Atlassian wins Greater Austin Business Award for unique company culture that retains talent

You are where you work.

That could be the new adage for the century as company culture is becoming more important than ever. More than 53.5 million millennials (ages 18-34) make up the labor force in the United States. This growing generation is one factor for the shifting priorities we experience in the workforce. From flexibility on the job, professional development, to community service, company culture is the one way businesses are retaining top talent.

One Austin company, Atlassian, is proof of this theory. Just this year alone, the company has retained 92 percent of their 300 person staff (talk about impressive). Six offices worldwide and more than 2,000 employees later, Atlassian made a commitment to focus on a values-driven culture that would grow their business.

“At Atlassian, our values aren’t seen as corporate BS but as a guiding light that informs key decisions,” said Kristen Clemmer, of Atlassian. “For us, a sustainable culture means one that’s always changing, but one that’s informed by a shared set of values. Ask any Atlassian to name their favorite value and you’re guaranteed to get an articulate answer in return.”

Atlassian’s company culture has created global-award winning products including Trello, Jira, HipChat, Bamboo, Confluence, StatusPage, and BitBucket. Recently, Atlassian won the Texas Capital Bank Company Culture Award. The accolade, a category of the Greater Austin Business Awards program, recognizes businesses that foster a collaborative work environment that enhances employee performance, culture, and competitive advantage.

The company culture of Atlassian encourages collaboration and acceptance of all employees. In order to do this, the company host company traditions including Friday Morning Breakfasts where employees get a chance to learn each other on a personal level and SHIPIT days where Atlassians are able to build or create things within 24 hours. The company also provides employees with $3,000 each year for training or tuition courses and an additional $250 each year for self-directed learning resources. All Atlassian offices offer employees fully stocked kitchens with locally produced snacks, sit and stand desks, spaces to fit any working style, onsite exercise classes, and a ton of social events.

“All of our offices are unique in their own ways with local personality playing as big a role as our values. We take great care in making sure that all Atlassians feel at home while at the office,” said Clemmer. “Its this mix of local flare coupled with a global understanding of our values that create a one-of-a-kind culture.”

Lately, Atlassian’s one-of-a-kind-culture offered employees the once in a lifetime opportunity to visit Cambodia. Since 2009, the Atlassian Foundation partnered with Room to Read, to empower children with education by providing them books to improve literacy. The global nonprofit focuses on helping young girls build their self-confidence to finish school, study, and lead their own self-determined lives. Click here to view Atlassian’s annual Trek in Cambodia.

For more information on Atlassian, click here.

Pictured (left to right): Ellen Wood, Chair of the Greater Austin Chamber of Commerce; Kristen Clemmer of Atlassian and team; (right of stage) Kerry Hall of Texas Capital Bank; and Liz Hocker of Texas Capital Bank.

Image Credit: @Atlassian