The Knot Worldwide helps couples all over the world connect with wedding vendors and venues all through the wedding planning resource mobile app. Located in 15 countries, the company provides couples a checklist that helps them plan for their special day. But The Knot Worldwide is so much more than that. It's the parent company of several other companies that help you through the big, special moments throughout your life. From moving in with your significant other to starting a family, the lifestyle company provides access to The Bump, The Nest and so many other companies to support you throughout the big milestones in life.
Diving Into the Values at The Knot Worldwide
Since The Knot Worldwide is a pretty new company, the employees actually got to help decide on the company's core values. A merge between The Knot and WeddingWire ended up as The Knot Worldwide. During the merge, the executive team took a long look over the two company's core values.
While many of them were similar, the team decided they had an opportunity to involve some of the most important people in the company. So they turned to their employees and hosted focus groups to revamp their values. The groups focused on what inspired them to come into work every day. And they ended up with:
While the company hosted these focus groups the executive team figured out there were a lot of seams around who everyone wanted the company to be. Now when they're going to hire someone, they look for people who check all of these values. The Knot Worldwide truly is a culture where everyone is striving toward the same common goal. "Our people built these core values that's really important to us," said Samantha Eisner, Employee Experience Specialist.
Giving Back
Serving the Global Community
The Knot Worldwide not only prides itself on helping people plan for their biggest moments in their lives, but the company is also heavily involved in the local communities where its offices are located. "We do our best to serve the global community," said Eisner.
Every year on the Friday before Mother's Day, The Knot Worldwide hosts a Donate Day. Every one of its offices around the world shut down for the day. Then employees visit local charities to give back. Previous charities they've visited include food banks, diaper banks, animal shelters and homeless shelters.
But it doesn't end there. "We are always hosting events that are tied to giving back," Eisner said. "Giving back is ingrained in our culture." And while you're getting a day to get away from the office, you're getting away for a good cause. Plus, you get to spend the day with colleagues from different departments that you haven't spent a lot of time with.
"I've never worked at a company that spends so much time giving back," Eisner said. At the office located in Washington, D.C., they host a program called Brews for Someone New. An employee pushes a beer cart around the office for happy hour offering beer, water or seltzer for a couple of bucks. Everyone who purchases a drink pays using Venmo. Then at the end of the happy hour, however much is collected is donated to the charity of choice of the person walking the cart around.
"Giving back is really tied back into our core values. Our colleagues are interested, willing and excited about giving back," Eisner said. The company even offers a donation match policy of up to $100 per person every year.
Unique Culture
It's a Community Thing
The culture at The Knot Worldwide is dedicated to providing a sense of community. Through resource groups, affinity groups and clubs, the company has built a sense of community within its walls. All of the community groups are volunteer based and employee led. "They're a great way to get involved," Eisner said.
The corporate councils are formed around a representative body of people who can advise and contribute skills that benefit the actual company brand and culture. These councils include a Diversity and Inclusion Council, Philanthropy Council, and a Safety Council, among many others. Affinity groups act as a support for specific groups of people. These groups get together for happy hours and offsite events.
The company clubs are just a fun and easy way for employees to get involved. From book clubs to movie clubs, employees find common interests to create strong bonds with each other outside of a work environment.
Exciting Benefits
Your Stomach Won't Be in a Knot Over These Perks
From company fantasy leagues to an onsite hair salon, The Knot Worldwide wants to provide as much convenience and fun with the benefits it offers employees. The company has several intramural sports teams that it supports. And employees get to enjoy free snacks at the office. Some of the offices even have a small marketplace or a Sweetgreen outpost.
In addition to these fun, unique perks, the company also hosts several events throughout the year. For example the company hosts a summer party and a take your kids to work day. And it would be a disgrace if they didn't celebrate on Valentine's Day. So they do with a happy hour. Every employee is encouraged to bring someone to the event to enjoy live music and catered food. "It's a reason to come together and meet everyone's families," said Eisner.
Celebrating Successes
From Shout Outs to Trophies
If The Knot Worldwide knows anything, it's how to celebrate its employees. During the all-hands monthly meetings, the executive team takes an hour to update everyone on what each department is doing. They celebrate fun wins during this meeting including handing out the core value awards. These awards are given to people who exemplify the company's core values by going above and beyond. Winners take home gift cards and a trophy.
In addition to helping customers celebrate their milestones in life, the company makes sure to celebrate their employees' milestones as well. The company presents a gift to each employee when they get engaged, married or have (or adopt) a baby. Employees also receive a gift for reaching milestones within the company, such as celebrating their 1,3,5,10,15, and 20 year anniversaries. For all of the little celebrations in between, colleagues are constantly emailing each other or giving shout outs in the company's Slack channel to celebrate wins.
Mentorship Program
Learning New Skills
The Knot Worldwide is always making sure they're investing in their employees to help them get what they want out of their career. Through the mentorship program, employees can learn new skills that help them achieve their goals. And while many employees choose to focus on retaining new skills that are career focused, there are also personal mentorships that help you with everyday things. This could be anything from learning how to budget to becoming a better public speaker.
On the other side of the mentorship is the mentor. Each mentor goes through training that helps them understand what it means to be a mentor. "We don't put a cap on mentors. They can be at whatever level in the company as long as they have skills to transfer to the mentees," Eisner said. "We're really invested in employees' careers here."
The mentorship also provides employees a networking opportunity. Each mentee is paired with a mentor that is outside of their department. By meeting someone new or connecting with someone you don't work with everyday, you're able to expand your network to learn something new. And that's really the purpose of this program. It's easy to see why so many people are chomping at the bit to work at The Knot Worldwide. It truly is a great place to be.
