Even before the pandemic, a third of Confiant’s team was accustomed to working remotely. When it became clear that offices would need to close, Confiant’s staff went remote over a weekend.
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“We canceled our office space pretty early—120 days into the pandemic,” said Louis-David Mangin, Confiant’s CEO and co-founder. “We decided to pick the most flexible path. As long as you get your work done, it doesn’t matter where you are.”
To keep a sense of community, the cybersecurity company started to hold regular get-togethers at coworking spaces for one day a week to give staff a chance to connect in person. Employees also take virtual game breaks during the day, and on more formal game nights play the office favorite—Pictionary.
But Confiant was also aware of the stress brought on by both the pandemic and racial injustice. “We know there has been a lot of medical uncertainty [from the virus] as well as social uncertainty,” said Mangin. Any employee directly or indirectly affected by social justice events can take as many mental health days as needed. The company also covers employees’ subscriptions to BetterHelp, an online counseling and therapy service, on top of services covered by the company health plans.
Confiant offers unlimited PTO, and a six-week paid sabbatical for employees who have been with the company for five years. The company also has flexible hours to keep up with outside demands, such as kids, family and pets. “It’s great that folks understand, if you need time to take your pet to the vet, we support that,” said Morgan Martins, Confiant’s head of marketing.
Going forward, Mangin says his goal is to convert to a four-day workweek. “We can work smarter, and yes might have to work harder, but we know people need balance.”
