Jade Choy, Co-Founder and CEO at Epoch, facilitated a panel to gain invaluable insights into how workplace leaders across fast-growing, culture-leading companies connect their teams and create engaging work environments. Meet Emily Day, Head of Workplace Experience at HashiCorp, Jamie Edwards, Global Workplace Experience Manager at Lattice, and Jamil Mitchell, Workplace Services & Operations Director at Bill.
Securing leadership buy-in and advocating for budget are critical aspects of implementing successful Employee Experience (EX) programs. Jamie highlighted the need for a data-driven approach, combining anecdotal feedback with comprehensive market and company goal alignment. This strategy helped secure leadership buy-in at Lattice.
Jamil emphasized the importance of involving decision-makers who understand the program's benefits, emphasizing strategic advocacy.
Emily recommended using storytelling and early discussions with senior leadership to build support, and proactively advocate for the budget.
The panelists shared examples of successful programs in their workplaces. Emily described a successful initiative at HashiCorp where employees were given a day off and funds to connect with their communities, boosting morale during challenging times.
Jamil described how Bill spotlighted employee achievements to build community. Despite budget limitations, this low-cost initiative effectively engaged employees. They also secured a budget to support similar community connection programs for remote employees.
To understand KPIs, Jamie mentioned that Lattice uses Epoch for standardized questions to understand remote work dynamics.
Jamil highlighted the use of frequent surveys at Bill to gauge workplace satisfaction. These surveys help set a baseline for the workplace experience across different work models. Measuring these factors are crucial for assessing and improving EX initiatives.
The panelists discussed various challenges they face and how they address them. Jamie detailed how Lattice refined processes, standardized practices, and eliminated unnecessary expenses to revitalize office spaces.
Emily emphasized the importance of maximizing impact through simplified initiatives and thoughtful spending at HashiCorp. Both Emily and Jamie stressed the significance of transparency and empathy in addressing employee concerns, using direct conversations and feedback opportunities.
Balancing the needs of a diverse workforce is also crucial. Emily noted that HashiCorp leans into virtual events to connect remote teams. Jamil and Jamie emphasized creating feedback-driven environments to cater to diverse employee groups. These strategies highlight the need to adapt EX initiatives to meet the varied needs of employees across different demographics and work arrangements.
Navigating the complexities of hybrid workforces requires thoughtful strategies and adaptability. Jamil shared that Bill ensures virtual events complement overall initiatives, maintaining a balance between in-person and remote engagement.
Jamie observed that Lattice has reduced virtual events post-COVID to focus on more meaningful and thoughtful engagement, reflecting a shift in employee needs and expectations.
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