Cultivating a thriving hybrid work culture
Stitch Head of People, Thelma van Rensburg, shares our approach to hybrid work, highlighting tangible strategies and initiatives that promote collaboration, communication and a strong sense of belonging for all team members.
At the start of 2021, we were all bombarded with reports and articles discussing the “new normal” in terms of what the world of work would look like. They were exciting, speculative and in many cases optimistic about the impact of COVID-19 on the flexibility of the work environment.
Fast-forward to today: the challenges of maintaining a more open, flexible and adaptable approach to how we work are all too real for employers and employees alike. Employers are left asking how they can support employee requests for flexibility in a manner that doesn’t increase managerial load or compromise productivity measures. The future of work is not one-size-fits-all; it’s about designing intentional ways of work that result in higher-quality outputs and connections that matter – to the employee and the employer.
Nurturing meaningful connections: our approach to hybrid work at Stitch
In today's evolving work landscape, organisations like Stitch are embracing hybrid work models to accommodate the diverse needs and preferences of our workforce. As a company with a distributed workforce, we recognise the importance of fostering meaningful connections between in-office and remote team members. Here we explore our approach to hybrid work at Stitch, highlighting strategies and initiatives aimed at promoting collaboration, communication and a strong sense of belonging for all team members.
Building a culture of inclusivity
At Stitch, we recognise that a strong company culture is essential for fostering meaningful connections. To ensure inclusivity, Stitch values all team members regardless of their physical location. We really work to create an environment where every individual is heard, valued and supported, regardless of whether they work in the office or remotely.
To do this, we have introduced various channels of communication. Some also allow for anonymous feedback, where team members can freely express their thoughts and opinions or give feedback on our initiatives without fear of judgement. We also use Slack as a tool to communicate and collaborate - not only on our work, but also on activities or other interests. One of our most popular channels, for example, may be the #pets one.
Embracing technology and tools
As described above, we bridge the distance between in-office and remote team members by leveraging technology and tools that enable seamless communication and collaboration. The company invests in robust video conferencing platforms (Google Meets works well for us as it’s simple, straightforward and allows for in-meeting collaboration), instant messaging tools (like Slack), digital information sharing tools (like Notion, Miro and Excalidraw) and project management software (Asana, ClickUp and Linear work well in our environment). These tools enable face-to-face interactions, real-time communication, and collaboration on projects, helping to strengthen connections between team members.
We’ve also taken the plunge to embrace AI and developed a People Ops Bot that can respond to online queries from team members in seconds. The bot lives on Slack and can help team members with basic onboarding and people operations questions. As a result, team members won’t have to wait longer than a minute to get an initial response to their query.
Team-building activities
Team-building activities matter to us and support connections and a sense of camaraderie. While in-person team-building activities may be challenging for a distributed workforce, the company has adapted by organising virtual as well as location-specific team-building events. These activities include location-specific dinners, online game nights and team challenges that promote collaboration and fun, ensuring that all employees have the opportunity to connect and build relationships.
Community and interest-based groups
To encourage connections and shared interests among employees, Stitch supports the formation of community and interest-based groups. These groups provide a platform for employees to connect with like-minded colleagues who share similar hobbies, interests or backgrounds (cue #pets). Whether it's a book club, a fitness group or one of our Business Resource Groups (like Women & Non-binary At Stitch), these groups foster a sense of belonging and enable employees to forge connections beyond their immediate teams.
Flexibility and work-life balance
A key aspect of Stitch's approach to hybrid work is ensuring flexibility and work-life balance for all our team members. The company understands that different team members have different needs and commitments outside of work. Stitch supports flexible working hours, allowing employees to find a schedule that accommodates their personal obligations while ensuring productivity and collaboration. This flexibility contributes to better work-life integration and enhances overall well-being and satisfaction among team members. To do this without disrupting our deliverables, we have core hours for all our regions to allow synchronous collaborations as and when required.
Regular communication and feedback
Open and transparent communication is crucial for building and maintaining meaningful connections among our team members. Stitch encourages frequent communication, whether it's through regular team check-ins, one-on-one meetings, or virtual coffee-donut chats. The company also fosters a culture of continuous feedback, facilitating regular performance conversations and opportunities for growth and development. By prioritising communication and feedback, we ensure that all team members stay connected and engaged, regardless of their location.
Stitch's approach to hybrid work emphasises the importance of inclusivity, technology, team-building activities and open communication. By cultivating a culture that values every employee, regardless of their location, we create an environment where meaningful connections can flourish.