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MILL VALLEY -- Glassdoor, an online service that allows employees to review their workplaces, helps people find jobs and helps employers find new employees.
Started in 2007 by Robert Hohman, CEO, Tim Besse, whose title is Chief Anything Officer, and Rich Barton, who no longer works in day-to-day operations, Glassdoor has some 250 employees, mostly in its Mill Valley headquarters. About 70 of these employees have technical jobs in engineering, data science and mobile developers. The company mines its database for information useful to employers, where most revenue comes from. A small stream of revenue comes from advertising.
Glassdoor, which itself is a best place to work, has received some $93 million in venture capital funding to date, and has indicated interest in an initial public offering, but with no date set. The company has not released revenue figures, though indicates revenue growth of 145 percent in the past three years. That growth number has little meaning without actual revenue information. The company is not yet profitable.
“Robert Hohman is here every day,” said Scott Dobroski, associate director of corporate communications for Glassdoor. “Employee morale and culture come from the top down,” Mr. Dobroski said. One way Mr. Hohman keeps people informed is with a weekly “huddle” held in a large room. He characterizes Mr. Hohman’s leadership style as “transparent,” with key values of integrity and accountability.
“We practice doing the right thing,” Mr. Dobroski said.
“Accountability means, say what you’re doing to do, and do it,” he said. “We all have very metric, data-driven goals. I don’t care when you work, where you work. The goals and the result is what we care about, as long as it’s done with integrity.”
“There are dangers for the business” if a company rushes into an IPO before the time is ideal, Mr. Dobroski said.
Glassdoor operates largely in the United States, but expanded earlier this year to the U.K. and Europe through a London office. Other countries include Canada, Australia and India. A couple of non-English-speaking countries will be added late this year, Mr. Dobroski said, likely in Europe.
“Glassdoor provides an engaging workplace for employees,” Mr. Dobroski said. “Our employees enjoy walking or biking along the paths, eating at local restaurants or commuting over the Golden Gate Bridge.”
Every quarter, Glassdoor treats employees to a fun event, the most recent at Corte Madera Cinemas, where they viewed a screening of Captain America.
Employees bring their dogs to work, and some participate in on-site yoga, and use outdoor sports equipment such as kayaks and paddleboards.
