Mother’s Day feels like the right moment to celebrate the parents and carers across Ozone.
Because real life does not fit neatly around a calendar invite. It’s school runs, sleepless nights, life admin, unexpected appointments, and the constant juggle of trying to be in two places at once.
That’s why our approach to flexible working matters. The 9-day fortnight, enhanced paternity leave, and support for caregivers are not just “nice-to-haves”. They’re practical changes that help people show up at home and at work, without burning out in the process.
As our CEO Lizzie Gurr puts it, “I want our team to know that rest isn’t a luxury. It’s healthy, it’s necessary, and it matters.”
This is also part of our wider B Corp commitment to building a more responsible, people-centred workplace. One where balance is not a bonus, but a baseline.
What flexible working looks like at Ozone
- 9-day fortnight
- Enhanced paternity leave
- Flexible and hybrid working (role dependent)
- Support for caregivers
We spoke to colleagues across the UK and NZ about what this support looks like in real life. Different roles, different routines, same core theme: flexibility creates space for presence.
Time that feels like time
For many parents and carers, the biggest difference is not just “more time”. It’s time that actually feels usable.
Andrew Dias, our CFO, describes it simply: “The 9-day fortnight hasn’t just given me extra time, it has given me quality time.” The extra flexibility has meant being part of the everyday moments that make up family life, breakfasts together, school drop-offs, spellings in the car, and getting on top of chores so the weekend does not disappear into catching up.
“It means that when the weekend arrives, I’m not distracted or stressed. I’m genuinely present,” Andrew says.
For James Mazey, Business Development Manager in NZ, that breathing space matters even more because his role involves travel. “That extra day gives us breathing space, time to be together without the rush,” he says. “I travel away from home quite a lot, so to have an extra fortnightly day off for family time and to catch up on life admin is extremely valuable.”
Lizzie feels the same shift. “The 9-day fortnight allows me to have a day to catch up on life,” she says. “It gives me some mental headspace and time to myself for active relaxation, or to fit in errands and admin that the reality of modern life doesn’t allow for.”
Support that shows up when it matters most
Flexibility is one thing. Support in the hard moments is another. That is where enhanced parental leave and a culture of care really counts.
For Alex Walsh, Production Manager in the UK, the difference was immediate when his daughter Phoebe was born via emergency C-section.
“One of the biggest things for me has been the six weeks paternity leave,” Alex says. “Phoebe was born by emergency C-section and I can’t imagine how difficult it would have been for my partner, Charlotte, if I needed to return to work after just two weeks.”
That time at home meant he could support Charlotte’s recovery without the pressure of rushing back, and it gave him proper time to bond with Phoebe in those early weeks.
Later, when Phoebe was diagnosed with congenital hypothyroidism, flexible working made it possible for Alex to be there consistently. “Flexible working has allowed me to be present through all of the appointments and blood tests,” he says. “Taking a newborn for two-weekly blood tests is so distressing for everyone involved, and it’s meant a lot to be there for Phoebe and for Charlotte.”
Peter Callaghan, QC Lead and Production Roaster in the UK, also talks about the relief that comes from feeling supported rather than squeezed.
“Having six paid weeks of paternity leave was an absolute blessing,” Peter says. “It helped us feel supported, not stressed. I was able to spend time helping my wife with recovery and bonding with our newborn.”
A culture of trust, not guilt
Policies only work if people feel safe using them. That is where culture comes in.
For Steph Noble, General Manager in NZ, flexibility is not just helpful. It has made continuing in her role possible while raising a young family.
“The 9-day fortnight and Ozone’s flexible approach to working are honestly the only reason I have been able to continue to work in my role as General Manager while having a young family,” she says.
Steph is also honest about what balance looks like in practice. Sometimes she still checks emails on her day off, but the pace changes. “What makes the difference is being able to do it at a slower pace,” she explains. That space lets her handle life admin, reset the house, and actually arrive at the weekend ready to enjoy it.
And when the school calendar is packed, the flexibility matters. “It allows me to be present for school pick-ups, sports days, assemblies and the everyday after-school chaos without feeling like I’m constantly dropping the ball at work,” Steph says.
What stands out is how she describes the support around her. “There’s a real culture of trust here,” she says. “When someone needs flexibility, the team genuinely steps in to support them, knowing that at another time the roles might be reversed.”
Lizzie tries to model that trust from the top. “I try really hard to demonstrate a healthy work balance to the team,” she says. “I leave loudly, encourage an early finish if the sun is shining, the work is done and the pub is calling.”
Why this matters, and what it has to do with B Corp
These stories share something simple but powerful: when people are trusted to shape work around real life, everything becomes more possible.
Whether it’s making it to pick-up, supporting a partner through recovery, finding one calmer day in a hectic fortnight, or being present for the moments you do not get back, flexibility turns pressure into presence.
This Mother’s Day, we’re celebrating the parents and carers across Ozone who hold so much together, often quietly and without fanfare. And we’re proud that our B Corp commitments help make this kind of support not only achievable, but expected.
Because when people are supported at home, they shine at work.