal growth and talents.
What they say: “We take time to make lunch together with fresh groceries brought in every week. We sit around the farm table or outside on the lawn to eat and catch up. There are trails into a eucalyptus grove and to the bay that afford us a chance to clear our heads and lungs just steps away from the office.”

44. GoSpotCheck

Location: Denver, Colorado
What they do:
Number of employees: 152
Average salary: Not provided
Vacation time: Unlimited PTO
Perks: Catered Friday breakfasts; local beer, kombucha, and cold brew on tap; paid gym memberships; a dog-friendly office; and an annual retreat in the Rockies.
What they say: “Our founders set out to create a culture that emphasizes open, honest communication, taking ownership and having fun, staying sane, and taking care of yourself inside and outside of the office.”

45. Haberman

Location: Minneapolis, Minnesota
What they do:
Number of employees: 52
Average salary: Not provided
Vacation time: 15 days PTO to start
Perks: A certified organic garden tended by cross-departmental teams, a fall harvest party, equine experiential learning, and summer parties. “This year, we hung out at a local vineyard playing bags and bocce ball.”
What they say: “Summer in Minnesota kicks booty! We love getting out of the office early to water ski, boat, hike, bike, camp, paddleboard, and more.”

46. Rustic Pathways

Location: Willoughby Hills, Ohio
What they do:
Number of employees: 91
Average salary: Not provided
Vacation time: 14 days PTO to start
Perks: Travel,Ìęthe opportunity to work from home, plusÌęfree spring break and summer programs for children of the staff and 50 percent off for children of friends and family.
What they say: “Our flight leader program allows staff to travel for free each summer as they accompany students to countries around the world. Our in-country operations teams take over when they land, giving our staff up to three weeks on their own, often with a friend or family member, who also travels for free.”

47. Mondo Robot

Location: Boulder, Colorado
What they do:
Number of employees: 29
Average salary: $98,650
Vacation time: Three weeks PTO to start
Perks: A $300 wellness benefit, two-tap kegerator with local brews, annual brew tour, loaner bikes, pet-friendly office, and an annual snow day at Arapahoe Basin Ski Area.
What they say: “We have a Kick Ass Award where employees can nominate each other for doing a great job on project. Winners get a $250 gift certificate to something they like.”

48. Infinite Energy

Location: Gainesville, Florida
What they do:
Number of employees: 304
Average salary: $92,076
Vacation time: Two weeks PTO after one year
Perks: On campus 24-hour gym; CrossFit, yoga, and healthy cooking classes; outings to zip lines, local springs, and ropes courses; chair massages; on-campus food trucks; and free concert tickets.
What they say: “Attending a meeting doesn’t necessarily mean reporting to a conference room. Many meetings across most departments take place on our walking trails, which stretch half a mile around our campus.”

49. BrainStorm

Location: American Fork, Utah
What they do:
Number of employees: 127
Average salary: Not provided
Vacation time: 12 days PTO to start, plus three paid volunteer days
Perks: Corporate ski passes to a local resort; bimonthly activities, such as floating the Provo River, volleyball tournaments, and snow tubing; bimonthly service activities, like river and park cleanups or volunteering at animal shelters; and a paid sabbatical after ten years.
What they say: “Employees can apply for a grant to go on the adventure of a lifetime. Several winners are chosen every year. Previous winners have filmed documentaries in Ireland, fly-fished in Patagonia, hiked Machu Picchu, and trained as a chocolatier in France.”

50. SummitCove Vacation Lodging

Location: Keystone, Colorado
What they do:
Number of employees: 39
Average salary: $75,000
Vacation time: Ten days PTO
Perks: Ski pass reimbursement at Keystone Resort, discounted gym memberships, access to staff cruiser bikes, and group hiking, yoga, and ski sessions. A monthly fitness challenge encourages health and wellness by rewarding participants with points to spend on Amazon for health and fitness items.
What they say: “Every fall, we host a fun run called the Das Bier Burner 5K that supports a local charity. We’ve even had a manager’s meeting once where we brewed our own beer.”

