At Parsec Automation, provider of manufacturing operations management software, employee wellbeing touches everything: From clear priorities to flexible work schedules, employees are encouraged to over-communicate so that they can get their jobs done while still finding work-life balance.
Deanna Drum, vice president of human resources, put it well.
“A sustainable pace is not about slowing the business down,” Drum said. “It’s about creating enough clarity and flexibility so people can do their best work.”
Built In spoke with Drum in detail about how Parsec Automation supports employee wellbeing by putting sustainable work practices first.
Parsec Automation, LLC (Parsec) is a provider of manufacturing operations management software.
Share your principle for sustainable pace — and the signal that proves it works for your team?
Pace is naturally rapid in a lean technology company, especially with teams and customers across the globe. Our employees may be taking meetings early in the morning or later in the evening, traveling to customer sites or shifting between focused work, team collaboration and customer priorities. Because of that, a sustainable pace is not about slowing the business down. It’s about creating enough clarity and flexibility so people can do their best work.
My principle is to prioritize, block and tackle. Our CEO often says we need to prioritize like “air, water, food,” meaning we have to be clear on what matters most. That really resonates with our teams because it gives people a simple way to focus, especially when everything can feel important.
At Parsec, we try to create focus around the most important work and make sure people understand how their role connects to the broader business. Clear goals, frequent communication and ongoing feedback help our teams stay focused on outcomes.
The signal that tells me it’s working is the quality of conversations across the team. Are we communicating in a timely fashion? Are managers having regular check-ins? Are teams able to adjust priorities without losing momentum?
Which policy or norm makes flexible working arrangements succeed — and how do you measure its impact?
The norm that makes flexible work successful is trust with accountability. Flexibility works best when it’s not treated as a perk, but as part of how work gets done.
At Parsec, we focus less on ‘butts in seats’ every minute of the day and more on clarity, communication and outcomes. For our in office teams, we have hybrid schedules and we’re also flexible when employees need to take internal meetings remotely or adjust based on the work at hand. The key is that employees understand priorities, managers stay connected to their teams and everyone remains responsive to the needs of the business, our customers and each other.
What is flexible work like at Parsec?
“Flexibility works best when it’s not treated as a perk, but as part of how work gets done. At Parsec, we focus less on ‘butts in seats’ every minute of the day and more on clarity, communication and outcomes. For our in-office teams, we have hybrid schedules and we’re also flexible when employees need to take internal meetings remotely or adjust based on the work at hand.”
— Deanna Drum, VP of Human Resources
We measure the impact through both formal and informal signals. Frequent company meetings, manager conversations, retention, collaboration across teams and our ability to meet business goals all matter. Flexible work is successful when people feel trusted and supported, while also understanding that flexibility comes with responsibility. When both are present, it strengthens the employee experience and helps the business move with more focus.
Which wellness resource do people actually use — and what improvement have you seen on your team?
One of the wellness practices our employees value most is time away from work. At Parsec, we want people to step away, recharge and come back with the energy and clarity needed to do great work. In addition to paid time off, we close both our U.S. and European offices between Christmas and the new year. It gives employees a real opportunity to disconnect, spend time with family and friends and return refreshed for the challenges and opportunities ahead.
Wellbeing also shows up in how we build connection and camaraderie. We work hard, but we also like to have fun. Our teams are competitive and we sponsor events throughout the year like bowling, sports games and other team activities. In the office, it’s not uncommon to see employees eating lunch together, playing video trivia or cheering while playing a board game.
Those moments may sound simple, but they matter. They help build relationships, strengthen trust and create a workplace where people enjoy being part of the team. The improvement we see is stronger connection across teams, more energy in the office and a culture where people can work hard while feeling supported.
