McCORMICK TAYLOR FLEXIBILITY: MAKING A MOVE TO A NEW LOCATION

McCormick Taylor is offering its employees expanded flexibility between the office, work-from-home, and hybrid work lifestyles. We recognize the importance of having options. What might work for one, may not work for another. For example, what if you experience a change in your life that requires, or maybe just inspires a move to a new location? McCormick Taylor’s leadership is committed to working with individuals as they find themselves facing decisions, like a move, that may change where they work, who they work with, and the hours they work. To explore this flexibility further, we interviewed Valarie Barraclough, Senior Project Accountant to capture and share her experience of transitioning from a hybrid work environment in our Philadelphia, PA office to our Pittsburgh, PA office.

How did you begin your career at McCormick Taylor?

I began my career at McCormick Taylor in 2016 as a cost analyst in the Philadelphia office.

 

Can you share what led to the change in office location to Pittsburgh?

My husband (who also works for McCormick Taylor) is originally from Pittsburgh and we wanted to move to the area to be closer to his family. A lot of my family has left the Philadelphia area to various spots all over the US (Iowa, Texas, Florida) so our move made sense as we always value being close to family.

 

How has McCormick Taylor supported your need to move?

McCormick Taylor was very flexible and approving of our decision to move to Pittsburgh. MT understands the importance of family and appreciated our reasons for moving. Our managers were flexible with any time we needed off for our physical, long-distance moves, looking at houses, or if we needed to schedule time for any services to come out after the move.

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A night at the Benedum Center for Valarie and her sisters-in-law and mother-in-law (Val third from the left)
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Valarie's cats, Pepper and Roscoe, enjoying the sunroom in their new house in Pittsburgh
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From one of Valarie's many trips to the National Aviary in Pittsburgh

How has your work environment and experience changed since you moved to Pittsburgh? (still hybrid? Office/no office? How is your day to day similar or different?)

After the move and change in office location, I am still working a hybrid schedule. Virtually, I have not experienced any change since our move; I still meet with my managers and department on a regular basis via video call. Physically, I work out of the Pittsburgh office once a week instead of the Philadelphia office, making trips to the Philadelphia office when necessary. Experience wise, my move has not impacted any opportunities I may have had working out of the Philadelphia office vs. the Pittsburgh office.

 

Why was it important for you to make this life change while maintaining your employment at McCormick Taylor?

I thoroughly enjoy working at McCormick Taylor and can see a path for even more growth. It’s incredible to find a place where it feels like your work means something and that you are not just another number. I treasure my manager and the people I work with so giving that up did not seem like a viable option to me.

 

Anything additional you would like to add about your experience?

While I do miss some things from Philadelphia, our move to Pittsburgh and support from MT was and continues to be amazing. The city itself is beautiful, we get to see family much more often than we used to, and our lives would look a lot different without the support we had.