We are proud to share that BenchSci is being recognized as a 2023 Best Workplaces™ for Inclusion through Great Place to Work!

If you’ve been following BenchSci’s journey, you might already know that we’re kind of obsessed with culture (or, as we like to say, culture eats everything for lunch). We believe in success beyond success and invest heavily in building a culture we can be proud of—one where every team member can feel safe, fulfilled, and supported to do the best work of their lives. 

In the past year, our team grew—doubling in size within our remote-first environment. Amidst this growth, continuing to build and foster an inclusive environment has stayed front and center. While scaling, we maintained gender parity across the company, and more than 50% of our team members come from racialized (non-white) communities. As we’ve grown, so have our benefits programs to match the needs of our team members. This included an improved Parental Leave policy and the introduction of gender-affirming benefits for trans employees. We also invested in communities across the company through our Employee Resource Groups and other social groups that promote in-person and virtual social connection amongst BenchSciers. Dive deeper into our commitment to Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion in our 2022 DEI Year in Review report (and stay tuned for our 2023 report, which will be available early next year).

"We wouldn’t be able to achieve this without our incredible ambassadors and leaders across the company, who take on roles that require emotional labor beyond their “job” without question and often don’t get appreciated or recognized enough. This accolade is a testament to our ongoing efforts to create an environment where every individual is valued, respected, and empowered to contribute their unique perspectives. While we take pride in this achievement, we acknowledge that there is always work to be done, and we remain committed to living our values through a lens of identity and intersectionality.”          - Christopher Guest, Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Director 

We’re fortunate to have some incredible people on our team who contribute to our culture in different ways. To celebrate this accomplishment, we asked a few (of the many) people who help make BenchSci’s culture truly special to share their experiences.   

How would you describe BenchSci’s culture?

“BenchSci is a young company, and we are still defining what that culture is or, more importantly, what it means. What I am sure of is that we are moving in the right direction, having the right conversations, and addressing difficult issues head-on. If I had to use one word to describe our culture, it would be “curiosity” in the sense of not approaching each other with preconceived notions of what the interaction should be. We connect at a human level.” - Fernando Suarez, Director of Clinical and translational Initiatives

What makes BenchSci’s culture special? 

“BenchSci doesn’t just talk the talk but also walks the walk. It’s incredible that a company our size has three ERGs [BenchShe+, QueerSci, and Black@BenchSci] with plenty of engaging content and a fourth one in the works. I appreciate how receptive team members are to feedback and fostering a more inclusive culture.” -  Wai Chung Hon, Senior Engineering Manager - Commercial Products

Fostering an inclusive culture is a shared responsibility. What are some of the ways you’ve invested in BenchSci’s culture?

“A large part of our culture is connection! I currently volunteer with our Chapters program (an initiative that allows BenchSciers who live near each other to connect informally throughout the year) to bring our Ottawa and Gatineau BenchSciers together regularly outside of our normal work Zoom calls and Slack messages. The Chapters program allows us to build more meaningful connections and friendships that we may not have had the opportunity to before.” - Miya Badley, Associate Chief of Staff

“In 2022, I identified several factors affecting our ability to attract and hire women engineers. Working closely with our Talent Acquisition team, we almost tripled our representation in Web Applications. Despite the progress that we’ve made, there are still women in engineering who rarely have the opportunity to work with other women, so this year, we kicked off a monthly series of Women in Engineering (WIE) events to create a community for women across all four divisions of engineering.” - Wai Chung Hon, Senior Engineering Manager - Commercial Product

How has BenchSci’s culture influenced your career? 

“I’ve never felt more fulfillment in my work than at BenchSci. I’m surrounded by incredibly talented individuals, and I’m constantly blown away by the people I get to work with. You would think this would be intimidating; it’s quite the opposite—it's invigorating. Seeing what my colleagues can achieve inspires me to do my best work. I seize every opportunity that comes my way because I want to grow, learn, and hone my craft. I don’t just have a job, I have a career. I’m so excited to be here and see what the future holds for me and BenchSci.”  - Jordan Newington, Senior Enterprise Scientific Liaison.

What has been your favorite part of working at BenchSci? 

“I truly enjoy how much trust and autonomy there is to play a role in making things better. Challenges are challenging for a reason, and the diversity of thought means you will be challenged to take in perspectives and viewpoints you may not have considered. This healthy tension is necessary for individual and collective growth as we work together to move forward, balancing our shared and unique values and aligning them with our collective vision of the future.”  - Wisam Zaghal, Engineering Manager - Commercial Products