go and instituted by-weekly Samlings to bring the workforce together.
Zoom huddles
Samling is Swedish for a gathering and every Monday and Friday the YUDU team gather for a Zoom huddle. This isn’t a typical business call, in fact work hardly gets a look in. It’s really an attempt to replicate the social aspect of work: the water cooler conversations or the evenings in the pub after work.
The calls are led by the boss, but they tend to take on a life of their own. We had an egg painting contest over Easter, a short story competition and there’s always general chit chat about the life, the universe and everything.
The company has two offices, one in London and one in Clitheroe, Lancashire. Marketing executive Emily Byrne said: “I really look forward to the Samling chats. One unexpected bonus is that it’s brought people in the London and Clitheroe offices much closer together. I now chat with people I’d never talked to before.”
Richard Stephenson: “Many of our staff are young, some working at their first job. I knew lockdown was going to be tough for everyone but particularly for those just starting out. The Samling is a simple way to bring the team together even if we are miles apart. It’s not compulsory to join but almost everyone does, simply because they like it.”
Treat staff equally As some workers return to their office while others remain at home it’s important organisations treat both sets of workers equally. The Financial Times recently highlighted an instance where a major firm got this spectacularly wrong.
A member of staff, working at their HQ, was idly scrolling through
Twitter when something caught her eye. The firm’s management were apparently so delighted with the productivity and general brilliance of those working from home that they received lovely gift-wrapped hampers. Those who had slogged into the office everyday risking life and limb had got zip.
The digital publication Forge have what you might call Silent Samlings. Staff log on to Zoom and engage in silent co- working. Someone might raise a point or ask a question but that’s not really the idea. It’s an attempt to replicate the atmosphere of an office. People can see each other working, concentrating or just getting on with their day plus you can enjoy the tap of fingers on a keyboard. Perhaps that’s a sound you didn’t know you missed. They think it’s good to have company as you work and perhaps the presence of others helps you concentrate.
Flexible working is here to stay Even if an effective Covid vaccine is produced it’s still very unlikely we’ll all be trooping back to our offices seven days a week. Flexible working seems set to continue with people working remotely for perhaps two or three days a week and then venturing into an office for collaborative meetings.
Staff working from home need support from management, they need the right kit and where necessary the right training to do their jobs effectively. Some larger firms have even created the new role of director of remote working.
We are all trying to find ways to navigate this new world of work, to break down barriers, confront silo working and work together in a cooperative spirit. It’s quite a change and quite a challenge, but change represents opportunity. A new, better way of working is there for the taking if we can figure it out. At YUDU we think we’ve made a good start.
Beyond 20/20 - Technology
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