A Warm Glow: How Peloton Team Members Embody Kindness in Their Communities

At Peloton, volunteering is an act that’s celebrated with both hands in the air. Across the organization, our full time and part-time team members have the opportunity and dedicated paid time off needed to contribute to the volunteer organization they are passionate about supporting. Through the Together We Give platform, team members across Peloton discover volunteer opportunities that align with their interests, and then immediately get to work to impact change in their communities. 

Peloton’s appreciation for team members’ commitment to their communities is being recognized in a new way this year through our first Day of Giving on November 30, 2021, in which team members are offered additional resources to volunteer and donate. 

“I think when you do any form of giving, the whole process starts from the idea. It's almost like having a holiday. The excitement builds within you. Then after your holiday, you sit back with that warm glow, hopefully a tan. That’s the way I look at the whole process. The moment you come together or share the idea with your team and somebody bounces off you and says, ‘Yes, I think that's wonderful.” This is Peloton team member, Phil Gizzie’s, take on serving the world. Phil is a Lead Brand Ambassador in the Peloton London office, though a more appropriate title might be Chief Service Enthusiast. 

He sits on Peloton’s sustainability working group, is a member of the LGBTQ+ Employee Resource Group (ERG), and donates his time and resources to organizations that support men’s mental and physical health, sustainability, and climate change. 

Like Phil, all Peloton team members — whether hourly or salaried — are given the time and space to engage with and serve their communities. Here’s how some Peloton team members are using their time to show love to their communities. 

Cara Lyons, Senior Team Lead, Accounts Payable, based in New York City volunteers her time with a local pregnancy care organization that supports young mothers-to-be in her community in New Jersey. “It is so fulfilling for me, and I get back much more than I give every year," she says. “I think that's wonderful and I would love for everybody to experience it.”

Deidra Wong, a Recruiter on our Talent Acquisition team in Taiwan, started volunteering her time in college when she spent a month teaching children in Nepal. “I’ve never been at a company where you are given Volunteer Time Off,” she says. “In other organizations, volunteering isn’t seen as a legitimate reason to take off.” To amplify her volunteer efforts, Deidra also shares her support for organizations that are focused on children’s education and marine life on both LinkedIn and Facebook. 

Emma Lin, a Recruiting Coordinator who is also on Taiwan’s Talent Acquisition team, is drawn to supporting animal care organizations. “It feels good because it means that [Peloton] not only focuses on doing the work, but also understands and emphasizes the value in supporting each other, and helping to make the environment better.” This is how Peloton truly embodies its value of “Together We Go Far.” 

Emma also says programs like this one help her do her job as a Recruiting Coordinator. “Employer branding is quite important to me and my team. When I introduce this to candidates, it will help them understand that Peloton is not only focused on workflow or KPIs—we also value humankind.” 

Cara’s message to her fellow Peloton team members is this: Use your volunteer time. “There's always somebody or some organization that you believe in that needs you, and that need can be for one day or for years. Don't be afraid to give.”

Phil believes the satisfaction of volunteering starts within, but inevitably spreads wider. “There's an element of feeling much more well-rounded as a person, and of course experiencing the positive benefits that come with doing nice things for others. And if you can do that on a much wider and broader spectrum, then that awesome feeling is expanded, too.”