Nathan Duvall is the founder and owner of GruffyGoat, a tight-knit web design and development firm out of South Carolina. Since founding the company in 2012, the flock has grown to 20+ team members, with some strategically placed around the globe.
“My passion has always been whoever was part of GruffyGoat and what I've built, I want them to feel like part of the team, whether they're sitting beside me or across the world somewhere,” explains Duvall. In 2023, HeyTaco became part of this passion.
Recognition in response to going remote
GruffyGoat went fully remote during the pandemic and opted to remain that way as restrictions lifted. The only rub was maintaining the team connection Duvall says is essential to his company.
The transition will sound familiar to many organizations. The difference is that GruffyGoat already knew it needed something fun and accessible, so they chose HeyTaco. Team leads made sure to model the behavior, giving virtual tacos following a simple Slack announcement. As is often the case, the team didn't require much more than that. “There are tacos being passed even while we're talking here,” says Duvall. “So it's happening all throughout the day.”
“It feels like a game in a way, but it's also very much part of our culture. It really tied into who we are as a company and how we work.”
Nathan Duvall, Founder & OwnerRewards? They'd rather enjoy them together.
Most teams cash out for gift cards. GruffyGoat pools them.
“It's not even the personal stuff for most people. We do have people that redeem it for online classes and gaming credits and, like, a book of your choice, drinks on us, that kind of stuff.” On the whole, though, they pool tacos for collaborative rewards like virtual team lunches, escape rooms, murder mysteries, and other experiences. “We're getting ready to do Office Olympics this week.”
They also enjoy using tacos for charitable donations. Every taco is a dollar donated to an organization, many of which are local to areas where team members live.
On a Quest for belonging and balance
New hires are introduced to HeyTaco on their first day. This is what helps sustain GruffyGoat's culture of recognition, along with the fact that it's integrated into the flow of work. However, Duvall acknowledges that developers and designers can get a little too wrapped up in what's on the screen.
Enter Quests. With Quests, employees earn tacos for completing tasks. GruffyGoat distributes tacos for wellness-related quests, from taking a walk to completing a digital detox.
“We want to encourage people to step away just for a little bit, to catch their breath and get some time away.”
Authentic, high-participation team-building everyone signs up for
If you're planning team events that feel like forced fun, take a few tips from GruffyGoat. Add them to your collaborative rewards catalog, and watch as people put tacos toward the activities and experiences they're most looking forward to.
“I don't have to push it. It just happens naturally and organically, and that's probably the best way for it to happen,” says Duvall. “Without HeyTaco, I don't know how we would necessarily collaborate and see what's going on between teams.”
Nathan Duvall, Founder & OwnerSee how HeyTaco works for tech teams and join GruffyGoat in building stronger remote connections.
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