Honorable Mentions

Allagash Brewing Company

Location: Portland, Maine
What they do:

Apto

Location: Denver, Colorado
What they do:

Arapahoe Basin Ski Area

Location: Dillion, Colorado
What they do:

Baltimore Chesapeake Bay Outward Bound School

Location: Baltimore, Maryland
What they do:

BG Buildingworks

Location: Lakewood, Colorado
What they do:

Broadreach

Location: Raleigh, North Carolina
What they do:

Buzz Franchise Brands

Location: Virginia Beach, Virginia
What they do:

C1S Group

Location: Dallas, Texas
What they do:

CamelBak

Location: Petaluma, California
What they do:

Carmichael Lynch

Location: Minneapolis, Minnesota
What they do:

CE Broker

Location: Jacksonville, Florida
What they do:

Charles Cunniffe Architects

Location: Aspen, Colorado
What they do:

Colorado Outward Bound School

Location: Denver, Colorado
What they do:

Creative Alignments

Location: Boulder, Colorado
What they do:

Digital Operative

Location: San Diego, California
What they do:

Eagle Creek

Location: Jackson, Wyoming
What they do:

Evoke at Entrada

Location: Santa Clara, Utah
What they do:

Finished Basement Company

Location: Denver, Colorado
What they do:

First Descents

Location: Denver, Colorado
What they do:

Forum Phi

Location: Aspen, Colorado
What they do:

Fuse

Location: Burlington, Vermont
What they do:

Grandesign

Location: San Diego, California
What they do:

Greater Yellowstone Coalition

Location: Bozeman, Montana
What they do:

Hanson Dodge

Location: Milwaukee, Wisconsin
What they do:

IDX Broker

Location: Eugene, Oregon
What they do:

Namasté Solar

Location: Boulder, Colorado
What they do:

Nemo Design

Location: Portland, Oregon
What they do:

New Belgium Brewing

Location: Fort Collins, Colorado; Asheville, North Carolina
What they do:

Nuun Hydration

Location: Seattle, Washington
What they do:

Outward Bound California

Location: San Francisco, California
What they do:

Polar Field Services

Location: Littleton, Colorado
What they do:

ProtectWise

Location: Denver, Colorado
What they do:

RA Nelson

Location: Avon, Colorado
What they do:

Realeflow

Location: Parma Heights, Ohio
What they do:

Room 214

Location: Boulder, Colorado
What they do:

Shambhala Publications

Location: Boulder, Colorado
What they do:

Shine United

Location: Madison, Wisconsin
What they do:

SlideBelts

Location: El Dorado Hills, California
What they do:

Stio

Location: Jackson, Wyoming
What they do:

StoneAge Tools

Location: Durango, Colorado
What they do:

Taptica

Location: San Francisco, California
What they do:

TeamSnap

Location: Boulder Colorado
What they do:

Tendril

Location: Boulder, Colorado
What they do:

The Frontier Project

Location: Richmond, Virginia
What they do:

The Honest Kitchen

Location: San Diego, California
What they do:

TrainingPeaks

Location: Boulder, Colorado
What they do:

Uproar PR

Location: Orlando, Florida
What they do:

Voyageur Outward Bound School

Location: St. Paul, Minnesota
What they do:

Workshop Digital

Location: Richmond, Virginia
What they do:

Zen Planner

Location: Highlands Ranch, Colorado
What they do:

The post The 50 Best Places to Work in 2018 appeared first on șÚÁÏłÔčÏÍű Online.

Game of Thrones may have one of the most beautiful and sprawling worlds in fantasy, but the colossal realms of Westeros and Essos as depicted on the television show are within relatively easy reach. Just book a ticket to Iceland, Spain, Croatia, or Northern Ireland and be ready to explore.

