Photograph by Kevin A. Roberts
Let’s face it: Not every company can boast showers for employees who bike to work, a deluxe retirement plan, or several cases of beer per month (or, like downtown ad agency Schupp Company, have a free beer-vending machine).
In fact, during a time when the national unemployment rate hovers around 9 percent, a large segment of St. Louisans would be happy simply to have a job—regardless of the perks. As Saint Louis University economist Jack Strauss notes, “The U.S. is stuck in a jobless recovery,” with manufacturing and construction jobs hit particularly hard.
While a number of companies have adjusted to weather the recession, others have learned to do more with less. Some things don’t require a big expense, but can make a big difference in job satisfaction. Replacing harsh fluorescent lights with natural light, for instance. Blocking out time for planning and catching up with co-workers. Leaving the office at lunchtime to escape the endless string of meetings and emails—even if only momentarily.
Naturally, these maxims are most applicable to traditional workplaces. For those who don’t work the typical 9-to-5, other options are sprouting up. Saint Louis Coworking, a relatively new shared office in downtown’s historic Shell Building, provides a space for freelancers to set up shop. Business incubators, like the Center for Emerging Technologies and BioGenerator, are encouraging entrepreneurial ventures and commercializing new research. And some people are striking out on their own, making the leap from stable jobs to their dream jobs.
This month’s cover story (p. 50) highlights a handful of these fearless individuals, as well as ongoing efforts to fuel new jobs. We also spoke to recent college grads, during a time when the national unemployment rate among those with a degree is the highest since 1970, when the
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics began tracking the stat. And we took a peek inside seven inspired work spaces, including Cannon Design—recently recognized by Inc. magazine as one of the nation’s coolest rehabbed spaces—and the office of Cardinals manager Tony La Russa.
As for how we can address more pressing matters, like navigating the larger economic landscape: “The fact that the region has not grown over the past decade, while areas are growing around us, is a real wake-up call,” says Chris Chadwick, executive director of FOCUS St. Louis, a nonprofit that fosters leadership and community engagement. “In an economy like this, one can bury themselves deeper in a survival mode, and I think we need to operate in a much more collaborative and transparent fashion.”
It’s good advice for the region—or your office.
