HEADLINES: Chaos in the Elves factory, HR Connected saves Christmas
The elves are working frantically to produce, wrap, label and despatch billions of Christmas gifts this year. Although generally they are an affable and happy bunch, September to December is always high pressure and what’s more, come December half the team are offsite in people’s houses, sat on shelves and getting up to all sorts of mischief with toilet roll and featuring on Facebook timelines across the world. Tempers are beginning to fray.
Santa is too busy to even notice. He is servicing the sleigh, feeding the reindeers and checking his birth register database to ensure his data is 100% accurate, slightly panicking (along with the rest of Europe) that his data will be unlawful by the time GDPR kicks in, how does he get consent to keep this data and have his public consented to being recorded on his database? Not to bother, no time to worry about that just now, Mrs Santa is ladling more mulled wine – time to get merry, Ho Ho Ho.
So whilst Santa is busy, the elves are becoming more worn down, and he isn’t even aware of it. Mistakes start to happen, we find lovingly wrapped pink Barbie dolls for 500 five year old boys to open on Christmas day (yes, I know, gender stereotyping alert!) and 2000 new born babies are assigned ‘Call of Duty WWII PS4 games all wrapped up ready to send them to sleep.
The elves are snapping at each other, bullying is increasing, especially toward the weaker performers in the team. Pregnant elves are practically ignored, the grafter elves see them as a burden and blame them for the non-alcoholic mulled wine served in the candy cane kitchen. Hundreds of key elves are calling in sick, this causes chaos on the production lines. Rumours are rife that huge cuts are due in 2018 and this is causing anxiety in the ranks.
2017 is looking like the year when Santa messed up!! His reputation is at stake, big time!! He needs to learn from Jack Frost who, only last year, found himself in the Ice employment tribunal for failing his duty of care to his snow makers, one in particular who was off with work related stress was pressured to let it snow over Val d’Isere at the peak of his illness.
Come on Santa!!! time to think about your most important asset to your business, time to look after the elves.
So thankfully Santa brings in HR Connected for a 2-day health check, during which they speak to the elves and establish the heart of the problem; weak planning across the entire year causes magnified production in Q4. He also hears that lack of training and HR procedures has allowed the top dog superior elves to run the show on their terms, in a way that only suits them. The others are miffed to say the least.
The healthcheck also establishes that Santa needs some HR processes to ensure the productivity, quality and wellbeing of his vital bunch of elves. Santa takes this news on the bearded chin and agrees to HR Connected’s recommendation of training for lead elves along with new basic policies and process to ensure order is resumed in the operation and efforts from lead elves is aligned with Santa’s goals.
The biggest breakthough comes from a number of sessions Santa is encouraged to hold with the elves in small groups, facilitated by HR Connected. The elves have been neglected for some time now and appreciate the opportunity to be heard. They vent their frustrations, more importantly propose, discuss and agree solutions and finish off with a good old session reflecting upon how great it is (or can be) to be part of such a life changing operation set up to bring genuine happiness to billions of children worldwide every year at Christmas.
It worked! The elves feel heard, and relieved to hear directly from Santa on his plans for 2018, more planning, training, order and general happiness and wellbeing for his valued elves. Performance picks up and order is restored once again. No child is missed this Christmas.
Merry Christmas one and all and a Happy New Year for 2018
HR Connected offer 2-day health checks to assess HR and leadership effectiveness in your business, including recommendations for action. We also deliver in-house training courses on time management, stress awareness, assertiveness and many other skills to support your business.
Email wendy@hrconnected for more information.