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'm joining! My workplace is incredibly supportive and allow me to pick my hours to support work / life balance and childcare. The people are absolutely lovely too. It's one of the best and most consistently good things in my life.

So glad I started this thread now 🥰 loving the positive vibes

This happened at my place, one new starter took the absolute piss and now some of our flexibility around appointments and kids is being taken back.

We do get free period products though which I think is great as well as the health care, training, excellent pension etc

It means so much, doesn't it. I am underpaid by industry standards, but still very well paid and can keep myself and my daughter in a decent lifestyle.

I admit to twinges when I get Linkedin job "offers" (more fishing really) but I WFH pretty much all of the time. WFH means I get to spend way more time with my daughter, less stress relating to driving and, now that I think of it I save about 15K in diesel as I live far from the office.

My boss is the most supportive person I have ever worked for and I get regular reminders not to be at work outside of my hours. Pretty much impossible in my role but I appreciate the sentiment.

There are very few of my colleagues that I don't get on with, most have become friends of a sort and those of us who would not naturally gel with seem to find a common ground, and that's fine.

It's a great thread OP and while I totally understand that we are very lucky to have these experiences while others don't, I think it is important to acknowledge that it happens. Who knows, perhaps some HR/CEO will take notice and realise the advantages for a company when they allow that flexibility and foster a good work environment?

I absolutely love my job, the location and every single one of my colleagues.

The support and just the 'thought' for each other goes such a long way, both during the working day and outside of work where a lot of us socialise.

I'm 55 and unless anything drastically changes, I want to work past my retirement age.

Also, it's local council and they do go above and beyond to look after our rights and general wellbeing.

It means so much to have a good employer/manager. My workplace puts a lot of emphasis on wellbeing, supporting each other and treating colleagues with respect.

I currently have a health condition that has a big physical impact and waiting for surgery. My manager leaves it entirely up to me to decide if I'm up to going in, if not I can wfh no problem. I do try to go in when I can - it's not being in that's the problem, i like being with my team and seeing my colleagues, it's the commute that's difficult so he has arranged transport for me but it's still up to me. I'm welcomed when I do go in and not made to feel bad when I don't.

Of course I can't speak for what everyone else experiences but I do hear of managers being supportive and flexible with things like school drop offs/pickups and other caring responsibilities, time off for hospital appointments, funerals etc so it does seem to be the culture.

I know that when my surgery comes round I won't be rushed back to work and will be given the time I need to recover. It means a lot and I'm very appreciative.

My workplace is also awesome. Very flexible, the attitude is so long as your work is done, they dont care about working to your exact hours. The result is, I work really hard and do extra time off my own back.

The best thing they have done recently is let me log on later in the morning. My youngest is a horrific sleeper and I often work a full day on 3-4 hours broken sleep. I reached breaking point a few months ago and my boss said I only had to text him in the morning to say it was a bad night and go back to bed to get more sleep after school/nursery run.

I cannot express how much that has helped me. He was cross I had been struggling for so long without telling him.

I feel very lucky.

My colleagues are a fabulous bunch. We all rub along well. And our manger is just fantastic. She's boosted morale. (NHS) gets her hands dirty, is very funny and very supportive.

Yep. I was forced out of my corporate role after I inconsiderately gave birth to a child with disabilities and could no longer sit in an office 9-5 every day or travel without significant notice. It was a dreadful time, but as is often the way, it was the best thing that could have happened. A customer of mine offered me a job in their small business. In exchange for a bit of flexibility and understanding they’ve had the benefit of my knowledge and experience for over a decade, and I’ve kept my career. I work bloody hard to make it all work but I count myself incredibly fortunate to work where I do. Good businesses attract good people and my colleagues are all great fun and a pleasure to work with. They can’t pay me what I’m worth and I’m ok with that. I earn enough to make it worthwhile, get to have a life outside the home and keep working so I have options if I ever need them.

I think small businesses are a great option for those of us who need flexibility. I don’t have a share scheme or much in the way of formalised benefits, but if I have an issue at home I make one call and I can restructure my time so it works for everyone.

Yep, my workplace is great - very flexible, especially around childcare needs, very good at encouraging us all to look after ourselves, and a very hard line on toxic/bullying behaviour (which doesn't happen much because the atmosphere is generally very positive).

They do workplace treats that are actually nice, like on a hot day the manager will go out and come back with a load of lollies; one time they got an ice cream van to come to the office and we could all get as much free ice cream as we wanted; they also designate a half hour once a month for "coffee and chat", when you're encouraged to just stop working for 15 minutes and go and chat to someone. No awful "team building" days needed because we actually get time to talk to each other in work and we know each other fairly well.

Loving this thread @Positivenancy 👏

I too am very fortunate with a supportive and flexible employer. In fact the last 2 I've had have been magnificent! We all share the stress and workload and cover for each other to make sure everything gets done. I wfh with this one and it enables me to have a life outside of work, which was sorely missing before. It makes me a really loyal, motivated and mutually supportive colleague - more than happy to give extra as needed as the flexibility works both ways!

I hope those who are anti wfh are having a close read of this thread. And all those who say our young people have no work ethic - no! They have just wisened to the good employment/employer opportunities that are out there and won't take being treated like shit. Bad employers need to catch up!

Me too.

After three truly horrible workplaces, I now work for a lovely company, where there is no politics, the team actually works as a team, wants me to succeed, and the board is supportive.

They didn't manage me out when I was diagnosed with BC, 7 months after joining but have supported me through treatment, and now, nearly three years down the line we're all hitting targets, making money and I feel secure for the first time since I had DS ( He's 15.)

