Tucked back in Kendall Square and a stone’s throw from Twitter’s new offices is a company that’s as concerned with its employees’ well being and learning as it is the bottom line. While NextJump offers an online marketplace for organizations’ in-house rewards programs, the real rewards, as far as we can tell, are won by the workforce at this Boston-born company. Don’t believe us, do the math. Or just read NextJump’s guiding mission: “Better Me + Better You = Better Us.”
The company offers a number of internal programs aimed at building its team’s talent, starting with NxJ University. NextJump brings in a new CEO to speak to the all departments of the company every month. Who wouldn’t want to learn from charity:water Founder and CEO Scott Harrison or thought leader and Start With Why author Simon Sinek? Not to mention the firm offers a slew of peer-nominated leadership positions and mentoring opportunities for its driven crew of NextJumpers. Another quirky leadership builder: Each week, the company’s higher ups hand out miniature blue Smurfs to celebrate individuals who went above and beyond in the past few days. The perks are in plenty, and employees have a hand in shaping them. Founder, CEO and Tufts alumnus Charlie Kim polled the company, asking them what benefit would make their lives a little easier. Their answer: not having to waste time doing their laundry. A few weeks later, and voila: Both the Boston and NYC offices have a wash-and-fold laundry service (and yes, dry cleaning is included).
A healthy team is a happy team, according to NextJump. The Boston office boasts a fully stocked gym, complete with a personal trainer, workout classes and rock climbing wall. Let me repeat that again: A rock climbing wall. Even better, the firm pays employees to use the sporty facilities. The company is split up into teams. If each person checks into the gym twice in a week, everyone on said squad receives a sum of money. Don’t worry, though: NextJumpers know how to have fun, too. The company is known to get feisty when it comes to flip cup competitions, and it keeps two kegs tapped at the ready for tiebreakers.
The company’s big heart goes beyond its own workforce, however. When a local non-profit was having a tough time making rent in pricey NYC, NextJump’s office absorbed them, letting the organization’s team share the space for free. The Kendall Square post is also keeping a dozen or so desks open for a Boston-based non-profit to move in.
Trust me when I say that this has barely scratched the surface on the model company culture fostered by NextJump. To get a closer look …