Itzurun Beach, Spain

Dragonstone is House Targaryen’s ancestral seat, but their castle’s real-world stand-in is actually perched over Itzurun Beach on the Basque Coast. Grab a board at in the town of Zumaia and surf or SUP the left-hand and right-hand breaks along what locals call the Flysch, a five-mile spine of sedimentary rock. Then take in 60 million years of geologic and cultural history on the three-hour guided tour of , or hike nine miles of coastal trails from , where you’ll walk among ancient rock formations and tour the hermitage of San Telmo, named for the patron saint of fishermen. Stay at , a rustic boutique hotel just outside Zumaia, and dine on veggies grown in its large organic garden (from $51).

Kirkjufell, Iceland

In season seven, when Jon Snow and company head north of the Wall in search of an arrowhead-shaped mountain—where a vision says the army of the dead awaits—what they are really looking for is Iceland’s Kirkjufell. The massif, located just outside the tiny town of Grundarfjodur on the Saefellsnes Peninsula, is the country’s most photographed peak. You can snag your own vision of the mount at (from $112), which looks across the fjord to Kirkjufell, before tackling the half-mile, Class 3–4 scramble it takes to summit. The Kirkjufellsfoss (the stunning stacked waterfall at the massif’s toes) and the surrounding beaches are worth exploring before you head back to the 24-hour sauna and hot tub in your digs.

Krka National Park, Croatia

from Split, Croatia’s second-largest city, to Westeros’ Riverlands, a 42-square-mile expanse of emerald cascades also known as . If you’d rather stick to solid ground, rent a 29er from in Skradin, the small town at the park’s entrance, and you’ll receive a map and local beta for exploring Krka’s seven waterfalls, including the multitiered pools of 150-foot Skradinski Buk and , where whitewater tumbles 50 feet down the Krka River. Stay at in central Skradin, an easy walk to the marina where you can catch a boat into the park and sip walnut brandy on the terrace (from $40).

Reynisfjara, Iceland

The Eastwatch-by-the-Sea, where the Night’s Watch guard the end of the Wall, is better known in Iceland as , a black-sand beach on the South Coast. But the real-world location is steeped in just as much legend. Local folklore says the towering sea stacks, columnar cliffs, and crashing North Atlantic waves are where giant trolls once pulled ships in from the sea before turning to stone. Amble along the beach to Halsanefshellir Cave, tucked among the basalt rock columns, or walk up the 1,000-foot Reynisfjall for commanding views of the stone trolls, black beach, and boundless sea.

Bardenas Reales, Spain

The badlands of , an hour south of Pamplona in northern Spain, are familiar as the Dothraki camps where the horseback hoard held Daenerys Targaryen captive. The 104,000-acre UNESCO Biosphere Preserve is best explored by mountain bike to take in the wrinkled sandstone canyons, dry riverbeds, and barren plateaus. Bike from in Tudela and pedal the 20-mile , with a stop at Castildetierra, an iconic, isolated rock hoodoo. Or ride the one-way haul down the 42-mile , a north–south track with 1,700 feet of climbing and a challenging descent.

Glens of Antrim, Northern Ireland

Remember when Sansa and Lord Royce watch Robin Arryn training in the Vale? The Irish know this verdant spot as the Glens of Antrim, an 80-mile swath of rugged cliffs and deep, green valleys. Grab your rucksack and will lead you on a three-day, 32-mile trek over the hills and along the coast between Ballycastle and Portstewart, with stays in quaint guesthouses along the way. Climbers should stop by Fair Head, the cliffs where Jon Snow and Daenerys first meet and where steep corners, crack lines, and massive boulders that boast more than 50 test pieces beg to be scaled.

Thingvellir National Park, Iceland

You’ll find the pass to the Eyrie and the setting for Brienne of Tarth and the Hound’s in Iceland’s lava-strewn . Hike to Oxararfoss Waterfall, also seen in the show, then pitch your tent on an abandoned farm at the Vatnskot campground on the shores of Lake Thingvallavatn. Don’t miss the opportunity to ride between the North American and Eurasian tectonic plates on Bike Company’s two-wheeled , or go deeper with and scuba dive the continental divide at the Silfra, a fissure filled with crystal-clear glacial water and created by the two continents’ slow drift apart.

