May/June 2016 – BizVoice/Indiana Chamber
83
RESOURCE:
Salesforce at
www.salesforce.combut if it was a wine thing, I would’ve been
all over that!” York laughs).
• Staff went head to head in a competition
where teams prepared a meal and pitched
it to judges, just like on
Iron Chef America
.
• When
Star Wars: The Force Awakens
was
released, the company rented the IMAX
theater for employees to be among the first
to see the long-awaited film.
“Salesforce employees take pride in
never taking ourselves too seriously, and we
incorporate fun in everything we do,” Wade
remarks.
Dial ‘1-1-1’ for local impact
In 2015, Salesforce Indy employees
collectively completed 32,000 volunteer
hours. That equates to more than three-and-a-
half years’ worth of community impact.
Salesforce operates on what it calls a “1-1-
1” philanthropy model, in which it supports
local nonprofits by giving 1% of its products,
1% of its equity and 1% of its employees’
time. This translates into seven days of
volunteer time off for each employee.
One example of Salesforce’s community
impact is its adoption of IPS School 51, where
employees spend time tutoring and reading
with students. A group of volunteers even
painted a mural in the school’s cafeteria. Last
year, the company presented the school with
100 iPads and spent time with teachers and
students, making sure they understood how
to use them for education.
“It’s just a spirit and energy that
transcends someone at their desk doing their
work to really our involvement in the
community,” McCorkle emphasizes.
Once employees complete their seven
volunteer days, they are awarded a $1,000
Champion’s Grant to donate to a nonprofit of
their choice. Organizations that have
benefitted locally include Gleaners Food
Bank, Second Helpings, Indianapolis Public
Schools, Make-a-Wish Foundation, Greater
Indianapolis Habitat for Humanity, and the
Boys and Girls Club of Indianapolis.
“It is awesome to work for a company
that is so socially minded,” York shares.
“(Volunteering is) an organization-wide
initiative, but it’s also very personal.
Individuality is still encouraged, and that’s
another great thing about the company.
Spend your volunteer hours where you want.
We’ll reimburse you for the wellness
activities that you want. It shows itself in a lot
of different ways, but it’s another reason why
I really like working here.”
York previously worked for iGoDigital,
a start-up acquired by ExactTarget in 2012.
Each time an acquisition occurred, she
wondered if she would still enjoy the work
environment. In spite of Salesforce’s position
as the fastest-growing enterprise software
company in the world (and locally as a
leading Indiana tech employer), she says it
maintains the start-up vibe in which she thrives.
“A lot of the things I really loved about
the start-up environment are still here,” she
concludes. “I get to be creative in my job. I
get to think of new ways to solve problems. I
get a lot of autonomy in decision making. I
am made to feel like I was brought in here
because of my unique perspectives and that I
should feel empowered to give those and not
just fall in with the company line.”
Best Places to Work in Indiana