Gold is one of the most malleable and ductile metals around. One ounce of gold can be drawn into 80 kilometers (50 miles) of thin gold wire. And when we say ‘thin’, we’re talking just five microns, or five millionths of a meter, thick.
Working in the mining industry, and for the companies digging up this precious metal, is however often ironically known for its lack of flexibility. Well, at least it was.
Justine McCloy-Martin is here to share how her career with Gold Fields and the support of its management have in fact adapted superbly to her changing life goals and ensured flexible working arrangements are not only possible, but sustainable in this industry.
Justine’s transition from a fly-in-fly-out (FIFO) employee to a manager of Computerized Maintenance Management Systems (CMMS) at Gold Fields is, well, pure gold.
The benefits of starting her career in FIFO
Her journey with Gold Fields started in 2014, working fly-in-fly-out at Darlot-Centenary Mine in Western Australia as a Mining Administrator.
“I definitely loved fly-in fly-out as it gave you the week off to enjoy.”
After a while in Darlot, Justine was offered the opportunity to join the Regional Maintenance team on multiple projects in a mixed Perth-based and FIFO role. She admits this was a difficult way to work at times, but only because of the adjustment of sleep routines as she went from eight-hour days to 12-hour days.
But a few years later, when she was ready for more structured routines, Gold Fields offered her a new role as a Maintenance Planner at the Gruyere JV mine, about 1000 km North-East of Perth.
“It was a fantastic site to work at, with so many great people. I also enjoyed being back in the FIFO lifestyle and my husband who worked at Granny Smith mine was on the same roster.”
A company that supports changing flexibility needs
But, for Justine, parenthood shifted her priorities. It wasn’t that work no longer counted, of course. It was just that her career had to change shape to adapt to Justine’s new commitments.
So, when the planning roles became centralized into a Perth-based role, she applied for a newly created position of Specialist in Master Data.
“This has been a great success and I have so enjoyed this role ever since!”
More recently, Justine and her newly growing family have moved three hours away from the Perth office while she was on parental leave. But rather than signing herself up to a six-hour daily commute, she has been offered amazing support.
“When I returned from parental leave, Gold Fields helped create a pretty amazing flexible work arrangement that was a perfect fit.”
The move was to support her husband’s small business, but the flexibility has also helped her balance her career and her new role as a mother to their ten-month old son. And her work week is a thing to behold, with flexibility on hyper-function.
Find out how Gold Fields is ensuring equity and flexibility in the workplace.
“Now, I work Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday. On Monday I do a day trip into the office, and because I travel so far, my Monday hours are compressed to a six-hour day. This way I can get on the road and make it home before the sun sets.
“On Tuesday and Wednesday, I work nine-hour days to make up the two hours from Monday.”
All this came about because Justine had the confidence, in herself and in her managers, to ask for what she wanted.
“When I applied for this roster, I just thought there’s no harm in asking right, and it was immediately supported, from my Manager to our Vice-President and the People and Engagement department.”
A company that focuses on people
To be so well supported only confirmed Justine’s initial view of the company.
Having come from an employer which, she says, had a limited approach to inclusion and diversity, and was far less flexible, she was keen to hold off until the right employer came along.
“I wanted to make sure that the next job opportunity I would apply for was for a company that looked after their people,” she says.
Diversity and inclusion were issues that were front and center for Justine as she scoured the employment pages and scrutinized potential employers.
“What’s the point in working somewhere where you know your opportunities won’t present themselves because you’re a girl!?
“Once I hopped onto the Gold Fields website the section that caught my eye was “Our People”. This section went into how they look after their employees, not just monetary incentives, but opportunities for career growth and reward for high performance.
“Gold Fields celebrates individual employees, as well as emphasizing team contributions to the company which is a hugely important factor, I think.”
It’s important too as a woman, she suggests, to ensure other women on the team are supported and included in the company’s success.
“I think it’s important that Gold Fields is an inclusive company, no matter your gender, race, or religious beliefs. It creates a working environment where everyone matters.”
Another line from the Gold Fields website that stuck out for her in particular was, “We take personal ownership for the impact we have on our people, relationships, safety, and environment.”
This commitment to culture has helped Justine transform from site to specialist, from FIFO to family-time. Her story epitomizes a young woman making it in a male industry, on her way to the top.
It’s been a golden path for sure, and she and the company are tapping a rich vein of success that seems set to keep giving.
