Portrait of changemaker: Camille de Niché
Sep 30, 2021
What is your hell yes? - The first thing you look for when you search for a job
Flexibility!
I need an employer who understands the realities of an employee; having dentist appointments, wanting to see their children in the evening, going to work at the cottage from time to time.
Flexibility is much more than a line in a job offer; it materializes in various ways within a company and is, for me, a truly important criterion.
What is your hell no? - What would make you say no without hesitation to a job
Being the only person in the company who can do a specific role and tasks. For me, this is synonymous not only with poor management but also with enormous pressure on the team.
No one should be the sole reference on a file; long live versatility and collaboration!
What is your personal impact in the company? Ex: what do you concretely do to improve your company’s culture?
Taking time for others is so easy and yet often neglected. I often find myself just calling a colleague during the day to wish them a good day and catch up. I hang up with a smile, and I dare to believe that the person on the other end of the line is too! Never underestimate the power of listening!
What is your favorite work condition (perk)?
When the pandemic hit in 2020, the event industry was hit hard. I took advantage of this calm moment to return to school, to learn more about one of my passions: flowers and plants!
10 months later, with a floral diploma in hand, I officially have two jobs: internal operations manager in events and florist!
For me, being given the opportunity to have two jobs at the same time is the best perk that my employers could offer me. I realized that doing 40 hours a week behind my computer was not ideal for my body and mind. I needed to have some days of more physical work that also require a lot of creativity. I divide my weeks with 25 hours at Niché and 15 hours at Prune les fleurs; it’s the perfect balance for me!
What is the most unique responsible practice of your employer?
Remote work has brought its share of advantages and disadvantages, including connectivity at all times.
We realized it was really easy to respond to an email or Slack in the evening because the computer was accessible and ready to be used, “so why not resolve this immediately.”
We have therefore implemented a policy that no one writes or receives messages during lunchtime and after 5:00 PM. If an employee wants to work in the evening for any reason, they schedule their emails for the next day to avoid disturbing others with notifications generated by these programs.
It works really well, and we all encourage each other to respect the policy. We need to learn to disconnect to be healthier.
Article written by Alexandra, B Corp Consultant (she/her)
