Meet our office dog, Pip.
For three years running, the award for the most enthusiastic employee of the month has gone to our office dog, Pip.
For three years running, the award for most enthusiastic employee of the month has gone to our office dog, Pip. Anyone who is ever at Grexx HQ in Naarden knows all about Pip: this party animal is glad to be around everyone and will do anything for a pat or two (and of course, we are happy to give her the attention she needs).
Fixed place at DevOps.
Since December 2019, Anne-Marie has been working at Grexx as a UI/UX and front-end consultant and Pip, her loyal furry companion, has always been an integral part of her work life. Even during her job interview, it was clarified that Pip and Anne Marie are a package deal: "I freelanced for a while before working at Grexx and had some other jobs before that. Pip always went with me. She's very easygoing in the office. She doesn't bark. She is friendly and cheerful, and she will also leave people alone who don't give her attention. It has always been natural to take her to work with me.
When I mentioned this to Pieter in my job interview, he immediately said I should just bring her along. And since then, she is almost always with me. The one time she doesn't come to the office with me, I know I’ll have to deal with disappointed looks from my colleagues..."
Anne Marie and Pip are usually in the office two days a week. There is a dog basket in the DevOps room and Pip otherwise figures out for herself who she wants to cuddle. Office Manager Manuela is a high on the priority list, "honestly, I'm a cat person, but for Pip I make an exception. I'm totally in love with this cuddly dog, and it's obviously mutual. So Tuesdays and Thursdays are my favorite office days."
Infinite enthusiasm
We like to call Pip our most enthusiastic colleague because it’s certainly not an exaggeration: she is eager to enter the building every morning. Because she is too low for the door sensors, she is often seen literally jumping in the air to open the doors, sprinting to the DevOps team, greeting them happily and ready to start the day.
"I am, of course, a little biased. Pip is my dog and I think she is a wonderful pet. But I really believe that an office dog is very good for the atmosphere and for some relaxation in the workplace. There are so many colleagues who spend a few minutes with Pip during the day. When you're frustrated or conflicted, it's so nice to be able to focus your attention on something else. Just cuddle with Pip, who is just 100% happy with you–helps create balance and reduces stress, even if you can’t fix that one bug. Her cheerfulness is contagious. It’s really cool to see how the whole team loves her,” Anne Marie said.
International background
Pip is from all walks of life. She comes from a mixed litter and looks most like an Australian shepherd. Anne Marie has had it figured out: 50% Aussie, 50% “of everything, with different kinds of mountain dogs”. Versatile type, that Pip. No wonder she fits so well in our team.
Privately, Pip is otherwise well off: she lives with Anne Marie and friend Stephanie five minutes from the river IJssel, where they regularly take long walks through the floodplain.
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