Alessandro, Angela and Grazia: Three Stories from Quality Time

After exploring the meaning of Quality Time with Margherita Bertoldi, our Brand Ambassador, in her recent article, we return to this theme through the voices of those who experience it firsthand: Alessandro Spaziani (Regulatory group), Grazia de Mitri (M&E group), and Angela Pedico (from our CRO). Their diverse yet complementary experiences show how these 20 paid annual hours can transform into a concrete tool for wellbeing.

At JSB Solutions, we believe that personal growth should not remain at the margins of work life. This initiative stems precisely from that conviction: giving space to the person, even before the professional. And when this happens, it changes the way we experience our daily life in the company.

A regenerative break that benefits the mind

Alessandro recounts: "I found myself in a creative block during a complex project. I used two hours to go out and visit an exhibition on Salvador Dalì in Rome. This experience opened new spaces in my mind, allowing me to see things differently, and upon my return, I immediately regained the clarity needed to solve the problem."

Angela also seized this opportunity to pursue a passion: a concert outside the city, made possible precisely because of this company program. "It's as if the hours gained value without taking space away from private life."

In a world where genuine breaks are increasingly rare, having a structured and recognized interval to "disconnect" can make all the difference. It's not just about leisure, but cognitive and emotional wellbeing. These moments carved out within workdays help develop new mental connections, stimulate creativity, and reduce stress. They represent a form of prevention, not just a reward.

Hours recognized, not just granted

Grazia, passionate about singing, explains: "Activities already rooted in my daily life, like those related to my choir, I would have continued anyway. But going to an exhibition or taking a walk in nature probably not, because I wouldn't have had the time. Thanks to this initiative, I found space for experiences that I would otherwise have continued to postpone, discovering unexpected pleasures as well." The substantial difference lies not in the mere availability of hours, but in the formal recognition of these moments as an integral part of professional life.

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As Angela also shares: "With Quality Time, I don't have to 'steal' space from the weekend or family." Often, cultural or recreational activities require organization, travel, perhaps even simple acts of will that become taxing at the end of a workday. The availability of a guaranteed space makes these experiences accessible, enjoyable, and fully lived.

When an organization legitimizes investment in personal growth, it communicates to its collaborators: "Who you are outside of work has value inside as well." It's a vision that builds culture and nurtures trust.

Connections that go beyond the desk

Alessandro shared his Quality Time with Raffaella, a colleague from the Regulatory team: "It was nice to discover a shared passion. This experience, lived outside the daily context, made our relationship more authentic, even on a personal level." The type of friendship created in these contexts also makes office collaboration more pleasant.

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Angela reflects on the value of this dimension: "Sharing your passions with colleagues enriches professional relationships, building authentic connections based on interests that go beyond the work context."

Grazia encourages everyone to use these hours in company as well, fondly remembering the Quality Time shared two years ago with her colleague Francesca from the M&E team. "We visited the WWF Oasis of Ghirardi," she recounts, "spending a day in nature characterized by profound harmony and authentic connection."

The quality of a group's work is often proportional to the depth of interpersonal bonds. These significant connections primarily develop through shared experiences outside formal contexts. In this sense, the program also acts as a catalyst for authentic relationships.

Many colleagues tell of having shared cultural visits, outdoor activities, training courses, or moments of volunteering. Some teams have decided to use these spaces as a group, strengthening cohesion and creating new bonds.

A value that goes beyond the benefit

Quality Time also includes the possibility of carrying out volunteer activities, as mentioned in our recent contribution dedicated to rare diseases. A way to give back value to the community and strengthen the bond with the company.

From their testimonies, fundamental dimensions emerge:

- First, personal wellbeing, to recharge body and mind
- Equally significant is the aspect of human relationships, which become more authentic
- As a transformative dimension, personal and professional growth, where the acquisition of new perspectives, skills, and cultural sensitivities translates into greater work motivation and better performance, creating a virtuous circle between individual development and contribution to the organization

But not only that. A fourth value is added: the exploratory one. As Grazia observes, "there are activities that maybe you don't expect, you do them because you have these hours available, and then they surprise you. You discover something that you never imagined could turn out to be so pleasant and fulfilling."

This dimension transforms the initiative into an opportunity for personal discovery, capable of generating new interests, habits, and growth paths.

And tomorrow?

How can we make this proposal increasingly accessible, even for those who work remotely? How can we transform these 20 hours from a simple opportunity into an established practice in professional life?

In upcoming articles, we'll explore these challenges through the perspectives of our managers, also gathering their strategic vision on the value of this initiative for the entire organization.

Because if there's one certainty that has emerged so far, it's that time dedicated to personal growth is not a luxury: it's an investment that multiplies when shared and integrated into the company culture.

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