The sticky notes you find around Railinc tell stories about our culture and how we develop our products, how we learn from and work with our customers, and how we meet the technology needs of the freight rail industry. A regular feature on the Railinc Tracks blog, Found on a Sticky Note takes a look at an individual sticky note and provides insights into who we are and what we do.
Not all the sticky notes around our office have to do with the Agile software development method. Sometimes you just need a reminder to pick up snacks for your child's class.
Our employees love that Railinc supports work/life balance. Need to step out of the office to pick up those pretzels or run a few other errands? Is it your day to hit the gym for an afternoon workout? Or are you helping out in your child's classroom and need to be out of the office one morning? It isn't a problem. Our benefits include flexible scheduling and telecommuting options that give employees the freedom they need to get their Railinc work done without sacrificing their personal lives.
For example, an employee with a long commute could work from home a few days a week to cut down on the time they spend on the road. And we provide the technology and flexibility to work from home at a moment's notice if a child's illness, a personal matter or a snow day prevents an employee from coming to the office.
"The flexibility is one reason I've been here for 17 years," said Megan Rowe, a buyer for the company and the owner of the pretzel sticky note. The flexible scheduling—she works through lunch so she can leave a little early each day—helps her better manage her two daughters' schedules.
Telecommuting Offers Concentrated Work Time
For a long-term arrangement like an alternative work schedule or regular telecommuting, our full-time employees just need to work with their immediate manager to agree on terms. Because of the nature of specific jobs, some positions aren't eligible for telecommuting.
Leigh Baudreau, senior manager for financial planning and analysis, works from home one day a week. "It gives me concentrated work time," she said. "I'm always available on email and IM chat, but I can get quiet working time at home."
Everyone on Leigh's team can work from home twice a week, but the entire team is in the office together one day a week. It takes flexibility on the manager's part, Leigh said, and there are hectic times of the year. But the telecommuting option is a great benefit that her team appreciates, she said.
"I can work from home if I need to, take a break during the day for a pediatrician visit with my son or even just run a personal errand," said Chris Richter, communications manager. "I have two small children, and knowing that I have that flexibility gives me peace of mind when it comes to managing our schedules."
Railinc Supports Family Time in the Office
At Railinc, work/life balance isn't just about about figuring where and when to work. We also support family time in the office.
When school's out, it isn't unusual see children in the office, reading books or playing with toy trains while mom or dad works. On Halloween, you're likely to run into Batman or a princess or a cowboy walking around with buckets full of candy. Each year the children of employees visit the office for trick or treating, and employees decorate their work spaces and provide treats for the kids. And later this month, employees will bring their children to visit Railinc for Take Your Daughters and Sons to Work Day.
What better way for a kid to start their day than talking trains with mom or dad?
—Railinc Corporate Communications