HR: Social a.ok.a. Employee Engagement
I usually get launched to both new Spotifiers or these exterior of Spotify as head of enjoyable! It’s a really good introduction and I do have (and encourage others to have) lots of enjoyable at work, however the job title/description is just not precisely correct! Me and my workforce have extra strings to our bow than that.
Let me clarify additional.
At Spotify, we have now a small however extremely environment friendly Social workforce inside HR. We’re focussed completely on social occasions and initiatives for workers. It might be referred to at different corporations as Employee Engagement, Benefits and even Chief Culture Officer work, however even with these extra standard names, it may not be recognisable to you because it’s uncommon (exterior of Silicon Valley) to have full time workforce members focussed on this alone.
Backstage – Part of our tradition
The workforce has been established at Spotify since May 2013. That was when it was determined that having a full time Spotifier devoted to bringing staff collectively was completely matched with our tradition. It was considered as one of many worker worth propositions that will set us apart the larger scale corporations with extra conventional and company perks and advantages packages.
It all started very a lot focussed on bringing individuals collectively – therefore the title. It was an effective way to assist us cope with our hyper progress, to assist onboard and welcome expertise from all around the globe (particularly in what one may describe as a typically fairly introverted metropolis like Stockholm, in line with this Brit;)
It was definitely not the one attraction software we’ve used, however it’s a central pillar to our day by day life and perks package deal. And in Sweden, and even exterior of the Silicon Valley, it actually is a differentiating issue.
More than simply occasions
Much of our work is event-based. But it’s not nearly partying arduous, or taking part in video video games all day. We’re a workforce of three occasions, advertising and branding specialists, however we’re additionally HR professionals. Everything we do all the time takes into consideration the HR aspect of our roles and the accountability that comes with it. Sometimes it’s a tough line to tread however I like to bear in mind the phrase taught by Katarina: if we provide the sweet, we must be the dentist as nicely!
So, what can we work with? How can we add some construction and focus to a chaotic function?
Well, our mission is that this: ‘To help Spotifiers love life at Spotify and the Spotify spirit.’
And what parameters can we work inside to realize this? What are our beliefs that information us?
1. A stronger sense of belonging
Bringing individuals collectively offers them a stronger sense of belonging, so we create many various alternatives for individuals to socialize and are available collectively in several surroundings. They bond over hobbies, chat about their days, and even evaluate variations, highlighting how numerous the Spotify household is. We like to think about the social workforce as the inspiration of bridge constructing – we assist facilitate relationships that can result in wonderful collaboration.
2. Celebrating Spotify’s achievements
Celebrating firm achievements creates a way of satisfaction and belonging for all staff. No matter whether or not the Spotifier helped develop a brand new characteristic, helped get suppliers paid, or wrote the copy for a Spotify marketing campaign – we’re all on this collectively and all of us contribute to the success of the corporate. We all take satisfaction in our achievements and the Social workforce helps to verify all of us take the time to have fun.
3. Family enjoyable at Spotify
Creating enjoyable actions for workers with households creates loyalty and retention, so Spotifier’s household and shut pals ought to get particular remedy too. Our ambition is to create a wider Spotify household – a community that may depend on one another and construct actual and lasting friendships, and we do this with common occasions. The children love them simply as a lot because the grownups 😉
4. Healthy staff at Spotify
Giving individuals the instruments to enhance their well being will increase the productiveness of the corporate and happiness/contentedness of staff. We work with many sports activities and well being actions, ensuring there’s something for everybody.
And we don’t cease with gymnasium reductions or bodily exercise. Our classes additionally embody inspiration, mindfulness, wholesome consuming, well being checks and different social and psychological well-being. Each 12 months we additionally work with particular initiatives taking a distinct slant on well being points.
Social as a component of employer branding
The employer branding specialists on the market have most likely seen this coming from the beginning, however most of what I’m speaking about is an employer branding tactic.
Our social workforce is a method that we’ve metaphorically bottled the Spotify tradition, packaged it up and handed it out to staff, and potential staff. You might have seen our efforts with #LifeAtSpotify – our social media deal with that’s used to share photos from our occasions. And we do all of the above with a Spotify twist. Often this imply it incorporates music and makes music a part of on a regular basis life.
We love hanging out with one another and thru the number of numerous occasions that we provide, there’s one thing for everybody. And we’re proud to share these moments, which in flip helps us to indicate off our tradition and the way day by day life at Spotify is enhanced by the occasions and actions.
That’s the fundamentals of what Social at Spotify is about.
