We move fast around here and things are always changing. One constant is having great people working alongside you. Great people deserve a great place to work, and creating an amazing culture for them is a non-negotiable in our books. That’s where I come in.
As the People Operations Coordinator, it’s my role to recruit, hire and work with the rest of the People Ops Team to create an incredible culture. This means creating an environment where everyone feels supported, appreciated, and inspired.
From virtual coffee chats to Zoom Happy Hours, we’re always looking for ways to bring Redbrickers together and celebrate wins. Recently, we unveiled a fun new way for Redbrickers to recognize each other’s achievements and hard work. We’re calling it the Redbrick Recognition Program (RRP).
Last November, we partnered with an employee engagement platform, Kazoo, to roll out the initiative, and it’s been a total hit. In this piece, I’ll cover how our RRP started, how it’s going so far, and what we learned along the way. So, let’s get into it!
Where it started
People are the core of Redbrick. Together, Redbrickers have built this company *cheesy pun alert*, brick by brick. And it comes through in everything we do — from the boardroom to the breakroom.
Redbrick’s Recognition Program stems from our goal to support a culture where everyone feels appreciated and recognized.
"It’s difficult to feel connected when we’re apart. Kazoo has given us the platform to celebrate each other and keep in closer touch. With the RRP in place, we are strengthening the bonds between our four portfolio companies, as well as internal teams, and providing a way to recognize everyone for their impressive contributions and accomplishments."
Nicole Lee, VP of People and Operations, Redbrick
The power of positivity
These days, it's easy to feel disconnected. Like many other teams around the world, we transitioned to remote work for the better part of 2020. Logistically, it was a pretty seamless transition, but when it comes to team-bonding and human connection, Zoom just doesn’t cut it.
We miss our colleagues and the random office chats and brainstorming sessions that happened pre-pandemic. With the Redbrick Recognition Program, we are helping our teams feel more connected by recognizing each other and celebrating wins together. This Slack poll makes it clear — Redbrickers love Kazoo and celebrating wins together.
How it’s going
We’ve found that recognition is most meaningful when tied to the big picture. It helps people draw a line between their accomplishments and the company's larger mission. After all, we all want to feel like we’re making an impact. That’s why we made sure that every piece of recognition is also tied to one of Redbrick’s corporate values: quality, community, work-life balance, entrepreneurial innovation, and communication.
Since the program launched, 93% of Redbrickers have received accolades — a total of 848 recognitions. Everyone has rallied together to support one another, with 1,479 high-fives sent — the closest thing to real high-fives we’ve had in months! Quality and work-life balance are the two most represented values, with 118 and 111 recognitions awarded to each, respectively. All in all, it’s been great.
By aligning our goals and purpose with daily positivity and recognition, we are growing our impact in a powerful way. We are excited to see this program grow as we continue to nurture a culture where everyone feels supported, appreciated, and seen.
