Osano Company Culture & Values

How does Osano help team members recharge during the holiday season?

Each December, we designate the last week of the year as a “no-meeting week,” pausing weekly one-on-ones, team check-ins and companywide gatherings. This intentionality gives our “Osanians” time to focus on important tasks — or simply enjoy quality time with loved ones — without the pull of scheduled meetings. 

We also reflect and celebrate together. Our final all-hands meeting of the year highlighted cross-functional wins and individual contributions in a year-in-review format. This year, we also experimented with a virtual holiday party with interactive spaces designed for fun and connection, encouraging employees to share meaningful moments from 2024 and time together. 

As a token of appreciation, every employee receives a holiday gift through partnerships with mission-driven, B-Corp companies, such as Bombas, Uncommon Goods and, this year, Gifts for Good. This highlights our effort to show genuine appreciation while contributing to causes that align with our own B-corp mission and values.

Why is this support important from a work-life balance perspective?

At Osano, we believe rest and recharge aren’t just perks — they’re essential for caring for our mental health and driving personal and professional success. The holiday season can be both joyful and demanding, so we’ve implemented thoughtful practices that help our fully remote team pause, reflect and reconnect when it matters most. 

Balancing work and life is especially important during the holiday season, when personal commitments and year-end deadlines often collide. By removing meetings and offering meaningful holiday perks, we create space for employees to step back, recharge and focus on what matters most — themselves, their family and each other. Encouraging rest goes beyond recharging; it’s about creating an environment where employees feel supported and return excited, ready to tackle new challenges.

What kind of feedback has your team received regarding this support during the holiday season? How has it positively impacted employees? 

Throughout the year, our Osanians shared how no-meeting weeks help them make the most of their time, whether they’re taking time off or enjoying deep focus work. This flexibility allows our Osanians to take time off, have longer lunches with loved ones, enjoy extended walks with their dogs or co-work while traveling — all without the pressure and demands of recurring meetings. This is why, outside of our quarterly no-meeting weeks, we continue to make it possible around the holidays. 

Personally, I valued having uninterrupted time with my family and experiencing my one-year-old’s first holiday season. I know these moments are the ones we can never get back, especially when children are young, so being able to unplug, celebrate and still balance my responsibilities at work made the season feel truly special. 

By listening and adapting based on team feedback, we continuously enhance our holiday season initiatives, ensuring that rest, recognition, and connection remain at the heart of our culture.