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From certain angles, it looks like we’re hanging over the precipice. Climate change–fueled disasters like monster hurricanes, megafires, and 100-year droughts are becoming ever more frequent. A solar superstorm could , the New Madrid fault might go at any moment, and, of course, there’s always potential for a .

Sure, some of those scenarios are more likely than others, but companies like Ìęand are cashing in on the fear with affordable ready-made bug-out kits packed with survival essentials that start around $300. Containing dehydrated food, water treatment supplies, emergency blankets, and other fundamentals, they’re a great starting point, but each misses a few important items, such as a water bottle,Ìęshelter, or stove.

We decided to start from scratch and see what the ultimate survival kit would look like. Turns out, it’s lighter, smarter, more versatile, and, at just around $1,200, a whole lot more expensive. But with your life literally on the line, these high-performance essentials will help see you through the first 72 hours—the time it takes to survive most disasters.

The Bag

A backpacking rig will work, but a light, versatile bag tailored to grab-and-go situations is best. That’s why we love military-style tactical packs like the ($383). This low-profile bag features composite webbing on the harness and front panel so you can customize your load simply by sliding on extra pouches like those . The three-liter, military-spec lumbar reservoir stabilizes water weight right on your hips to lower your center of gravity, and the zip on the back panel means you don’t have shift your gear around to load or refill on the go.

Hydration

You won’t be able to rely on finding clean water—keep your reservoir full so you’re ready to go at a moment’s notice. Make sure to change the water every season, though, and pack at least two methods of purification. Aquamira’s ($15) treat 30 gallons at once. The ultralight ($25) can be used like a straw to sip directly from puddles, or you can pair it with your hydration tube for inline filtration when you don’t have time for chemical treatment.

Food

Good-to-Go’s dehydrated ($7) packs 700 calories, lasts two years, and weighs just six ounces. You’ll also want a handful of calorie-dense bars, like Larabar’s two-ingredient ($16 for 13) or the ($44Ìęfor 12). Stow enough of both to last at least three days.

Cookware

Keep cooking minimal and fuss-free with a unified ultralight system. Pair the Ìę24-ounce pot ($45) with its Ìę($60), ($10), and 110-gram ($5), which is good for about five days of meals. All are built from feathery titanium, so you’ll hardly notice them in your pack.

Clothing

You’ll probably have to make do with just the clothes on your back, but be sure to pack Sea to Summit’s eight-ounce ($100), which fits over your pack and doubles as a two-person tarp shelter.

Shelter

Sacrifice the comfort of a tent for mobility by pairing your tarp poncho with a foam pad, such as Gossamer Gear’s sub-three-ounce ($18) and Ìę($25). Or get off the ground with Eno’s ($50) and ($30).

Fire

Pack three kinds of fire starters: a ($7 for five), ($8), and ($13). For tinder, stuff petroleum jelly–soaked cotton balls into a couple of film canisters.

First Aid

Start with the Ìę($41), which contains all the essentials, like four feet of duct tape, then top it off with whatever suits your personal needs, including a stash of prescription medication.

Hygiene

Keep it simple with Ìę($5), ($9), ($3), and an ultralight Ìę($10).

Tools

($60) is a fixed-blade survival knife that boasts a ferrocerium fire-starter rod, emergency whistle, steel pommel that doubles as a hammer, and a diamond sharpener. Ìę($60) sports 17 tools and weighs just 4.6 ounces. Finally, a hatchet might sound like overkill, but Gary Paulsen taught us just how useful they can be. ($43) is lightweight and hides a handsaw in the handle. Go ahead and toss in a length of ($5) for good measure, and learn a few knots.

Lighting

Go hands-free with the Ìę($50), which has 350 lumens and lasts 40 hours on high or up to 120 hours on low. For backup, Maglite’s compact ($56) throws 310 lumens a whopping 600 feet, has a power saving mode, and clips onto your belt. Don’t forget extra batteries.

Communication

Stay informed with ($33), which receives AM/FM stations and NOAA weather alerts and includes a built-in flashlight, solar panel, SOS alarm, and a micro-USB port to charge your phone and other devices.

Total Cost: $1,156

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