Morning Brew - 🕐 Unlimited PTO

Time-saving tools and products we’re really into rn.

• Get in on the film photography trend taking over Instagram feeds everywhere with the help of Brooklyn-based photography store Photodom. Its online store offers everything from disposables to full SLR cameras.
• Find out how well you really know the people in your life by playing this thought-provoking game.
• TikToker @alexisbarber_ uses these systems to balance “basically three careers (including one at YouTube), a boyfriend, an apartment, a social life, and everything else.”

What’s top-of-mind at the watercooler.

Starting a new job can feel a little like the first day of school. With the transition from in-person onboarding to virtual though, the feelings are the same, but the process looks vastly different. From figuring out which of your four bedroom walls serves as the best Zoom background, to deciding which top screams “professional” from the shoulders up, starting a new job remotely is admittedly a little weird.

Succeeding at your new remote role also comes with its own challenges, especially when you don’t have the opportunity to meet your team or manager face to face. Remote employees also have good reason to be worried about putting forward the best first impression, as research suggests that those who work remotely may experience fewer opportunities for advancement—making it clear that setting yourself up for long-term success in your new remote role is key.

Phoebe Gavin, executive director of talent and development at Vox, recently began her new remote position and documented her first 30 days and shared some tips in a Twitter thread. Although Gavin’s thread is filled with gems, here are three actionable takeaways:

• Develop a clear understanding of how success is measured in your role. Use this to help you create and set goals for your first 90 days. And don’t forget to share these with your manager!
• Power map your organization to understand who the major stakeholders are and attempt to build strong relationships with them.
• Decide early on what a good work–life balance looks like for you in this role and clearly communicate it to your manager. This includes setting concrete work hours.

Do you have any tips for starting a new job? Share with the class (and me) in the inbox!

Your punch list for when you punch out.

Read: A deep dive into our fascination with female scammers like Anna Delvey and Elizabeth Holmes.

Watch: Jeff Goldblum causing chaos in the kitchen while making a three-tiered birthday cake with Bon Appétit.

Eat: These delicious baked tofu bites are by far my go-to recipe. They’re easy to make and can be used in soooo many dishes. Pro tip: For an extra kick of flavor, add this starter pack from Omsom to your sauce mix.

You had us at ground beef for life. Patties, meatballs, bolognese—do it all courtesy of ButcherBox, the meat-delivery subscription that’s offering FREE ground beef in every box for the life of your membership. Only when you sign up now.*

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Burning questions of our time.

In theory, unlimited PTO is a dream. The ability to vacation without worrying about time limits (or even worse, accrual systems), is an attractive option typically offered by tech and startup companies. While this time-off policy offers benefits like increased flexibility and less burnout (in an ideal world at least), research shows that those who have unlimited time off take fewer vacation days than those who don’t. This is mainly because the amount of acceptable time off looks different at every company–and with no minimum vacation day amount, employees are on their own when it comes to calculating how much time they should or shouldn’t take off. Unlimited PTO also means that upon your exit from a company, you won’t be receiving a payout for any days you didn’t take.

As this Lifehacker article points out, “Unlimited PTO isn’t a perk—it’s a policy.” So, readers, is unlimited PTO a friend or foe? Reply and let me know!

Your thoughts on hot desking: That’s (not) hot. While swapping work locations sounds good to a select few, most of you enjoy the idea of having a desk to decorate and call your own. Trust us, we get it.