Transitioning to a 100% remote workforce due to the pandemic decreased the amount of casual connections that tend to occur while together and in-person. Additionally, unprecedented events like COVID-19, hurricanes and winter storms put major stresses on our business, and as a result, many of our dedicated employees were working around the clock to accommodate the needs of our customers.  

In Swedish culture, ‘fika’ is an intentional coffee break that encourages colleagues to step away and connect during the workday. Inspired by this, an initiative was developed by our D&I Council to address employee burnout, mitigate bias, and cultivate connections across department lines.

Employees were organized into six buckets based on department, and one person from each bucket was invited to Fika Time to increase the chances they would meet employees who they do not normally interact with. Selection was generally random with a few guidelines:

• Balance of gender representation
• Avoid a supervisor and their direct report in same session
• When possible, try to include one new hire

To encourage participation, our Executive Leadership Team (ELT) members led Fika Time. Employees were asked to join with cameras on. Sessions lasted 45 minutes and the time was spent casually connecting. ELT’s facilitated the conversation using a mix of fun story prompts, such as: What are you doing for self-care these days? What are you binge-watching lately? How are you celebrating the holidays?

To date, six sessions have engaged over 30 employees, and there is a desire from both ELT members and participants to continue offering it on a regular basis. Survey data showed:

• 100% of participants enjoyed taking a break to connect with an ELT member and colleagues
• 95% of participants would like to participate in another Fika Time
• An average rating of 4.68out of 5

The comments in the survey confirmed that this initiative helped to forge new relationships and serve as a mental health break from the hectic workday. Participants enjoyed having intimate access to ELT members, and ELT members appreciated the opportunity to learn more about the needs of employees.

Linsea Waugh, Senior Diversity & Inclusion Program Manager