Golden Hippo Embraces Hybrid Work to Optimize Flexibility and Collaboration - BuiltIn LA

Golden Hippo is an employee-owned vertically integrated e-commerce company that operates a direct-to-consumer marketplace for health, beauty and pet care brands. While headquartered in Woodland Hills, CA, the company’s 1,000-plus employees include many remote workers. With that in mind, Golden Hippo has taken a hybrid approach to work for a number of years.

The key to the company’s approach, according to Tannum Sullivan, employer brand and employee engagement manager, is balancing a culture that privileges in-person collaboration with an emphasis on flexibility.  

“We encourage Hippos who are close to our headquarters to come to the office at least once a week,” Sullivan said. “This promotes more of the in-person collaboration and teamwork that many of our projects and initiatives require. It’s a great reason to stop by the office, grab a coffee and snack from our fully-stocked kitchen and have that face-to-face communication we’ve been missing over the last few years.” 

In pursuit of that goal, while in the office, team members — or “Hippos” — can also enjoy a number of perks that go beyond lattes and chips. 

We treat our employees as professionals. That respect, commitment, loyalty and drive to succeed is what we get in return.”

“Hippos can enjoy our employee-led yoga classes, sit with their peers for a catered lunch in celebration of the month's diversity awareness initiatives and enjoy a team-sponsored happy hour in our game room and employee lounge,” said Sullivan. 

Sullivan and the Golden Hippo team enjoy an optimally flexible working environment in which team members ultimately choose the schedule and workplace that works best for them.

“‘Flexible’ is the keyword here,” Sullivan said. “Whatever works best for our Hippos and our teams, whether it's one day a week or five days a week, our office is open to our Hippos for that in-person work environment. We treat our employees as professionals. That respect, commitment, loyalty and drive to succeed is what we get in return.”

Sullivan continued: “Our departments have the autonomy to choose what days work best for them and their teammates. Can’t make it that day? Not a big deal. We’re incredibly flexible and our ultimate goal is that our Hippos are productive, having fun, collaborating — either in-person or through our various virtual options — and hitting goals.”

(Credit: BuiltIn LA)