Detroit conquers 'cubicle jungle' with camaraderie

Courtesy Photo | Defense Contract Management Agency Detroit team members Kristen Russell, contract administrator, and John Deems, quality assurance specialist, donate blood during a recent volunteer blood drive. The event was part of a command philosophy reemphasizing social activities and volunteer efforts among employees.  

DETROIT, MI, UNITED STATES

12.09.2015

Story by Thomas Perry 

Defense Contract Management Agency

DETROIT - The Bureau of Labor Statistics estimates a person will spend roughly 25 percent of their time at work during their prime employment years. It is a daunting number when contemplated, but one’s working environment determines whether it depresses or inspires. With this in mind, Defense Contract Management Agency Detroit team members have embraced a philosophy of fellowship and team-building.

“Given that we spend so much of our waking hours in the workplace, I think it is absolutely critical that our employees respect and trust one another,” said Army Col. William Robare, Detroit commander. “One of the best ways to engender a true employee engagement is when colleagues can seek out one another while spending time outside of the office. Creating these opportunities through organizational social activities is really important in cultivating an enjoyable and healthy environment while boosting team morale.”

Although it is unclear who sparked the initiative, Detroit’s re-emphasis on social activities and volunteer efforts began two years ago. From humble beginnings grew an impressive annual list of events. In fiscal year 2015, team members participated in a chili cook-off, multiple blood drives, an organizational day picnic, numerous potluck lunches and a volunteer event where they literally turned lemons into lemonade for veterans.

The number of events is expected to rise as team members across the office continue to submit ideas, which is not unexpected considering the response Social Activities President Brad Gigliotti has received recently.

“The feedback has been nothing but positive,” said Gigliotti, a Detroit quality assurance specialist in the Grand Rapids office. “The morale of those who participate has increased exponentially since its inception. The camaraderie among employees during the chili cook-off has established a healthy line of competition in the office environment. As we continue to push for more activities to garner positive social interaction, involvement will continue to rise.”

While many employees already experience the interactive obstacles of cubicle walls, geographically diverse commands such as Detroit can face additional communication challenges because distance often creates collaborative gaps.

“While the cubical jungle does create a barrier, even greater is the true absence encountered from the travel requirements and great distances between people in the ‘geo’ environment,” said Rick Weigel, Detroit’s quality director at its Grand Rapids location. “By the time you add varying works schedules and telework, it is pretty rare to have a team together besides a team meeting. This affects the way people know each other from a technical as well as a personal standpoint.”

Weigel explained proximity is only one challenge as the office features a large population of team members of less than five years’ experience. “They have not built those networking connections or truly learned much about their teammates. Team members don’t typically email or reach out to each other digitally to ask ‘how’s that new car doing?’ ‘kids doing OK in school?’ or discuss the grass really needing rain. We are losing the opportunities for water cooler talks and the relationships that are built upon direct interactions.”

One way the office fosters one-on-one conversation and office pride is by helping those in need. This is done by various means, but the fastest growing in terms of popularity is the office blood drives, according to Adam Billingsley, a Grand Rapids procurement technician and blood drive chairman.

“It is a point of pride around the office to give blood; it is also an important opportunity to sit in a chair while giving blood and reconnect with another employee you may not have much face-to-face interaction with on a daily basis,” said Billingsly. “Why is it important for those who can to donate blood? Our office, like many others throughout DCMA, is full of people that take pride in their service and jump at the chance to give back.”

Gigliotti said he feels the more team members interact, improve morale and enhance the working environment, the easier it will be to accomplish the agency’s mission of providing the warfighter with the best possible products and support. A recent academic study suggests his idea is not without merit. Happiness and Productivity, a 2014 study by economists at England’s University of Warwick, determined employee happiness led directly to a 12 percent spike in productivity.

“During these events I have witnessed people cheering each other on and truly being happy for others, something I wish we would see more of in our agency,” Weigel said. “People cheered when one member was actually able to give blood, others volunteering to fill in vacant appointments. I saw people drenched in sweat while working feverishly to keep up with the demand for lemonade. Their reward was simply seeing a veteran get a cold drink on a hot day and truly remembering how blessed we really are.”

• Date Taken: 12.09.2015
• Date Posted: 12.10.2015 08:50
• Story ID: 184101
• Location: DETROIT, MI, US