How Datadog’s Benefits Support the Unique Needs of Its Global Team

How does a global company, with employees at different stages of life spread across dozens of countries, support the diverse needs of its workforce?

At Datadog, more than 5,000 employees are spread across the globe — but a universal truth exists: “We believe Datadogs should have the support they need to maintain work/life balance, grow personally and professionally, and save for their future,” the company’s site explains. 

Datadog’s approach to benefits includes the flexibility to meet unique needs across regions. Centering its global benefits package on six pillars helps unite each of its hubs on common ground, while benefits managers support each region Datadog operates — the Americas, APAC and EMEA — allowing the company to be flexible in ensuring its employees’ unique needs are met. 

From mental health support to parental leave policies, there are many different components of Datadog’s benefits package, and all are equally important. Lucile Serventon, a benefits manager for the EMEA region who works out of the company’s Paris office, helps ensure team members have access to inclusive benefits that suit their individual needs.

“I think that our range of benefits show how much we put people in the center of things,” she said. “We have the same Datadog benefit philosophy and categories, but we adjust the benefits depending on the country.” 

“Benefits are built based on employee feedback,” echoed Sydney-based Leyla Parbery, benefits manager for the Asia Pacific region of Datadog. “There is a benefits survey that goes out annually, and it is always driven by what employees ask for.” 

In addition to the team’s feedback, Datadog benefits managers are constantly researching industry trends and benchmarks. 

“We look at where we are in the industry, how we trend in the market and what exactly employees are looking for,” said NYC-based Candice Hart, benefits manager for the Americas region. “It’s really important to listen to what the employees want, because we can roll out great benefits but if it isn’t what people want, is it really beneficial?” 

Through these practices, Datadog ensures its diverse team is united by a benefits package that supports their personal and professional well-being. 

Holistic Health Benefits

In addition to offering health, dental, vision, life and disability insurance, Datadog supports its employees’ mental health by offering both team members and their dependents 10 free mental health therapy sessions annually. The company also covers 75 percent of fitness-related expenses for eligible offices, from yoga classes to ski passes. Team members can also leverage gender-affirming care support as well as access to women’s health care services through the Maven platform. 

For Harte, these benefits reflect an all-encompassing approach to employees’ well-being.

In Harte’s mind, benefits are “something that people don’t think about until it’s time to care about it.”

She realized just how true this statement is when she was forced to spend the majority of one month in bed due to an illness. With Datadog’s flexible work environment and ongoing support from her manager, Harte was able to recover without stressing about work.

She highlighted that Datadog’s work environment thrives on dependable teams and a supportive culture — one that embraces life’s unpredictability and adapts when needed. 

According to Harte, this focus on flexibility is one of Datadog’s perks designed to support employees’ health and happiness. 

Support for All Families 

“No matter how you identify what family looks like for you, there’s a benefit for you,” Harte said. 

According to her, Datadog thinks of “all situations” when it comes to supporting employees and their families, providing a stipend to put toward fertility or adoption needs. Serventon added that team members also get generous parental leave.

In France specifically, employees can send their children to daycares that the company partners with, which, Serventon noted, is one of the most popular perks among the organization’s France-based population. 

Team members also have discretionary PTO, enabling them to step away from their work tasks for their mental and physical wellness. And whenever employees do take time off, Serventon shared, their managers work to afford them the chance to unplug completely. 

“We care about employees’ well-being and allow sufficient time for employees to recharge their batteries,” she said.

Grow and Connect as a Team

While it’s important for Datadog employees to achieve health and happiness at home, it’s also essential for them to find growth and community in the office. 

To help with this, the company has “Community Guilds.” Open to all who come in the spirit of collaboration, Community Guilds are voluntary, employee-driven (and People Team-guided) groups of individuals who join together based on common backgrounds or demographic factors, and the allies who support them. Parbery said that these guilds, which include “Parents and Guardians,” “Black in Technology” and “Women of Datadog,” give employees the chance to learn, celebrate and connect with others across departments and regions. 

As team members grow their knowledge of each other on a personal level, they have plenty of chances to evolve professionally as well. Parbery noted that employees can level up their skills by participating in a variety of development programs, including mentorship, language coaching, interactive workshops, online courses, manager and leadership training, Learning Week events and more.

Datadog employees can level up their skills by participating in a variety of development programs, including mentorship, language coaching, interactive workshops, online courses, manager and leadership training, Learning Week events and more. 

“Here, we mean it when we say we’re employee-focused,” Harte said. “We want to make sure we focus on everything and have a truly inclusive environment that’s reflected in our benefits and fosters the needs of all people here.”