Modis went above and beyond to support their employees during a year no one could have prepared for (2020) - Resource Development Manager Modis Employee Review

Unique highlights: Modis was one of the most diverse companies that I’ve ever worked at, so that was very refreshing. The work/life balance was great and we could even leave early on Fridays. I was often encouraged to take PTO, but I never got around to it and that is something I kind of regret. Before the virus, we would frequently have team lunches and play games after work. One time, we went to Gameworks to celebrate our accomplishments as a team. During quarantine, we would have days where we’d choose a theme and dress up for trivia against the other branches. These events which were organized by the leadership certainly brightened up the early months of quarantine and boosted morale for everyone. The people at Modis worked hard but they also had fun. Summary: Amazing manager and coworkers, nice view in the office pre-COVID, snacks in the kitchen that I ate too much of, and growth opportunities. Through Modis, I was able to meet interesting people and helped candidates find jobs that they loved. I learned a lot from working there and felt truly cared for. Keep reading if you want very specific details about my time there and my thoughts on how the company handled 2020 and the virus. Spoiler alert: I think they did everything right and then some. Throughout the next paragraphs, I also praise my former manager because that man is a saint. How I went remote: When the virus first started to spread, I knew that working in the office would be out of the question because I lived with a high-risk individual. I was not going to take any chances. I asked to work from home before it was officially announced that the company was going fully remote. When I reached out and requested to work from home, my manager didn't question me or try to convince me to change my mind. He didn’t have to agree to my request, but he did. Never had I felt more understood. He treated my concerns seriously and allowed me to work from home, while everyone else continued to go into the office. How Modis went remote: When it became official for the company as a whole to become 100% remote, Modis supplied me with the tools that I needed so that I could easily transition to a remote working environment. My manager personally delivered my office equipment to my house because I didn’t feel like it was safe to go back to the office and because I didn’t have a vehicle to transport large items like the office chair. This is one of the many examples where he went above and beyond as a manager. Many people had never worked from home before, so the company itself provided workshops on how to adjust to the new norms of working remotely. They wanted their employees to be successful in lieu of the new circumstances. They also had meetings that addressed the pandemic in general and discussed the other measures they were taking to make sure their employees were safe. I could tell that Modis went out of its way to help people in a time of uncertainty and fear. How Modis furloughed its employees: During 2020, many companies had furloughs and layoffs. Modis also had to decrease their headcount, but what separated them from the other companies was how they went about it. I've heard horror stories about companies that blindsided their employees with mass layoffs, but that was not the case with Modis. From the start, the leadership at Modis was very intentional and transparent with the choices they made. After seeing how the pandemic was affecting businesses and after seeing other companies lay off their employees, Modis held a meeting to talk about the company's future and what they predicted for their employees in terms of job security. During that meeting, employees were told that there would be furloughs during the next week. The furloughs were to last about 90 days before there would be a reassessment of whether they could come back or if they were to stay furloughed. This advance notice gave employees a head start to look for other opportunities since coming back was not guaranteed. True to their word, furloughs started to happen about a week after that announcement. The ones who were furloughed were given time to wrap things up, rather than being cut off immediately from the company and its resources. It also wasn't a surprise to them because they had known about the furloughs from the meeting. I liked this plan because rather than being laid off, Modis allowed them to come back, provided they had enough resources by that time. This was a very different experience compared to that of my friend. He was laid off and ultimately, blindsided by a company he had felt secure at. He told me that his company had guaranteed the employees their job security after being asked about it. Then, the company did the complete opposite and laid off almost half of its employees in a random video meeting as all of their employees were remote. After being told that they were being laid off in a video call, they were immediately locked out of their company accounts and lost all of their resources. They didn't even have time to say goodbye to their teammates and they certainly weren't given the luxury of advance notice. Unlike my friend's company, Modis saw the writing on the wall, was honest with its employees, and formed a plan. I saw this plan in action on my team. A teammate was furloughed and as promised, was asked to come back after they had assessed that rehiring could happen. By that time, my teammate had gotten another job, but it showed me that Modis was a company that stayed true to its word and was not full of empty promises and lies. How Modis supported its remaining employees: My team and manager cared not only for my physical health but also for my mental health. Like a lot of people, COVID-19 impacted me in negative ways. On a particularly tough day, I told my team about my struggles during quarantine and how they had started to affect my work. My manager did not hesitate to tell me about a hotline that the company had gotten as a service for its employees due to the pandemic. It was for employees like me. It was for the people who were going through difficult times. After calling the hotline, I was immediately connected to a licensed therapist. I was very grateful for the opportunity and talking to someone really helped me. This was a service I wouldn’t have been able to afford otherwise if it hadn’t been for Modis. Final thoughts: Personally speaking, the leadership and my manager specifically, made Modis one of the most memorable and enjoyable companies I've ever worked at. The level of support I felt from my manager has not been matched by anyone since. Professionally speaking, I think that this company is a great stepping stone for anyone interested in talent acquisition, recruiting, or sales. A new hire could have little to no experience and still be shaped into an effective employee within months, thanks to the in-depth training Modis provides for all of its new employees. What I learned from that training has helped me prepare for my future roles in recruiting. I look back fondly at my time there. To this day, my manager ranks at the top of my list of best bosses. His work ethic was beyond compare. You hear about managers who don't care or who don't work hard or who seem to have given up and are just going through the motions. He was the complete opposite during my time there. He worked just as hard, if not harder than his team that he continuously supported and valued. I obviously cannot speak for all Modis branches, but Modis in Seattle truly felt like family and I only have praise for my manager. I also have a lot of gratitude. As long as he's there, that branch will continue to thrive. If he leaves, any company would be lucky to have such a kind, talented and driven individual join them. A person like that is rare and I wouldn't be where I am today without his mentorship. tl;dr Modis handled remote working and furloughing employees exceptionally well. They supported their employees throughout a year no one could have prepared for. My branch has a phenomenal manager who prepared me for my future roles in talent acquisition. I have nothing but love for my manager and Modis as a whole. And no, I wasn’t paid to write this.