If the govt (of whichever colour) wants to get mums back into the workplace, they really need to act on companies who fire people for getting pregnant or because they need to take the occasional day off with a poorly toddler.

@Tinymrscollings I’d like to know the types/sizes of companies that are providing this kind of workplace on a whole. Mine is a large multinational company, which may be surprising but they really do foster a positive work environment and pay very well. Everyone is rewarded and important from the outset. @MamaAndTheSofa I love an ice cream day! We get those too! We probably get more excited than children 🤣🤣

How lovely @Meadowfinch ❤

And yes, I've been let go for needing surgery before now. Just outrageous really. Funny they have a really high staff turnover and everyone moans and whinges the whole time!

We're a medium-sized company, about 150 people, I think. Quite spread out around the world, but mostly UK-based. Lots of wfh.

X post @Positivenancy
I work for a small to medium sized charity.

I work for a big faceless global corporate. It is by far the best job I’ve ever had. The people are wonderful, intelligent and kind, I have opportunities I’d never have had in another role. This week I’ve been off with a pregnancy related complication and the messages I’ve have had from a number of people including some of the most senior in the business, have been so lovely. I keep thinking I’ll get itchy feet at some point but I have no reason to go.

Same here, every day I'm grateful that I wound up in this workplace after two really toxic experiences at previous places. The job is fast paced but I can totally leave it behind when I clock off. I'm on nearly double my previous pay. The work is hybrid, so I feel like I get the benefits of both wfh and time with my lovely colleagues. Been there 1.5 years and no sign of any office politics.

Most of all, my daughter developed anorexia in December and they've been nothing but supportive. I'm working 4 days a week on full pay while we get through the worst of it and I couldn't have managed without that. My workplace also offers private medical insurance which I'm using to access therapy to help me cope at this awful time.

The culture there is collaborative and respectful. They make it seem so easy but I know from experience that sadly this isn't very common.

I also work for a large global corporate and find it fantastic. I've been there for nearly 9 years and am on my fourth role. For ages I thought I would leave "in a couple of years" but time is passing and nothing has been compelling enough to make me want to leave. I love the balance it gives me and the opportunities to explore new skills and develop but within the safety of a known organisation. It's also a very human place to work. The benefits package is very good too - I echo others in valuing my private medical insurance in particular.

Big companies sometimes get a bad rep (and I don't deny there are frustrations - my goodness the bureaucracy and inefficiency can wear you down) but my friends who employed at similar organisations mostly say the same. I think large organisations sometimes have the ability to be compassionate when needed whereas some smaller companies just don't because of resourcing/financial constraints etc.

There's lots of comms about wellbeing etc. from the very trop and although some of it is waffle I think it has contributed to an overall acknowledgment that employees are not robots. And that there is an obligation/expectation to support colleagues whether that's through a period of difficulty or parenting juggle etc.

As an employee it gives me a sense of safety and ability to be open at work. And as a manager when stuff arises for team members I don't just feel that I'm supporting them because I'm a nice person/it's the right thing to do, I feel like doing so is part of my job description and a factor in my own performance. Similarly, it's working for the company because it's keeping me there - I might want children in the next couple of years and I feel like this company would be a good place to be employed if I take that step.

Ha I sound like their PR team! But I agree it's nice to appreciate what you have.

I work for a public sector NGO with 40,000 staff. That said, it is my particular manager who is currently brilliant.

I have worked here for 6+ years but this is the best manager I have ever had. So whilst we have good workplace policies in general, how good it is right now is a little person dependant. Previous LMs here have been fine but not as good as the current one.

We had an employee like this and he was eventually encouraged to quit, but it did not impact on the rest of us. I think if he had not quit he would have been fired soon.

I also think only bad management punished the entire team/company for the misconduct of one.

I think this is a lovely thread op and I agree people mainly post when there are issues so sometimes you get a skewed view!

My work place is generally very lovely. It's civil service so good T&Cs anyway but over and above that it just supports people when they need it. I had 4 weeks off last year after my dad died and my team just helped out so much (they all got a financial bonus to say thanks) and now one of mine is going through medical treatment we're supporting her with whatever she needs.

My manager and I argue good naturedly about me logging on late and at the weekend (she tells me not to) and although there are the normal gripes with working with other humans it generally is very nice.

Don’t know! It might be more that I’ve come to know myself better as I’ve gotten older. When I was in my early 20s I really fancied myself as one of the London corporate girlies. Next suits, awards ceremonies and important meetings etc. Now I’m in my 40s with a couple of kids and an ADHD diagnosis I realise I was a square peg. I hate meetings about meetings and a process for everything and being a tiny cog in a giant machine. I think a lot has probably changed in the 13 years since I had to leave because they couldn’t be flexible for me. I see colleagues from back then having babies and getting work from home arrangements, part time hours and all sorts of accommodations that weren’t available back in the early 2010s.

I love the lack of hierarchy, the feeling that my work matters to those around me and how quickly we can just decide to do something and do it without presenting it to the board and the procurement dept.

Some of it is perhaps just being in an environment that suits me better.

I don't think it comes down to size of company. One of my nasty ones had 180,000 people and another had 40.

Where I work is great, there's only 7 of us now and combined 60+ years working there, great flexibility for swapping shifts/appointments ect and everyone happy to help with anything.
It's harder than it was due to those up above and the direction of the business in general which is why I'm leaving before they kill the business off, it's a shame really.