Drink transitioned into working from home when the pandemic hit. Since then we have been implementing face-to-face activities to get to know each other and improve how we work together. Included in our face-to-face activities were team and department gatherings, the Drink Week where we hold training and team-building activities, and our annual Christmas party. As important as these offline activities, Drink also implements online employee engagement strategies to adapt to the shift of working from home. Implementing these strategies is crucial for maintaining morale, productivity, and overall well-being when employees are working away from each other.
What are the online engagement strategies that we do at Drink?
- Online Learning Sessions
Drink’s online learning sessions follow one of Drink’s values: learn with each other. Learning sessions are short online talks led by one of our employees wherein they discuss a particular topic they are passionate about.
This quarter, our sustainability associate Mike Bolalin talked about the “Pursuit of Happiness and Health after the Pandemic” while Kad de Guzman, Project Management Head, talked about “Balancing work and travel: Working from the Island” where she narrated the pros and cons of living in Siargao.
- Jar of Recognition
The Jar of Recognition is a quarterly program where employees vote on a co-employee they want to be recognized. This activity also acknowledges and appreciates employees’ efforts and achievements for the quarter.
- Town Hall Meetings
The whole of Drink gathers together online during town hall meetings. Here is where important announcements and updates are made. Monthly reports are discussed and presented as well together with activities moving on to the next month. We also have online games such as scavenger hunts to make the event more fun and engaging.
- Utilizing Google Classroom for Training
To make training easier and learning truly a part of the organization, Drink uses Google Classroom as a tool for its leadership and sustainability training. Drink created different “classrooms” for diverse topics this quarter as reporting season slows down, giving way to the implementation of the organization’s learning and development programs.
Google Classroom makes it easier to share learning materials between the “teachers” and “students”, as well as track the progress of assignments and lessons.
- Professional Development Opportunities
Drink encourages continuous learning and skills development to be able to be updated with the latest developments in the topics of sustainability, and communications.
