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Epoch recently hosted a Lunch & Learn that explored the evolving dynamics of employee engagement and workplace culture in today’s changing work environment. Moderated by Jade, Epoch’s Co-founder, the conversation featured Jeffrey Huang from Salesforce, a leader dedicated to shaping the company’s global workplace experience and employee engagement strategy. The discussion focused on fostering connection, navigating return-to-office transitions, and bridging the gap between in-person and remote engagement to drive a strong culture of inclusion and belonging.
Jeffrey, Director of Employee Engagement & Events at Salesforce, plays a pivotal role in shaping the company’s workplace experience and employee engagement strategy on a global scale. With a team that supports over 80,000 employees worldwide, Jeffrey's work focuses on bringing Salesforce’s core values and culture to life through innovative initiatives, programs, and events. His commitment to fostering connection, inclusivity, and belonging extends across Salesforce’s numerous offices and remote teams, demonstrating a holistic approach to employee engagement. Working cross-functionally with various departments, Jeffrey ensures that every experience, whether in-person or virtual, reflects the essence of Salesforce’s dynamic culture.
Jeffrey began by exploring the foundation of a positive workplace culture at Salesforce. He shared that while every company’s culture is unique, the best cultures are anchored in their core values. At Salesforce, these include trust, customer success, innovation, equality, and sustainability, with an unofficial sixth value: fun. This commitment to fun is evident in events, interactions, and even major conferences like Dreamforce, fostering an environment where employees work hard and connect meaningfully.
Reflecting on his ten-year tenure at Salesforce, Jeffrey highlighted how the culture has intentionally evolved. From small gatherings to major global initiatives, the company’s human-centric approach empowers employees to feel seen, supported, and able to grow personally and professionally.
Salesforce’s Return to Office (RTO) policy, which generally required most office-based employees to work three days a week, was driven by data and tailored to different roles. Jeffrey acknowledged that the decision prompted mixed reactions, particularly as employees adjusted to commuting and balancing personal responsibilities post-pandemic. His team aimed to make in-office days more meaningful by creating engaging experiences that went beyond routine work, such as social gatherings, lunch-and-learns, and professional development opportunities, mitigating “commuter’s remorse.”
To support this transition, Jeffrey’s team recognized the importance of making employees’ time in the office worthwhile, offering enriching social activities, accessible meeting spaces, and professional growth opportunities. This approach, rooted in empathy and human-centric values, reinforced the value of coming together in person.
Jeffrey shared the journey to securing executive buy-in for engagement initiatives, noting that initial resistance was met with persistence and data-driven storytelling. His team relied on internal surveys and external research to make a compelling case for engagement programs. Employee surveys revealed a strong desire for social events and team-building activities, aligning with broader research on employee engagement and retention. By framing the budget request as a minimal per-employee cost, Jeffrey demonstrated the tangible value of building a connected workforce.
Recognizing the unique needs of remote employees, Salesforce introduced programs like Salesforce at Home to foster engagement beyond the office. This initiative provides virtual experiences and ensures that remote and hybrid employees remain connected to the organization’s culture. Jeffrey highlighted targeted efforts to engage remote hubs in cities like Salt Lake City, Milwaukee, and Montreal, using in-person gatherings to strengthen community bonds and remind employees of the value of connection.
Reflecting on 2024’s successes and challenges, Jeffrey emphasized the importance of learning from experience and remaining agile in response to employee needs. Moving forward, his team plans to continue creating opportunities for meaningful engagement while building on Salesforce’s core values. By trusting their instincts, harnessing data, and collaborating with cross-functional partners, they aim to foster a vibrant, inclusive, and engaging workplace culture.
Use Epoch to plan your employee events and programs, then track analytics on how the events went! Epoch is an employee engagement platform used by people teams at Salesforce, Reddit, and more. Epoch supports any internal event that needs email, Slack announcements and reminders, calendaring, and reporting. On top of impactful engagement and feedback analytics, Epoch provides a simple way to communicate and promote events to your workforce, helping events reach employees where they prefer to receive messages.
Increase productivity and connection among employees through company culture with Epoch. Curious to learn more? Book a demo today!
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