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Medical device company Medtronic has shown how flexible working arrangements and a supportive corporate culture can boost staff and morale by backing their paralympian employee.
Bryan Larsen, a product marketer at Medtronic, is pursuing his dream of becoming a Paralympic gold medalist at the 2024 Paralympic Games in Paris, thanks in large part to the support he's received from his employer.
While many Olympic and Paralympic athletes struggle to balance training with full-time employment, the company's flexible policies have allowed him to maintain his professional responsibilities while dedicating ten to 18 hours a week to training, either on the streets of his Northern California hometown or on a stationary bike.
Speaking to HR Brew, Denise King, VP of global benefits and payroll at Medtronic, emphasized the company's philosophy: "When you support an employee with something like what Bryan is doing, that creates a very long-lasting relationship." This approach, she explained, is part of Medtronic's broader strategy to enhance employee engagement and retention.
Larsen's experience at Medtronic stands in stark contrast to his previous workplaces. "I've had past organizations that haven't been hyper-supportive," he revealed, noting that he often felt the need to downplay his training due to employers' reluctance about his time away from work.
Since joining Medtronic as a remote worker in 2021, Larsen has found a dramatically different atmosphere. The support from his team has allowed him to be more open about his Paralympic journey, which has extended to company-wide engagement, with Larsen hosting a Paralympics-focused "lunch and learn" to share his experiences with colleagues.
The company's flexible policies have been vital in allowing Larsen to attend various Paralympic qualifying events, including one that required more than a week in Rio de Janeiro. Even during such events, Larsen was able to balance his training with work responsibilities, using his downtime to stay connected professionally.
For Larsen, the key elements of Medtronic's support have been flexibility and understanding from managers. "They'll respect my time away to the point where they're not going to bubble it up and be sending me text messages related to work," he said.
The benefits of this supportive approach extend beyond Larsen himself. As King noted, "We're all watching from the sidelines, and as an organization, we can watch one of our fellow employees achieve their dreams outside of work. And that is pretty powerful." This shared experience has fostered a sense of community and pride within the company.
"It takes away that stress,” said Larsen, “which just helps me be able to focus on what I'm doing. The fact that I have so many people who want to cheer and watch—that's really special, too."
