Sequoia's COVID Response - Team Members

April 30, 2021 | by Sequoia
Sequoia's COVID Response - Team Members

At Sequoia, our team members keep us going every day. They all continue to build each other up, help when needed, and have a positive attitude. Though we practiced physical distancing throughout the pandemic, we still made sure team members were a part of our Sequoia Team. What we created brought us together, even if sometimes virtually, and continued our Sequoia spirit of teamwork, winning hearts and fans, and doing the right thing! Check out what we did below:

Raises to all Team Members in April '20

Taking care of our people is our priority. On an annual basis, we reward our team members with a pay increase based purely on loyalty to Sequoia, even during a pandemic.

Reopened Our Benefits Enrollment

At the start of the pandemic, we reopened our benefits enrollment to ensure all team members were able to sign up for much needed benefits during the public health crises.

"Rest and Recharge" Paid Days Off

The pandemic has proven both physically and mentally exhausting. We continue to offer additional paid days off, not counting against vacation banks. The company shuts down on these days to ensure everyone can rest and recharge.

Sequoia SWAG

Special gift cards, bonuses, and branded clothing items are just some of the fun items we send to our team members.

Three and Four Day Weekend Holidays

Due to the service oriented nature of our business, we aren’t always able to close down our operations on holidays. This past year, we gave our team members extra days off on holiday weekends including Memorial Day, Thanksgiving, and Christmas.

Monthly "Wellness Series"

Our monthly “Wellness Series” showcases experts on stress, mental health, diversity and inclusion, finances, meditation, and mindfulness to present strategies, information, and more to our team members.

Diversity Task Force

Sequoia’s Diversity, Inclusion, Belonging, and Equity (DIBE) Task Force provides opportunities within the company to promote a diverse workforce and to partner on community diversity initiatives.

Sequoia Shout-Out

Our Sequoia “Shout-Outs” give team members the recognition they deserve. Team members are nominated by others in the company for living our brand pillars and receive gift cards and a special post on our social media channels.

Lunch on Us

When the pandemic first began, we provided lunch every day for our on-site teams working to keep their communities running smoothly.

Steps Challenge

To encourage physical and mental health we successfully implemented two separate Steps Challenges. Our team members walked over 20,000 miles in one month!

Enhanced Employee Assistance Program

Our EAP now includes apps such as calm available to all team members.

Pulse Checks and Surveys

We conduct team member “pulse” checks and surveys to gather feedback, see how our team members are doing, and implement requested improvements and changes.

Distance Learning

When school went virtual, we helped our team members by adjusting and working with their schedules. We also purchased Chromebooks for our team member’s children.

Monthly “Huddle Up” Webinar

Our monthly “Huddle Up” webinar is designed to bring all team members together virtually. These webinars include many team members and our CEO and provide information on company focus areas and initiatives, safety protocols, business goals, and recognition.

Virtual Fun Week

Our Summer Fun Week brought all of our team members together. This year, we went virtual, hosting fun giveaways, virtual meetups, and more!

Virtual Coffee Breaks

Virtual coffee breaks kept our team members connected and gave them time to catch up and meet new faces!

