O2 flexibility: testimony of Marjolaine, front-end developer

Flow, a recruiting website that showcases flexible employers in Quebec, recently met up with Marjolaine, a front-end developer who’s been at O2 Web since 2020.

– What flexible work arrangements does your company offer? 

• Flexible schedule
• Work from home
• Management style isn’t based on employees working at the office
• Other: Work hours can be scaled back as needed

– Which flexible work arrangements do you take advantage of and why? 

All of them! I’ve reduced my hours and mostly work from home, which gives me more time for my family. In addition, I adjust my schedule to accommodate my personal needs. If I need to finish early or take a longer lunch to run errands, I simply make up my hours in the evening.

– How do you benefit from flexible working conditions? 

I requested a reduced schedule so I could have more free time. In reality, I didn’t cut many hours, but the change still made a big difference in my stress levels. I no longer need to rush to get the kids to school and I don’t feel so squeezed. It doesn’t bother me to occasionally go into the office because I get to decide which day works best for me. In fact, I relish the opportunity to interact with other humans and grab lunch at a restaurant. While I may be a little less productive on those days, it’s good for my morale and it keeps me connected to the company. Working from home, it’s a lot easier to be efficient and stay on task because you don’t have any chatter to distract you. It’s a good balance.

– Were flexible working conditions an important consideration when you were looking for a job? 

It wasn’t the only criteria on my list, but I started to love working from home during the pandemic. That’s when I joined O2 Web and I must admit that I was looking for an employer that was less strict about coming into the office.

– In the future (and only hypothetically), would you consider working for an employer that didn’t offer flexible work arrangements? 

Absolutely not! Flexibility has become extremely important to me.

– How do flexible working conditions affect your physical and mental health? 

There’s no question: the biggest difference is in my stress levels. But the reduced hours have also given me more time to cook, so now the whole family is eating healthier. I also have a little more time to spend with my kids, and since I’m more relaxed, it’s real quality time.

– How do flexible working conditions affect your relationships with colleagues and superiors? 

Even though we only video call each other a few minutes per day, we’re a close-knit team. I don’t find that telecommuting and working flexible hours have affected our relationships. I’m lucky to work with people who are transparent, straightforward and active online. We use Slack to chat, keep up our team spirit and create a positive atmosphere.

– What makes the company an employer of choice for both managers and employees? 

During my interview, I immediately got the sense that, unlike a lot of agencies, O2 Web doesn’t want people to put in long hours for the sake of projects. Projects are carefully planned and overtime is discouraged. The agency genuinely cares about employee wellness. Since we’re an agency, we work on all kinds of projects and use a variety of tech tools. We’re always learning and we never get bored. Senior management listens actively to what employees have to say and makes sure that each individual feels valued and useful. If you’re not jiving with a project or if you’re feeling the need to try something different, you can change teams or assignments. But what I like best about O2 Web is the amazing organizational culture and down-to-earth people. We’re always laughing and helping each other out. I work with a great team and they make all the difference.