Photo credits : Joshua Epstein
Synergy Team members at work
Perks for employees — and a recruiting lure for new candidates — include a variety of benefits that align with Synergy ’ s “ Enjoy the Journey ” core value . Employees get free daily Starbucks , monthly chair massages , popcorn days , half-day Fridays and birthdays off , and they can join in on team-building exercises , too .
“ We all recognize at the end of this journey of life nobody says , ‘‘ I wish I would have worked more ,’” says Meyer . “ They say , “ I wish I would have enjoyed things more .” We believe that having fun and doing well and doing good in the community and doing well financially don ’ t have to be independent of each other . You can do both .”
As for thriving in difficult economic times , Meyer and his leadership believe in a willingness to adapt . While he doesn ’ t love the remote work style , in the current day and age , he ’ s learned that companies that want to survive need to embrace it . Adaptation , he says , is how businesses keep their best talent while maintaining a vibrant work culture .
“ Part of it is adapting or we ’ re going to go extinct ,” he says . “ We have to be flexible . People work in different ways now . I ’ m thinking about these people [ employees ] as customers . What do your customers want ?”
That adaptability attitude is what ’ s gotten Synergy Billing through periods of change and challenges like the COVID pandemic . Growing pains and necessary change are a part of every successful company , says Jeannette Duerr , Synergy Billing ’ s executive vice president , corporate affairs .
“ Adaptability is very important to be successful in our company ,” says Duerr . “ The thing is , after each of those painful periods , every single time , we came out better .”
A dedication to excellence is part of what makes the team thrive together during those tough times , she says .
“ In addition to the collaboration and enjoying the journey together , I think the other thing that makes our team successful is our commitment to excellence . Every single day we ’ re working together to be better at what we do ,” says Duerr , who joined the company in 2014 . “ There are times when team members don ’ t work out and oftentimes it ’ s not being able to find that balance .”
As for business as a whole in Volusia County , Meyer says steering away from traditional practices is what will help local companies succeed now and in the future . Employees want more than a 9-to-5 and health benefits .
A 2022 Pew Research Center survey found low pay , a lack of advancement opportunity and feeling disrespected at work were
| 6 | EVOLVE BUSINESS AND ENTREPRENEUR MAGAZINE