Related news & insights

May 26, 2026
Walnut Creek, CA - Sequoia has been recognized as a 2026 Best Workplace in the Bay Area ranking 24th overall in the small/medium category. This is the 5th consecutive year that Sequoia has made this prestigious list establishing itself as one of the best workplaces in the San Francisco Bay region. Sequoia continues to earn recognition as a standout workplace by creating an environment where team members feel valued, and have opportunities to grow both personally and professionally. At the heart of Sequoia’s culture is a focus on people, creating strong team connections, a sense of community with residents, and an environment where team members truly feel a sense of belonging. Additional insights from the survey also highlight the culture Sequoia has built, including 92% of team members saying they felt welcomed on day one. Across the organization, people consistently share support of the team around them, opportunities for growth, employer benefits, and connections they build within their communities as reasons Sequoia feels like more than a workplace, but a community. “Thank you to Fortune and Great Place to Work for recognizing Sequoia as a Best Workplace in the Bay Area for 2026,” says Enrica Suson, Vice President of Human Resources at Sequoia. “This recognition reflects the culture our team members create every day through collaboration, care, and a shared commitment to one another. Being named among the Bay Area’s top workplaces is an honor that inspires us to continue investing in our people and creating meaningful experiences where team members feel supported, valued, and empowered to grow. To our incredible team, thank you for bringing our culture to life and making Sequoia such a special place to work.” The Best Workplaces in the Bay Area list is determined by over 70,000 confidential survey responses from team members at eligible companies and ranking based on the ability to offer consistently positive experiences, building trust with leaders, colleagues, and the overall organization as a whole. To qualify for the Best Workplaces in Bay Area list, companies must be Great Place to Work Certified, have at least ten team members, and be headquartered in the San Francisco Bay Area. View the full list here . About Sequoia At Sequoia, the philosophy is simple: make the ordinary extraordinary. By embracing small gestures that create meaningful moments, Sequoia elevates apartment living into something truly special for both residents and team members. Rooted in innovation and a strong sense of community, Sequoia attracts top talent and empowers its team to deliver exceptional service every day. Since its founding in 1986, Sequoia has grown to manage over 13,000 apartment homes across California, Colorado, Nevada, Oregon, and Washington. The company’s vibrant culture fosters creativity, collaboration, and growth, cementing its reputation as a leader in the multifamily industry. Looking to grow your career at a company that puts its people first? Visit Sequoia’s careers page at: www.sequoiacareers.com Looking to have Sequoia manage your community? Visit the client services page at: www.elevatetosequoia.com/client-services About the Fortune Best Workplaces in the Bay Area Great Place To Work selected the Fortune Best Workplaces in the Bay Area List by surveying 1.3 million employees in the U.S., representing companies that collectively employ more than 7.3 million U.S. workers. Of those responses, more than 70,000 were received from employees at companies that were eligible for the 2026 Fortune Best Workplaces in the Bay Area List, and these rankings are based on their feedback. Companies earn eligibility by being Great Place To Work Certified , having at least 10 U.S. employees, and having headquarters in the Bay Area. Read the full methodology . About Great Place To Work As the global authority on workplace culture, Great Place To Work, a UKG company, brings 30 years of groundbreaking research and data to help every place become a great place to work for all. Its proprietary platform and Great Place To Work Model help companies evaluate the experience of every employee, with exemplary workplaces becoming Great Place To Work Certified and receiving recognition on a coveted Best Workplaces list.
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Walnut Creek, CA - Sequoia has once again been recognized as a Great Place to Work Certified company, marking its fourth consecutive year earning the accolade. Based entirely on confidential team member feedback, the certification reflects Sequoia’s ongoing commitment to building a culture rooted in trust, support, and belonging. The results in this year’s survey reflects a top-tier team member experience, starting from day one with 92% of team members sharing feeling welcomed when they first joined Sequoia. This sentiment also carries over through team member experience with 89% of Sequoia’s workforce noting they are trusted with a high level of responsibility in their roles. Company culture continues to remain a priority at Sequoia with 89% of teams sharing that special events are celebrated throughout the organization including the annual holiday luncheon, surprise and delight gifts, and company branded swag. “Earning the Great Place to Work Certification for the fourth consecutive year is especially meaningful because it reflects the experiences and voices of our team members,” said Enrica Suson, Vice President of Human Resources. “From the moment someone joins Sequoia, we want them to feel welcomed, supported, and trusted to make an impact. Our people are the heart of our culture, and we’re proud to continue creating an environment where they can grow, connect, and thrive.” Sequoia’s people-first philosophy is supported by dedicated training programs, leadership development opportunities, meaningful recognition initiatives, and a focus on work-life balance. By prioritizing both performance and connection, the company continues to cultivate an environment where individuals can grow personally and professionally. About Sequoia At Sequoia, the philosophy is simple: make the ordinary extraordinary. By embracing small gestures that create meaningful moments, Sequoia elevates apartment living into something truly special for both residents and team members. Rooted in innovation and a strong sense of community, Sequoia attracts top talent and empowers its team to deliver exceptional service every day. Since its founding in 1986, Sequoia has grown to manage over 13,000 apartment homes across California, Colorado, Nevada, Oregon, and Washington. The company’s vibrant culture fosters creativity, collaboration, and growth, cementing its reputation as a leader in the multifamily industry. Looking to grow your career at a company that puts its people first? Visit Sequoia’s careers page at: www.sequoiacareers.com Looking to have Sequoia manage your community? Visit the client services page at: www.elevatetosequoia.com/client-services
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Walnut Creek, CA - Venu at Galleria and Harrison Tower have once again secured a place among the nation’s top-performing apartment communities for online reputation on the ORA Power Ranking Elite 1% list, recognized by J Turner Research. These communities continue to set the standard earning multi-year recognition for their exceptional resident experiences and strong online reputations. The ORA Power Ranking model analyzes over 150,000 properties using lifetime sentiment data from multiple review platforms. In 2025, just 1,312 properties achieved the bragging rights of making the Elite 1% list. Venu at Galleria, located in Roseville, CA, led the Sequoia portfolio once again, closing out 2025 with an ORA score of 97. This is their fifth consecutive year on the Elite 1% list, confirming their dedication to resident satisfaction year after year. Venu also ranked in the top 10 in the state of California. Representing Portland, OR, Harrison Tower added another Elite 1% ranking to their list of accomplishments, celebrating their 9th consecutive year. The community finished 2025 with an ORA score of 95, ranking sixth overall in the state of Oregon. “We are absolutely thrilled to be recognized as a J Turner Elite 1% property for the ninth consecutive year,” says Rebecca Fields, Community Manager. “This achievement is a true testament to the incredible tenure, heart, and consistency of the Harrison Tower team. Their ongoing commitment to exceptional service, genuine resident connections, and pride in our community is what makes this recognition possible year after year. We are so grateful to our residents for their trust and feedback, and we remain dedicated to delivering an elevated living experience every single day!” Across its portfolio of 56 communities, Sequoia maintains an average ORA score of 79 compared to the national average of 62.43. About Sequoia Sequoia is not just another apartment complex. Sequoia strives to make the ordinary a little more special by inspiring its team members and creating communities where people can expect more out of everyday life. The company believes it's the little things done for both residents and team members that go a long way. Sequoia attracts and retains the top talent in the multifamily housing industry. Its greatest competitive advantage is not found within the brick and mortar of its communities, or even the company, but within the values that each individual brings to the collective team. Sequoia's creative environment and unique culture foster opportunities for growth and success. The team works hard and plays hard, but they do these things together. Founded in 1986, Sequoia has grown to become one of the largest, privately held organizations of its kind on the West Coast, with more than 13,000 apartment homes throughout California, Colorado, Nevada, Oregon, and Washington. Looking to grow your career at a company that puts its people first? Visit Sequoia’s careers page at: www.sequoiacareers.com  Looking to have Sequoia manage your community? Visit the client services page at: https://www.elevatetosequoia.com/client-services
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