[Webinar] Bethany at Justworks ✨

![Webinar] Bethany at Justworks ✨](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/61845fdcba64071a1ea18526/63e2bd27b6277cb9ea2af2be_Webinar%20Template%20(12).png)

We are back with our Webinar Series – Experts on Employee Experience! 🎉 It is a monthly webinar series where Jade Choy, Epoch's CEO, has conversations with leaders and innovators in the employee experience and engagement space.

In case you missed it, here are some key learnings and takeaways from our webinar featuring Bethany Nicole Smith, Senior Workplace Program Specialist at Justworks. View the full recording here. Scroll on for notes! 👇

Meet Bethany 😊

Bethany is the Senior Workplace Program specialist at Justworks. She is in charge of project managing all of their internal processes and making sure that they’re offering a robust on-site event program at Justworks. She is also the current leader of their ERG group “Square One” that’s dedicated to amplifying and uplifting the needs and experiences of the Women people at Justworks!

Webinar Topics 🎙️

What’s Justworks doing for Women’s history month? How do they organize their initiatives?

There is a lot happening during Women’s History Month at Justworks. Bethany is on the workplace team and is in charge of programming on-site and is also the lead for the Square One ERG (their Women-focused ERG). One thing that Bethany likes about Justworks is the way their ERGs play with other departments they have a good interplay between the cross-functional nature of their programming. Events Justwork’s ERGs are hosting are an internal podcast with the Square One ERG to highlight all events going on in March, to amplify women’s voices and thoughts within the company. They are offering a mentorship workshop gifted by African American Women in Tech, holding a discussion panel with several tech leaders in the space on how to make themselves more marketable in tech. Square One’s goal is to get more black women hired into tech roles at Justworks.

How does Justworks know what programming will work?

They have 7 ERGs at Justworks and another one in the works. Since they have so many community spaces they’ve been iterating on programming for years now. They’ve been able to see how things have changed from before the pandemic, during, and now after. One of Bethany’s responsibilities is figuring out how they’ll improve their workplace offering instead of their hybrid reality. They’ve had opportunities to experiment allowing them to double down on what works.

How far in advance does Bethany think about planning and collaboration?

Bethany shares that she’s never not planning. When setting goals for their OKRs, and regular strategy, they do them for their ERGs too to make sure the plans work cohesively. Their word for the year as an ERG is Intersectionality and Legacy.

How does Bethany think about her role given that different workplaces define the workplace in different ways?

Bethany says her role is about manifesting company culture on-site. Some of the responsibilities are internal communications, programming, project management, and administration.

How have your OKRs been tracking now that it’s been 6 months since they’ve been set?

Tracking OKRs is very complicated. In Justworks, everything ladders down. They use Asana to track everything. Set a goal in Asana, set a project that will ladder out, and delegate outwards.

What projects are you excited about this year?

One ongoing project that Bethany has been working on is a hybrid work project. It started as research and discovery to figure out how employees feel about Hybrid work and what they need.

What resources are employees provided with?

They have an internal wiki. A document they’re putting together is the onsite optimizer. The onsite optimizer is a guide on how to set up your day in the office for optimal productivity.

What information did Bethany get from Justworks’ focus groups and surveys?

From a DEIB perspective, they found out that people who have chronic pain conditions, neurodiversity, and sensory input issues didn’t know where to be in the office.

How do you get a pulse on the needs of people and teams in the company?

Bethany wants to be intentional about the responsibilities she builds at work.

How are you measuring success and feedback when it comes to returning to the office?

Justworks is a hybrid organization. They trust their employees but also think there’s something magical that happens when they’re able to meet in person.

How do you get leadership buy-in for programming and shaping the workplace?

Bethany says she’s lucky that Justworks has leadership that wants to be involved. Their willingness from the top down is huge.

How does Bethany suggest working with a stretched or reduced budget?

It’s difficult. They are looking for lower touch options so they can offer things to their staff that aren’t as expensive.

How do people find out about programming at Justworks?

Internal marketing is key. Justworks uses digital signage, sends emails to relevant distribution lists, and more.

How does Bethany take care of herself and think about her role as it transforms?

Bethany got into her role because she loves people. She wants them to enjoy coming to work.

Does Bethany see any trends in terms of gamification to improve the employee experience?

Bethany thinks that gamification had a real moment two years ago.

In terms of balancing virtual vs. in-person experiences, what works?

Justworks tries to do as many things that make sense for both. They understand that the experiences aren’t equivalent.

Bethany’s final thoughts!

Employee experience is kind of a buzzword now but to her, it boils down to making sure whatever your company values show up in the organization.