Dcoding HR: TikTok, Trivia, and Team Memes — Oh, My!
by Whitney Jones, Director of Operations
On March 17, I wrote the first work-from-home-focused “Dcoding HR” blog on the steps Dcode was taking to engage employees while remote. We are now on Week 8 of being 100% virtual. What are we up to? How are we doing? Has there been a coup? Have we rewatched all 9 seasons and 201 episodes of The Office?
In short: Dcode is crushing it. We’re using Covid-19 as an opportunity to drive further innovation for our customer offerings (e-learning platforms, online whiteboards, etc.). The team is doing great, and we’re hanging in there (thanks partly to our collaborative Spotify playlist). I’ve written a zombie apocalypse clause into at least one HR policy so far, and yes — I watched all of The Office and two seasons of 30 Rock ago because that’s how I measure time… by TV seasons.
Here what we’ve been up to as a team:
- According to a study, homebound employees are working three hours longer during Covid-19 than before mandatory stay-at-home orders were implemented nationwide. To curb overworking, we’ve implemented “Meeting-Free Wednesday” and “Half-Day Friday” policies; Meeting-Free Wednesday is an opportunity to be heads down, off Zoom, and structure your own workday and priorities. Jammies? ✔ Work from bed? ✔✔. Half-day Friday is an opportunity to just call it a day and kick off the weekend with a bang. Both policies were implemented to promote a better work-life balance and mental wellness.
- Dcode’s first virtual Culture Squad activity was trivia! Dcode’s Culture Squad is a rotating monthly duo or trio of teammates from different departments whose job for the month is to organize a team bonding activity for the entire company. Previously, we’ve gone ice skating, had a World Cup viewing, and a very spirited gingerbread house contest, to name a few.
- As a sendoff for our awesome spring intern Sammy Ginsberg, we created our first team TikTok (don’t worry, we kept it super simple)!
- The team does online morning fitness classes together. Dcoders take turns on who creates the workout and leads, and the team challenges one another on max steps per day in our #getupandmoveit Slack channel. One Dcoder also led a Zumba class for Dcoders with kids!
- Continuing to do our Friday “Lunch & Learns” virtually. Topics have ranged from analyzing quality coding to researching federal contracts. We also just had our first virtual Diversity & Inclusion training and discussion on code-switching.
- We’ve had birthdays and “Dcodeaversaries” come and go during Covid-19, so we’ve upped our e-card game and gift basket deliveries, and we’ve sent the team goodie packages from Qualia Coffee and Ivy’s Tea Co. to spread the love and the caffeine while supporting local businesses.
- Once a week, we have 15 minute one-on-one “Let’s Chat” calls where the CEO, CSO, and I take turns chatting with different members of the team. We let the team decide the topic, whether they want to chat about work or a new recipe they’ve learned. “Let’s Chat” is a great way for the team to stay engaged with leadership and helps me have better insight on the team’s morale.
- How does Dcode manage to find new and inventive ways to keep the team engaged? Several weeks ago, I began issuing 5-minute, anonymous surveys to the team. Each week has a new theme and asks how we can improve a process, policy, or structure. I ask whether the team finds value in a given policy or process, if they have any ideas on how to improve a policy or process, and I always end each survey with: “How are you doing generally?”
The results have been phenomenal. Case in point:
We look forward to the day we can be reunited as a team. Hopefully, it’s before I finish 30 Rock. If not, up next are Family Guy reruns (18 seasons).
Sound like a team you want to join? We’re hiring! (Yes, even virtually!).
Whitney is the director of operations at Dcode. She oversees the human resources department including recruiting, hiring, internal policy, and employee engagement. When Whitney isn’t working on making Dcode “pop off,” she’s probably drinking wine, hanging out with her cat (Trilly Bean), or both — because they aren’t mutually exclusive, after all (and now that she’s social-distancing she’s also taking suggestions on good non-fiction books she should read).
