Smart50 Workplaces 2023: Untangld

Founders: James Needham, Jamal Cassim, Danish Chan
Head of HR, people and culture: Jamal Cassim
Headquarters: Collingwood, Victoria
Year founded: 2020
Employees: 5-20
Industry: Marketing and advertising
Website: untangld.co

Untangld puts a focus on the mental health of its people and that’s necessary: “Marketing and brand agencies are burnout factories,” says its Smart50 Workplaces submission. “Long hours, high stress and a flair for the dramatic.”

It helps staff, helps the culture and has helped with hiring and retention in a competitive market too. “As a small strategy studio, Untangld couldn’t win the best talent by trying to outspend the biggest end of town. So we created a simple promise: your health is more important than anything else.”

Untangld implemented a no-questions-asked, unlimited sick and mental leave days policy: “Whether it’s physical or mental, sick is sick. And your first job is to get better.”

“Today we have a 100% retention rate and have doubled the size of the team in the last 12 months. A total of 167 days have been taken by staff to take care of themselves.”

Culture and values at Untangld

We have four shared values:

• Open: In our choices, conversations and collaborations, we’re curious, collegial and comfortable being vulnerable.
• No rockstars: No single one of us is as smart as all of us. We share the glory and support the team.
• Enjoy the game: Play hard, and celebrate the moments. We care about each other, the little wins and the work we make.
• Karma is real: We help the vulnerable and treat people with respect. We never coerce and we don’t work with nasty people.

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