To post a positive thread on how much I appreciate and am grateful for my workplace?

[Positivenancy]

As someone stated in a previous thread the other day nobody really talks about the positives on here. So here I am, I’m not boasting or gloating in anyway, but I thought that it would be nice to post positive work thread or just a positive thread in general.
I have recently separated and I always knew I had a great workplace but since I have separated, I have become even more grateful. They allow me to come in late on the days I have my children so that I can drop them to school make up this time by having one less break and that’s my choice (my boss is not entirely impressed that I don’t take my full lunch but I feel it’s the least I could do) her motto is that if the job is done then that’s okay. I do also try to make up time on the days I don’t have my children as custody is 50-50 with Dad. I know some people will say that this makes it very easy and I suppose it does.
They are very flexible in general, and if I need to take an hour here or there to go to an appointment or to a kids show, etc there’s never any qualms.
They don’t make me feel guilty if I am sick or the kids are sick, health and mental health are very important to them and they actively promote that.
My boss knows that since separating I am struggling a little bit with money so offers me extra shifts on the weekends I don’t have my children so I can get overtime at least once a month at double pay which is a huge help. She also allows me to work from home the odd day so that saves me on petrol and I can collect my children a bit earlier from Afterschool care.
I’m sat here in bed this morning and I just feel overwhelmingly grateful for my workplace and thought I would share as I know a lot of people think that an understanding workplace is rare. But I hope more workplaces are like this and can strive to be like this. Anyone else have any positive work stories etc they would like to share, please do!

I too had a very generous workplace, more so regarding DC, less so if I had a problem with myself, or was ill myself, but at least they were considerate when it came to childcare.

Mine has its good bits and bad bits, but I'm grateful they pay for private medical insurance - I had surgery costing £7k a few years ago.

Everyone in my new work is really nice. No toxic crap, no politics.

I'm hoping in time it heals me from the horrific place I worked before, which utterly pulverised my heart.

Yes @LongSinceGotUpAndGone we have private medical too! Again, I just got so used to this I forgot. It’s such a huge weight off knowing I have this too! More places should offer this if they can

I’m so glad you are having a more positive experience now 🙌

Same here. I'm part of a lovely admin team and we all support each other when our personal lives have to take over for bit. Our team leader has had her own struggles so is very understanding when we need to tweak our hours or are taking leave at short notice.
It makes for a stable team (lots of knowledge) with virtually zero staff turnover.

Me too. I'm a teacher, and although my school is not immune to the problems of high workload, excessive admin and pointless hoop-jumping which all schools face, I'm so lucky to work in a school where behaviour is rarely a problem, where the students are generally lovely, and which has a fully-recruited staff of professional, friendly and supportive teachers.

Love this 🥰

@AllProperTeaIsTheft thats Brilliant, I know schools can be very inflexible at times given the nature of them but I’m glad that you are having a positive experience.

@l0ml NHS?

Mine is similar. As a result I have no intention of moving. Like another PP said, low staff turnover means lots of experience and a stable team who all work really hard because we appreciate our good fortune. This means that as a team we get excellent results.

Mine is brilliant for working parents. It's part of their ethos and it shows. I can take emergency parental leave whenever and however much I want, although it is my responsibility to ensure work is either done, delegated or the new deadline is communicated to anybody who may be affected. There are structures in place to help with this. They offer wfh, flexible working, and specific supoort for parents re-entering the workforce after time out. I think it's such a great ethos and it shows in how invested and enthusiastic the staff are.

@ChillysWaterBottle bloody brilliant 🙌

My boss is brilliant about working around the kids and is understanding if I need to leave earlier to do school pick up or wfh during school holidays. I do regularly do an extra hour evening/weekends however to make up the time and to ensure I meet deadlines/quality standards. I could be earning much more elsewhere but there is no guarantee of having as an understanding boss as my current one which is worth it's weight in gold. They actively champion me and encourage me to go for promotions so looks like I'm sticking around 😊.

No, the opposite really. Small family business run by absolute psychopath.

I joined my workplace 18 years ago on a 6 month contract, and am still here. My colleagues are kind and supportive, and we are flexible in covering each other for time off. I'm lucky it's the kind of work where taking an hour off or a half day is easy if planned ahead.
I earn a good chunk less than I would have in a different career, but the work-life balance is priceless now I have DC. I've never worried about missed sports day or Christmas shows.
It's a large organisation and there is lots of corporate wellbeing stuff which most people treat as tick-box. My boss genuinely cares and engages with it.

@greyduck it’s worth it’s weight in gold, I can see why you stayed!

Op, I think this thread is a great idea. Although I think it is good that people have threads for complaints and to ask advice for workplace problems, I think that threads like this one gives us something to strive for when looking for work.

I am pretty happy with my current employer and here are the reasons why:

• I get the following things reimbursed:
• Commuting costs
• Some of the costs for a WFH spots (Desk, Chair, Monitor, Keyboard, etc)
• Travel costs, if traveling for training or to and from a costumer
• Lunch is catered at the office
• Lots of flexibility with regards to where and when we work. In turn we are asked for flexibility with regards to project/customer requirements in terms of hours and work sites. But most of the time we can choose when or where.
• Lots of opportunity for training and certification. Company pays and, if possible, also gives us time for doing these trainings on company time. Most of these trainings are voluntary and requested by ourselves.
• Lost of understanding and room for personal circumstances, be it sickness, childcare emergencies, doctors appointments, excercising or even having had a bad night with little sleep. As a result people are pretty honest about what is going on with them that hinders their productivity.
• Company really listens to concerns you have and changes you'd like to make. It's not always possible, but suggestions are always taken on board and people are pretty outspoken in their views
• We have a game-room with pool table, foosball table, table tennis and console and these things get used every day. During the school holidays some people bring their kids to work and they spend most of the day in that room. Well behaved dogs are also welcome.
• You can always ask for help or assistance and people are happy to help if they have time. Most of the time there is always someone available to provide an extra pair of eyes if you feel stuck.
• Working on the weekends or clocking a lot of hours is noted and discouraged. There are weekend shifts, but you are compensated in regular work hours for those. Management does not want people to burn out.
• The atmosphere, as a result of all of the above, is pretty relaxed and you feel like you can get a lot done, but also don't feel bad if you have an off day. Turnover is much lower at this company than I have seen elsewhere.

Of course there are downsides too, but I wanted to focus on the good in this thread.

When I saw the thread title I immediately thought of how supportive my boss was when I separated. Work was such an anchor the first year and I am so so grateful for it.

@Life2Short4Nonsense amazing! They sound great.
we have a highly subsidised canteen and free tea/coffee also (there I go taking it for granted again!) and they also really support female leadership etc

I am so grateful for my work, and I really enjoy the job too. They are flexible about needing time off and were really supportive when I kept needing to collect one of my dd from school at random times due to her anxiety. I also get private medical care, as well as a car and a fuel card including private mileage which is so appreciated as I have a fairly long commute. The people are on the whole all lovely too!

I dislike my job but love everything else. It's supportive, my manager is excellent, we can fully wfh or go into the office. Wellbeing is discussed and encouraged. For flexibility it really is great.

don’t take it for granted. one bad hire everything can change.

What a lovely thread this is .

In my previous job I had a great manager in a horrible organisation. Now I have a very good manager in a lovely organisation. I prefer the latter by miles.

Everyone is pleasant, there's no backstabbing or bullying, the office is a comfortable temperature, there's tea and coffee, and there's a lot of flexibility.

The job itself can be a bit stressful but the environment is just great.