Breaking out of the cubicle

Drink hard, play hard, work hard. That’s the unofficial motto for the employees at Boulder’s renegade Avery Brewing. Here, it’s all about the beer, and that extends to the employee perks, the office culture and the hiring processes. All Avery employees receive a case of beer a week and can grab a beer anytime in the taproom—even during work hours.

Co-worker disputes are resolved “with a few beers out at the red tables,” a reference to the outdoor patio where staffers often converge to socialize. And the creative freedom bestowed to longtime employees is reflected by the innovation of the beer that comes out of Avery taps. One large room in the not-so-traditional brewery is full of wine, bourbon and rum barrels now filled with beer; it was created after one employee wanted to experiment with

barrel-aging beer.

There is no doubt that Avery is a cool place to work. Beyond “cool,” it’s a place with a ton of employee satisfaction and, in turn, retention. Employees here enjoy beer-education groups or shadow peers in other departments to expand their knowledge of the beer and the business. There is a common passion for beer, for Avery, for life. They hire passionate people, and they celebrate those passions.

And because of all this, there is very little turnover, says Holly Pearson, Avery’s human resources director and office manager. Once folks are hired, they don’t usually leave. It’s a family, she says.

“People just like being here. They love the opportunity to geek out on beer,” she said.

But for all of Avery’s benefits, perks, office culture and family feel, it’s not necessarily unmatched in the Boulder County area. In fact you’ll find that companies in Boulder County are often recognized for how they attract, engage and retain employees. From Louisville’s Natural Habitat Adventures, which sends employees on annual trips and hosts employee ping pong sessions, to Training Peaks in Lafayette, which gives staff members $600 in cash to spend on fitness each year, there is no limit to the depth and breadth of fun perks, practical benefits and team-building programs that employers will offer. It’s all about developing unique office cultures and focusing on work-life balance at Boulder County companies. And it’s not all about beer—though that seems to be a trend at many top companies. Ranging from flexible work environments, company values and self-management to game rooms, staff-wide retreats in the mountains and bus passes, work looks a little more pleasurable sitting in a Boulder County office building.

And more still, there is a connection between these companies and the Boulder County way of life, according to human resource managers and executives from various local companies: Being in Boulder makes companies attractive to employees, inspires passion within employees and sets a tone for the culture.

“We would not be the same company if we were not in Boulder,” said Joe Osborne, marketing director for Avery. “We’ve had offers from other cities to bring Avery there, but we are committed to Boulder because it is a part of what makes us who we are.”