Barrel Recap 2020

Last summer, tens of thousands of people across the country marched in organized protests after the murder of George Floyd by a Minneapolis police officer. According to a study at Northwestern University, Black men and women in America face a significantly higher lifetime risk of being killed by police than their white peers. In June, Barrel committed $5,000 to organizations fighting racial injustice and white supremacy, including the Equal Justice Initiative, NAACP Legal Defense Fund, and Black Lives Matter. Read More

Our team isn't just in New York and LA anymore. In May, after 2 months of working from home as a result of the pandemic, Barrel transitioned fully to a remote-first work model. Barrel employees now live around the country, calling into our Zoom meetings from wherever they call home. Even as our world transitions to a "new normal," Barrel will continue to be a remote-first workplace into the future.

The COVID-19 pandemic not only changed how we work, but changed our lives in almost every way. In April, the Centers for Disease Control recommended all Americans wear face coverings in public to help slow the transmission of the virus. After Barrel transitioned to a remote-first workplace, our New York City office underwent modifications to make the environment safer for those who wanted to use it, including the requirement to wear a mask if you were sharing the space.

2pm is the new 6pm! In August, after a summer of half-day Fridays, the Barrel leadership announced year-round Summer Fridays in an effort to improve work-life balance and our team's mental health.

In celebration of Barrel's 14th anniversary, every member of our team was sent 4 cartons of Jeni's ice cream to enjoy at home. Brambleberry Crisp forever!

2pm is the new 6pm! In August, after a summer of half-day Fridays, the Barrel leadership announced year-round Summer Fridays in an effort to improve work-life balance and our team's mental health.

In celebration of Barrel's 14th anniversary, every member of our team was sent 4 cartons of Jeni's ice cream to enjoy at home. Brambleberry Crisp forever!

If it hasn't been said enough already, we'll say it again: 2020 was a year like no other. The Barrel team spent 2020 learning, growing, adjusting to new remote ways of working, and of course, creating work we're proud of.
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In March, Barrel moved to a remote-first structure. That meant figuring out how to host formerly in-person meetings over Zoom, dealing with internet hiccups, and working in our own bubbles. But it also meant discovering new tools, challenging our creative skills, and building the future of Barrel.
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We invested in new Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion work, learning how to be anti-racist allies in workshops with Black entrepreneurs, educators, and consultants. These efforts have impacted how we think about the work that we do, our hiring processes, and our biases. The efforts to build a more equitable workplace are ongoing, and we’re committed to doing the work every day.
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The 2020 Barrel Recap is our attempt to capture the complexity, challenges, and creative milestones of the last year, and to set the stage for an even brighter 2021.