For many years the team here at rTraction has been striving to improve the quality of work we do for all of our stakeholders. For our clients, this has meant focusing on developing our skill sets and processes. For our employees, our focus has been on their well-being. We have implemented perks such as our 3-week minimum vacation for all employees, flex time, no-questions-asked sick days for mental health and more. 

Historically our focus on wellbeing has also meant investing in an office space that would be both welcoming to our employees and clients who came in the door. Our spaces have always had lots of natural light, open and fun amenities like our foosball tables. We are proud to be located close to the downtown core, creating a space that allows for creativity and productivity. 

Over the years our staff’s preference in working arrangements has shifted. Prior to the pandemic, we’d already begun exploring a “remote first” company. The flexibility of working from home allowed many of us to tackle the balance of work and family life through having a shorter commute, and more agency over our office time and how we spent it. Many of our staff would only come to the office once or twice per week. 

Since the pandemic started, we haven’t returned to work from our office. We have decided that it’s in the best interest of our team to stay fully remote. We believe that a happier and healthier life leads to better client service. As such we see this move as a win/win for two of our most important stakeholders-clients and employees.  We were remote first before and making the decision to stay remote-first has meant some large shifts in our processes and opportunities. 

We now have employees in multiple cities throughout South Western Ontario. We’ve become creative with our retreats and employee get-togethers - taking place in different locations throughout the city. We’ve gone on hikes together where before we would have maybe sat in the office together. We’ve taken on virtual wellness activities together, and we’ve shared our tips for how to improve our performance. 

For now, this means that employees that want to work from home are able to continue that way. And for employees or clients who are looking for an office space to go to, we are lucky enough to offer space at Innovation Works for those looking for a change of scenery. Innovation Works provides a lot of flexibility for an organization like ours as we navigate the shifting needs of employees to work in and out of an office.