Meet Iryna Halaway

Culture Amp’s mission is to build a better work world—and not just for its enterprise customers. We are big fans of Culture Amp, specifically their People Geeks Slack group (if you don’t know now you know). At Culture Amp, employees (known as “Campers”) are encouraged to join one of several existing employee resource groups or to create their own if they see an unfulfilled need. That’s exactly what Senior Campaign Manager Iryna Halaway did.

Identifying the Need

As the pandemic began to paralyze the world in early 2020 and many employees adapted to the new reality of working from home while taking care of children or other family members, Iryna saw her fellow working caregivers’ deep need for connection and help. Iryna, whose first husband passed away shortly before the birth of their son, had spent a decade raising a child on her own. She recognized that need and saw an opportunity, and Camp Carebears ERG was born. 

Building a Mission and Strategy

The new ERG, launched in summer 2020, is designed for working caregivers, with members ranging from new parents to Campers who are taking care of their elderly relatives. In its first year, the group has primarily focused on reducing isolation and building a supportive community during COVID-19. It currently boasts six board members (several of whom are at the executive leadership level) and more than a hundred members. “Our focus is to help each other during times of uncertainty by exchanging experiences, information, and even used clothes, toys, and books,” Iryna explained. “As we slowly go back to normalcy, our mission and vision will evolve as well.”

Recognizing that there is no roadmap for many of the transitions and challenges that come with caregiving, Camp Carebears recently expanded its offerings with the Caregiver Buddies initiative. Through the program, caregivers can reach out to peers who have been in their shoes, whether that means taking on life with a newborn, navigating nursing care for an elderly parent, or returning to work after leave. 

Volunteers interested in supporting fellow Campers fill out a survey to share their areas of experience and interest. Campers looking for support can choose a Buddy with a background similar to their own. Over several sessions (virtual for now, of course), the Caregiver Buddies offer advice and encouragement, and Campers feel better equipped and less alone. The program also provides a rare opportunity for coworkers to get to know each other personally even if their work doesn’t overlap in the slightest.

Identifying Metrics of Success

Like other ERGs at Culture Amp, Camp Carebears is intended to increase employee engagement and retention while addressing a pressing need. Currently, Camp Carebears three KPIs are: member engagement, employee turnover, and satisfaction. 

Iryna and the other Camp Carebears leaders survey members and keep tabs on the percentage of members that actively engage with the ERG’s content and initiatives. They also regularly compare the departure rates of Camp Carebear Members to the company’s overall turnover rate. 

As a young ERG, Camp Carebear’s data is evolving—but the key difficulty they face in measuring success is not surprising. “The biggest challenge is probably getting our members to fill out and submit our surveys on time,” Iryna explained, “since parents and caregivers are extremely busy!” However, thanks to executive leadership involvement with Camp Carebear’s board, reporting to and getting buy-in from the top has not been a challenge. 

Advice to Fellow ERG Leaders

Asked to share advice with fellow ERG leaders, Iryna pointed to the importance of regular connection points with members. “Have a weekly engagement activity cadence, and ask open-ended questions. It can be something like "a pro-tip Monday" or "bias Friday,” she suggested. She also recommends setting up a monthly newsletter that promotes the organization’s activities to the company. 

But the secret to success, Iryna explained, is meeting members where they are and listening to their needs. “Don't force people to participate in activities, but encourage them to chime in whenever they feel the time is right,” she said. “Some people would instead observe rather than partake, depending on their personality type.” 

That also means asking them how they’d like to engage. Survey data within the organization showed that many Campers feel burned out on Zoom and don’t have time to engage in offerings like webinars. With that in mind, Iryna and her fellow leaders are hard at work on a regional, in-person engagement strategy as the pandemic wanes. Thanks to Camp Carebear’s thoughtful use of data and willingness to seek out candid employee perspectives, the group’s future looks bright.