“Matter has completely changed how we celebrate each other’s work. It is no longer a quick email that gets buried or a comment that only a few people hear. Now recognition is out in the open, shared instantly, and seen by the whole team. People feel appreciated in real time, and that energy is contagious.”
Company: Founded in 2013, Octus, formerly Reorg, is a trusted source for actionable credit intelligence. The company brings together insights from financial analysts, legal experts, and investigative journalists, combining them with advanced technology, data, and AI tools to deliver a complete view of complex credit markets. Octus serves leading buy side firms, investment banks, law firms, and advisory firms around the world, equipping professionals with the clarity and confidence to make informed decisions that shape the future of financial markets.
Industry: Financial Services
Employees: 800+
Headquarters: New York, USA 🇺🇲
Key Use Cases: Feedback Friday, Kudos, Company Values, Rewards, Analytics
Interview: Clark Atkinson - People Strategy, Infrastructure & Total Rewards Lead
Octus leadership wanted a recognition program that matched the company’s high standards and reached every employee. Recognition was happening, but it often lived in emails, small in-person moments, or office-specific programs. As a result, great work could be missed, rewards were sometimes delayed, and remote team members did not always see the full picture.
Clark Atkinson and the employee experience team began looking for a platform that could connect the entire company, create a consistent experience, and make recognition visible to all. They wanted something that would be easy for employees to use, provide clear insights for administrators, and work for a truly global team.
Matter offered everything they were looking for. It could be rolled out worldwide, included a dashboard to track recognition and rewards, and integrated directly into Slack so that recognition happened in the same place where conversations were already taking place. The result was a single, visible, and engaging recognition program for everyone at Octus.
Matter was introduced at Octus through a dedicated #Matter-Kudos channel in Slack, with every employee included from the start. A short, clear instruction guide was pinned in the channel along with a presentation explaining how to give kudos and redeem coins for rewards. The platform’s intuitive design meant employees had very few questions, and both new hires and long-time team members began using it almost immediately.
The most-used features include kudos, company values, and rewards, all appreciated for their speed, visibility, and ease of use. Recognition cards are customized to reflect Octus core values, turning each moment of recognition into a chance to reinforce and celebrate those principles in conversation.
Clark Atkinson says, “Matter has made it easy for people to celebrate each other in the moment. The fact that recognition ties directly to our values means it is not just a nice gesture, it is a reminder of who we are and what we stand for. You can see the impact in how people talk to each other, how they show up for the team, and how much more connected everyone feels.”
Matter has strengthened the global team by automating reward delivery and making recognition simple, consistent, and accessible inside Slack, the place where everyone is already communicating. This unified approach keeps the process seamless and frees the company to focus on more strategic work.
Clark Atkinson shares, “We have seen people valuing our culture and perks more than ever. Matter has created a steady flow of positive reinforcement, so employees feel seen and appreciated in real time. Even small wins are celebrated, and that has made a huge difference in morale and in how connected people feel to each other.”
Clark also notes the speed of adoption: “The level of engagement surprised me, as did the immediate, noticeable impact on our culture. People embraced the kudos feature almost instantly, and it became part of how we work together every day.”
For anyone considering using Matter, Clark’s perspective is clear:
“Do not overcomplicate it. Recognition works best when it is simple, visible, and shared with everyone. Keep it in one space where people can see and celebrate each other in the moment. The more open it is, the more it builds trust and connection. Recognition is not just about rewarding someone for doing a good job. It is about showing that you notice, that their effort matters, and that they belong here. That feeling of belonging is what truly changes a culture.”
