Having spent 20 years in the industry, all with the same company, I was apprehensive about moving on. What kept me there was the fear of losing the supportive culture I had grown accustomed to. So, when joining a new company, I knew that finding a similar company culture was my top priority.
Starting a New Chapter
When I received the job offer from Atomic Object, I was both excited and nervous, despite having done my research and having asked countless questions during the interview process. Even before my first day, I discovered that Atomic Object truly lives up to the culture they describe.
A Request and a Compassionate Response
As my start date approached, I was hit with grief — my Godfather passed away just one month after my Godmother. These two incredible people had been a significant part of my life since childhood. Missing their joint funeral was not an option for me. Unfortunately, their service was scheduled for my first day at my new job.
I dreaded emailing to request time off. In a group chat with friends, one offered supportive advice: “Any good company would understand, and one day isn’t going to make a difference.”
I vented, saying, “I’ll email them, but I hate being a complication, and I haven’t even started yet.” She replied, “Your heart wouldn’t let you go somewhere that views this as you being a complication vs. being a human deserving of compassion.”
She was right about the culture I wanted to work in, and Atomic Object was about to demonstrate it to me. On a Friday, I sent the email suggesting two options: start a day later or use eight hours of PTO. I felt sure these were reasonable solutions we could both live with. On Monday, their response came back: I could start the next day, keep my official start date, and not to worry about the hours as the family bereavement policy could cover my first day. I immediately felt valued.
Living the Values of Sharing and Transparency
With this kind gesture, the leadership at Atomic Object demonstrated their supportive environment and company culture before I even started. Two of Atomic Object’s six stated values are “Share the Pain” and “Act Transparently.” I took a leap and acted transparently by sharing the grief I was experiencing and what I needed. The leadership reciprocated by sharing in my pain. They offered me a way to grieve and adjusted the schedule originally set for my start date.
Trust and Loyalty from Day One
As of writing this, I have been at Atomic Object for 70 days. While I am still finding my place in the larger team, I can say I have had trust in the company since day one. This single act by Atomic’s leadership built trust between me and the company, making me feel valued and increasing my morale and sense of loyalty. Whether you are an owner, manager, maker, or job hunter, treat others or demand to be treated as a human being first and an employee second. Only good can come from it, and your culture will grow into a place others want to be a part of.