Why we are marking Employee Appreciation Day today – and every day
As an organisation that works a four-day week and offers progressive family leave, it’s no surprise that one of our organisational goals is ‘to be a great place to work where great staff are valued and treated well’. That’s why, when we heard about Employee Appreciation Day, we were keen to mark it properly.
The OG team last summer - much smaller than it is today!
Our team is small, but growing fast, which puts us in the perfect position to make sure we develop the right working culture and values from the outset. For us, that’s all about recognising individual needs and circumstances and treating staff well.
This starts with fair policies and benefits that treat everyone equally. This approach forms a foundation of how employees are appreciated, from which everything else is built upon.
Our team works a four-day week (for no less pay) so we can also focus on what matters to us outside of work, as well as a generous pension and progressive family leave policies where, for example, after the birth or adoption of a child both parents have the right to a full year off from work, of which 26 weeks are paid at their full salary.
“At OG we feel it is so important to give back to our team whenever we can through our policies,” explains our Chief Operating Officer, Gill. “Our four-day working week, enhanced maternity/paternity/adoption leave, and flexible working policies are just some of the ways that we try to say thank you to our team and to help them achieve a better work-life balance - in turn giving them the energy and motivation to be at their best at work – a win-win in our book!
But it’s not all about policies and procedures
Another huge part of appreciating staff is about understanding the unique set of skills, expertise and life experience that every person on our team can offer.
So, as well as having flexible working arrangements (some of us are remote workers, many work a hybrid pattern), we make an effort to get together socially as a whole team on a regular basis and we have a range of different committees to put social events, learning and development and equality and diversity at the heart of our working lives.
This is a part of Opportunity Green that I particularly appreciate as an employee. It allows us to consider aspects of working life that are outside of our usual job remit, and to shape how things are done in our workplace. The activities run by the different committees range from informal learning and training sessions to discussions about social issues, based on documentaries and podcasts we select to watch, as well as socials in some of London’s most interesting eateries.
Out at a vegan Ethiopian restaurant
Supporting staff working in climate change
“The employees are absolutely essential to making Opportunity Green the great place that it is and perhaps even more importantly, to ensuring that it does the incredible work we do,” says our CEO Aoife. “Working to stop climate change we are up against fossil fuel companies that have almost infinite resources, therefore we need the very best talent we can find to create change. And I truly believe that is exactly what we have!”
Carly, our Chief Strategy and Impact Officer and Legal Director, says that working in an emotive area like climate change attracts smart, passionate people who are not only dedicated to their work, but also to the organisation’s values and mission.
“This astounds me every day. It’s easy to take such brilliant people for granted, their work an outlet for that passion and conviction, but on the contrary, I think it’s even more important to appreciate, applaud and encourage their efforts,” she says.
“While we’re all incredibly fortunate and humbled to work in an area we’re so passionate about, it does also require exceptional resilience to dedicate your professional career to something that you care so personally about. My team are extraordinary and fearless, but doing extraordinary things when swimming almost constantly against the tide can be exhausting, and as an employer we have an obligation to both recognise and address that as best we can if we want to continue making a difference.”
If you like the sound of how we work at Opportunity Green, keep an eye on our vacancies page for all our job listings. We’re currently recruiting a People and Culture Manager to help us ensure we have a happy and productive workplace.
