Enjoying time together at Vivochem: our staff association in the spotlight
At Vivochem, work is about more than chemicals; the atmosphere in the workplace is just as important. Our staff association plays a big part in that. A small group of colleagues organises activities throughout the year that bring people together, from karting and cooking workshops to Sinterklaas celebrations and the Christmas party.
Two members of the staff association, Patricia Smits-Bakker and Chantal Bisschop, explain how it all works, why they enjoy doing it and what it brings to Vivochem.
From a trip every five years to a full year of activities
Vivochem’s staff association has been around for many years. For a long time, the focus was on organising a staff trip once every five years. Several of those trips took place, although things were on hold for a while during the coronavirus period.
A few years ago, the association took a fresh look at whether that set-up still suited colleagues. “We sent out a survey to everyone,” Patricia says. “We asked whether people preferred one trip every five years, several activities each year, or no activities at all. The outcome was very clear. Colleagues wanted multiple activities spread across the year, possibly combined with a yearly company party.”
Since then, the staff association has been putting together a varied programme throughout the year, from sports-based outings to culinary activities.
A small team that makes things happen
At the moment, the staff association consists of six colleagues. There is no formal chairperson or strict division of roles. It is a small team where everyone naturally picks up the things that suit them.
“We do not really work with fixed roles,” Chantal explains. “We do not have an official chair, but Patricia has been involved the longest, so she often takes the lead and is the one people turn to with questions.”
Sinterklaas is always Patricia’s project. Other activities are divided based on interest. Some colleagues enjoy arranging sports activities such as padel or karting, while others are more likely to take on a cooking workshop or BBQ.
“We mainly look at what people like organising,” says Chantal. “That way, it stays enjoyable for us as well.”
Roughly once a quarter, the staff association meets to go through the plans. They look at which activities are coming up, what needs to be arranged and who will take on which tasks.
From karting to curling: what the staff association organises
Over the past few years, a broad mix of activities has emerged. The staff association has organised karting, fishing, cooking workshops, barbecues, Sinterklaas celebrations, Christmas parties, darts tournaments, bowling and even participation in a curling tournament.
“Sinterklaas, the darts tournament and the Christmas drinks have really become annual traditions,” Patricia says. “Those activities are initiated by Vivochem as a company, but we are the ones who organise them.”
Picking a single favourite activity is difficult for Patricia and Chantal. The mix of sports, shared meals and larger parties means there is usually something that appeals to everyone. Patricia mentions the sushi workshop as one of her highlights, but adds that she basically enjoys everything. Chantal feels the same. “I cannot choose just one. Karting, the company party, padel… it is all good fun. Sometimes it is sporty, sometimes it is something completely different. That variety is exactly what makes it so enjoyable.”
Making activities accessible for everyone
One of the main aims of the staff association is to make activities as accessible as possible. The idea is to organise events that colleagues from every part of the company can and want to join.
Planning therefore always starts with the teams and schedules in mind. Beforehand, the staff association will often check in with the warehouse to see if there is interest, especially with the evening shift in mind. If an activity is, for example, particularly popular among colleagues who work evenings in even weeks, it will be planned in an odd week. That way, more people have the chance to join.
The group composition is also considered. Chantal gives an example. “During the e-chopper outing, we deliberately put together mixed groups. Men and women, warehouse and office staff together. That leads to great combinations and good conversations.”
At the same time, the staff association keeps an eye on the overall number of activities. “We do not want to overload colleagues,” Patricia says. “Our aim is a maximum of two activities per quarter. Otherwise it can become a bit too much.”
Ideas from colleagues are very welcome
The calendar is not filled only with ideas from the staff association itself. Suggestions from colleagues are actively encouraged.
“Colleagues regularly come up to us with ideas,” Patricia says. “They might say: ‘This was fun, but it would also be nice to do that sometime.’ We definitely use that input when we plan new activities.”
What it takes to organise an activity
How much time goes into an activity depends very much on what is being organised. “A big party is something you can partly outsource, so that usually costs us relatively little time,” Chantal explains. “Other things, like handing out Christmas hampers or arranging a more elaborate celebration, can easily take many hours. There is no standard amount of time.”
Patricia adds: “We meet about once a quarter to look at the coming months and divide the tasks. Smaller activities such as karting are quick to arrange. You book the track and manage the registrations. Sinterklaas is a different story. Colleagues submit presents, those need to be ordered, collected and brought to the location, and the venue has to be arranged. It all adds up. It takes time, but it is also great fun to do.”
Working together with the management team
Most of the time, the staff association works independently. For many activities, no formal approval is needed and there is plenty of room to develop ideas. Only for events that officially come from Vivochem, such as the annual BBQ, Sinterklaas and the Christmas activities, is there closer coordination. In those cases, the main topics are budget and finding a suitable date.
According to Patricia and Chantal, communication with the management team is straightforward and constructive. “Sometimes they also come up with suggestions,” Chantal says. “For example, they might ask whether we can organise a particular activity. We are happy to look at that.”
Getting colleagues involved
Encouraging colleagues to join starts with simple, personal contact. The staff association puts up posters, sends invitations and talks to people on the work floor. A quick “Are you going to sign up?” or “Will you join us?” often works surprisingly well.
Feedback afterwards is almost always positive. Colleagues say they enjoyed the activity, suggest ideas for next time or mention that they would like to do something again. At some events, the atmosphere speaks for itself, for example when people fanatically join in with games or when a conga line starts. “Then you do not really need to ask whether it was a success,” Chantal says. “You can just see it.”
What it brings to Vivochem
The activities are, first of all, about doing something enjoyable together. At the same time, they clearly have an effect on day-to-day work. Patricia and Chantal notice that colleagues approach each other more easily after an activity and that contact on the work floor becomes more relaxed. An evening in an escape room or a trip on e-choppers leads to very different conversations than those at a desk. You get to know each other better, which lowers the threshold in daily collaboration.
This sense of connection is one of the main reasons the staff association exists. Working at Vivochem means being part of an organisation where the atmosphere is considered just as important as the work itself.
Patricia sums it up: “The atmosphere in the company is good and we organise fun things throughout the year. It really makes it a nice place to work.”
Chantal recognises that feeling. “The atmosphere is familiar and approachable. You notice that on the work floor, but just as much during the outings organised by the staff association.”
Chantal and Patricia, thank you for your time and good luck with the upcoming activities!
