In my four weeks of interning in BEDB, i've learned that the practice of maintaining positive employee relations is key to any successful organization. Take Google as an example, employees working at its “Googleplex” are treated to all hour gourmet food, volleyball/basketball courts and even Segways to travel in and around the complex! With all these benefits, no wonder their employees can come up with side projects such as Google Earth! Google is a perfect example of how happy employees can contribute more compared to a disgruntled one. With that said, the question for today is "how does your organization keep employee's morale up?"
I've heard fellow interns speak of annual dinners and company picnics while some have told tales of their bosses buying everyone breakfast! (All sarcasm aside, food is regarded as a veritable component of Brunei's work ethos). Here in BEDB, we have gatherings such as "Birthday Babies" which is held monthly to celebrate those with birthdays falling on that particular month. I don't know what you think, but to me there exists a budding sense of camaraderie each time "happy birthday" is sung collectively. At times, work can get really stressful and it's always nice to have moments where employees are given a chance to disregard all matters of seriousness and share light-hearted moments with one another.
Aside from "Birthday Babies" BEDB's Stakeholder Relations Division also conducts motivational seminars called "Different Faces of Brunei" to increase staff awareness of the achievements, aspirations, ideas and views of Bruneian entrepreneurs from different walks of life. Just last week, a musician-cum-entrepreneur talked to us about our goals in life. What was particularly interesting about the talk was how she managed to relate life with music. Thanks to this talk, i now have a positive outlook on the future and have a stronger will to perform better in the work place.
I've noticed that everyone leaves these gatherings with a smile on their faces. Seeing my colleagues disappearing off to their departments laughing with one another pays homage to the phrase, "all work and no play makes Jack a dull boy."
From a PR standpoint, always remember that the most important stakeholder is not the organization who pays your wages, mind you, but the employees of the organization!
Have a good week, guys!
4 comments:
Hey Shannon!
This post puts a smile on my face, it is very true that food is very much a component of work environment in Brunei.
Things like celebrating birthdays and sharing a big breakfast together once in a while is one of the best ways to build rapport and keep communications opened between employees.
Personally too in my experience being attached with the Information Department, I bonded with my colleagues over such occassions. When otherwise I would have been too reserved to make small talks, a light gathering over food never fails to break the ice.
Sounds like you're having a great time at BEDB, keep us posted!!!
Hey Hadthiah,
Thank you for your comment. I think most will tend to focus entirely on exercising their PR skills and overlook the importance of building a rapport with colleagues. After all, we are interning for the sole purpose of experiencing the "real world" and what better way to do so by listening to advices and work experiences from our colleagues over coffee and cigarettes?
P.S Everyone should learn how to smoke cigarettes. Thanks to my "bad habit" i've been able to speak directly with my CEO and supervisor who are out of the office most of the time. The social value of a cigarette should not be ignored lol
Hey Shannon!
Know wat man, you right about maintaining a positive employee relations, employees are the main people in the organisation if ever they aint happy, nothing is gonna go well, they are the ones to support and sell out the organisation.
even where i was attached, they always make Birthday celebrations for their employees, they provide discounts for accomodation and drinks in any Cresta Hotel around Botswana just for Cresta employees and just imagine for a country like Botswana, discounts on drinks "booze is whats gonna come to their minds" they ll get it like crazy..."kidding" but this is one of the things that makes them cheer up they are also given free meals at the staff canteen everyday.
seems like most of the companies are in a position to provide, support and make their employees happy
Good topic, its true that the most happy employees are the most productive workforce.Everything you said in this post is actually true because i have realized that employees that are appreciated for their tremendous efforts through bonuses and promotions are the one's that acts as ambassadors of the company to the external key publics.
Once again, thanks for posting.
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