In this blog article, you can read about:

• Diversity & Inclusivity at Metaloop
• Building Stones of a Safe Workplace

We are proud of the diversity and internationality at Metaloop, which is why we want to share more about it with the world! Are you thinking to yourself, okay, but what makes you so unique and diverse?

Good question - let’s dive into it!

Diversity

Metaloop employees work from 3 continents, 11 different countries, and come from 19 national backgrounds. Our generational diversity ranges from 21 to 56 years old, enabling junior and senior employees to connect and learn from each other. Considering that the metal industry is traditionally men-dominated, we are proud that 39.5 percent of our employees are women, and we are excited about more women in trading and leadership positions.

Educational backgrounds range from economics and engineering to humanities and fashion, creating a flexible team to tackle the challenge of digital transformation and create a new world of metal trading and recycling. However, the range of skills and passions goes beyond recycled metals! We have painters, writers, avid hikers, and passionate jiu-jitsu fighters on the team.

Every day, we are committed to creating a safe space where everyone feels included and valued, regardless of ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation, religion, or national and social origin.

Diversity challenges us to grow, be in touch with our values, and question ourselves and our own approaches. In the company setting, this is crucial, as it gives us new insights and inspires us to think outside the box,

- Manuela, People & Culture Facilitator  

She remarked that what is beautiful about our diverse team is that everyone is curious to get to know new people; we are celebrating each new nationality joining, each unique individual joining. From experience, we understand that every new person that joins Metaloop brings something new to the table - new experiences, perspectives, and competencies. 

Inclusivity

Inclusivity is another vital aspect of our workplace culture at Metaloop. A diverse team can only function well if everyone feels included and valued, regardless of their backgrounds and life circumstances. 

Flexible working hours are a crucial part of our approach to inclusivity. People have various responsibilities and interests outside of work, which is why we try to stay flexible as much as possible with work modes ranging from full remote to full office and shades in between.

Depending on the job description, employees can individually customize their working hours and choose their place of work. For example, our development, product, and marketing teams can adjust where and when they work, while departments that maintain regular customer contact remain customizable with the manager's agreement. 

Furthermore, our buddy program connects newcomers with one other employee, creating connections and making the onboarding process much smoother:

Starting a new job can be out of one’s comfort zone, but with Metaloop’s buddy's onboarding program, I felt welcomed and supported right from the start. This program creates a warm and inclusive environment where you can ask questions, take risks, and bond with your colleagues. I still have regular meetings with my buddy, and our relationship continues to grow. This is especially important when working remotely, as it can be challenging to nurture those personal connections with coworkers without the watercooler or coffee chats.

-  Anca Ciobanu, Senior B2B Marketing Growth Manager, working remotely from the Netherlands. 

Building Stones of a Safe Workspace

Sometimes it can be challenging to bring everyone together and build a safe environment where everyone feels welcome and appreciated. However, it is crucial for an international team. 

According to Manuela, what are the building stones of a safe workplace?

Company Values

The first building stone: company values! We see them as the unifying component of the company culture, especially in a highly diverse and dispersed company like ours. Our value system was developed two years ago by the whole team. Everyone was invited to think about what is essential for them personally and professionally and how they want to work together.

Trust, one of our values, is the crucial ingredient. Every individual working at Metaloop is handpicked and therefore gets the leap of faith that they will give their best to act according to the values and vision of Metaloop.

Accountability

The second building stone is accountability - no environment or team is perfect, which is where accountability steps in. When an issue arises, there is always someone who notices that the situation does not align with our values, addresses it, and holds the responsible people accountable.

We had instances of inappropriate behavior during external events, and our team members were attentive enough to spot and immediately address the problem. Manuela, our People & Culture Facilitator, emphasized that this means a lot to her as it is not only women but also men standing up for equality and safety and against discrimination. 

Relationship Building

The third building principle is the intentional creation of networking spaces outside work (and during working hours.) Firstly, we’ve established a buddy program for all our remote employees to make them settle more quickly. On a weekly level, we have a so-called “Donut Virtual Coffee,” an algorithm that randomly connects two or three people to get to know each other and exchange ideas in a 30-minute conversation.

On a monthly level, we organize office pizza and beer time for the locals in Graz. Finally, every year we have a workation week where all employees from around the world come together in one place while combining work with leisure.