Unlimited PTO Diaries: From Oceans to the Mountains
Since the COVID-19 pandemic started, the need for companies to help their employees unplug and recharge has never been more clear. Studies have shown that work-life balance is most strongly correlated with job satisfaction. At CrossComm, we are steadfast in our commitment to work-life balance and encourage our employees to use our guilt-free unlimited paid time off (PTO) benefit as a way of caring for themselves and their families. In the “Unlimited PTO Diaries,” we asked our employees to share how they celebrate life, outside of work.
North Carolina's Great Outdoors
My wife and I grew up spending most of our time outdoors, and when we moved to North Carolina many years ago, little did we know how much we’d fall in love with our state. Today, with our two young kids and dogs, we feel so fortunate to be living and working in the Raleigh-Durham area where it gives us great options to discover both the uncrowded beaches of the Crystal Coast or the western mountain ranges of the Appalachian, Blue Ridge, and Smokies.
The Salt Life
We spend more time on weekends traveling to the Outer Banks or exploring Western North Carolina than we do in our home in the Triangle. We often joke that half of our mortgage goes to the outdoors! Some of our favorite coastal beaches are found on Pea Island, the Hatteras, Ocracoke, and Cape Lookout. We love driving our land cruiser on the sand and finding a remote spot to park, throw a frisbee, do some paddle tennis, run with the dogs, and jump in the waves to cool off. It’s quite an amazing spot where you may only see a few people on the beach in an afternoon.
Off-Roading on the Outer Banks
The Mountain Life
We are often asked if we had to choose one destination, which would it be? We would pick the mountains! They seem to always be calling us.
Some of our favorite mountain towns are Sylva, Bryson City, and Franklin with their close proximity to many streams, lakes, and hiking trails. Our family enjoys camping, climbing, tubing, and white-water rafting. Often, we go off-roading to explore vistas and look for wildlife, like bears, elk, and wild turkeys. In the evenings, we love spending time around the fire, or playing cards, reading books, or bundling up in sleeping bags to watch the stars light up the sky.
The Thrill of Fly Fishing
A few years ago, I picked up fly fishing. And most mornings, you’ll find me wading the local streams chasing trout. I’ve been fishing all my life, and this particular sport is definitely the most challenging and rewarding experience. It’s a lot of strategy, technical skills, patience, and persistence. And I’ve got a long way to go!
Just this spring, I went on a fly fishing trip with one of my buddies to the Tuckasegee River. Together we caught a couple of dozen fish, mainly rainbows, browns, and brook trout - all caught on flies. Above, is a hefty rainbow trout that fought hard and thrilled us with some acrobatic leaps out of the water, before safely arriving in my net and releasing her back into the stream.
I am so grateful for CrossComm’s unlimited PTO, which allows me to chase fish and new business while enjoying family time throughout North Carolina!
