By Amber Jefferson

Although the COVID-19 global pandemic is in our rearview mirror, its impact still influences our lives and the way we work. As more companies enforce a return to the office and demanding full-time presence, tensions are on the rise for employees who’ve adjusted to hybrid, or remote, schedules.

In fact, nine in 10 companies, or 87%, will return to the office by 2025, according to an August 2024 ResumeBuilder.com survey of 764 companies that went fully remote during the pandemic. About 64% of the respondents said they already returned to the office.

Hain Celestial Group is boldly bucking the trend by continuing to embrace an agile and flexible work model, which we call “Agile Working.”

We launched it in 2023, when we transitioned to a hub-and-spoke model, allowing team members to work and collaborate remotely from anywhere and come together at our hub locations around the globe for intentional, face-to-face “moments that matter” to dive deeper into projects and celebrate our culture.

It’s a progressive move championed by Wendy Davidson, our President & CEO, that has inspired a more inclusive, high performing and flexible work environment for our global teams. While certain positions require an on-site presence, for example, in our manufacturing facilities, our Agile Working model has been embraced across our #OneHainTeam and the benefits have been staggering.

Over the past year, our Agile Work Model has allowed us to attract and retain the very best talent from around the world. In fact, our applications have increased by 287% and female applications alone have gone up by 425% between 2022 to 2024. And the percentage of women in leadership roles, anything Director-level and above, has increased by 2368% from 2022 to present day.

These remarkable achievements underscore the importance of agility in our operations, enabling us to swiftly identify and acquire talent across all geographies to further our business, while also empowering them to grow and develop professionally.

In today’s dynamic business environment, agility is not just a buzzword; it’s a crucial capability that enables us to quickly adapt to changes, seize new opportunities, and stay ahead of the curve.

In a recent USA Today article on remote work trends and statistics, the reporter mentions an Upwork study that suggests by 2025, 22% of the American workforce will be remote.

For Alexis Purpura, remote work is a “game changer. I’m so proud to work for Hain.”

She remembers a time before joining Hain just over 2 years ago, when simple family fun – holiday traditions, movie nights or even school functions for her children – had to take a backseat.

“I missed out on times with them,” said Alexis, the Hain Director of Global Value Chain who previously worked in the e-commerce industry. “I was very dedicated, and I would try to be there (at the distribution/fulfillment center) for my team as much as I could … but sometimes that took me away from my family. It’s crazy thinking back, it almost brings me to tears.”

Justin Godley was fully embedded in his West Michigan community with his family, so the idea of relocating would have been difficult to imagine when he joined Hain a little over a year ago as its Director of Global Internal Communications.

“With two teenagers active in sports and music, and my wife who is actively involved in community organizations, as well as her own career, I'm just incredibly grateful for the opportunity Hain provides with the hub and spoke model,” Justin said. “It's a benefit to both the employee and the organization, a true game changer for future growth prospects. It also motivates me in my own role to showcase the ways we can still facilitate a one-of-a-kind culture in these types of settings.”

Lucy Sidorewic used to get anxiety when she was stuck in traffic during her two-hour commute home from the office. In those moments, the single mom frantically called friends and family to pick up her daughter from after-school care.

“For me, remote work is a massive thing but it’s about having the right work ethic,” said Lucy, a Hain Customer Controller in the UK. “Sometimes if my team needs to jump on a call with me at 7 p.m., they understand there’s a little girl running around in the background. We’re all a bit more understanding.”

Our purpose is to inspire healthier living for people, communities and the planet through our better-for-you brands. But that extends beyond what you consume to include how you choose to live and work.

I’m proud of the work we’re doing at Hain to foster a culture of inclusivity through our flexible environment, which benefits those who may have different needs or preferences. It has allowed our employees to temporarily relocate to other areas to care for ill or injured relatives and has kept others from having to uproot their lives.

Our efforts have garnered national recognition. Last month, Wendy went to Washington, D.C. to receive the 2024 Flex Leader Award from the Diversity & Flexibility Alliance.

Remote work cultivates a dynamic and inclusive culture by fostering flexibility, diverse collaboration, and a healthy work-life balance – all of which lead to high performance and a stronger team that wins together.