In August, in the midst of vacation season, who wouldn’t dream of visiting exotic destinations, sunbathing on the seashore, hiking in the mountains, or discovering foreign cultures on other continents? Thanks to an initiative by the Codespring | SOFTECH HR team named Lunch & Travel, however, we can multiply these experiences and let our minds wander to places we’ve never been before.
The lively community at Codespring | SOFTECH is an exciting meeting point for people with a wide range of hobbies and interests. Some people love quiet, secluded places and the wild outdoors; others are drawn to the nightlife, concerts, and parties; still others prefer culturally significant attractions or adrenaline-fueled adventures. Some people love to fly or drive, while others enjoy hiking, riding motorcycles, or sailing. What unites our team, however, is that we are a dynamic, open-minded community who love challenges and welcome new adventures – both at work and in our free time.
Sharing Experiences and Inspiration
It’s no wonder, then, that one of the unique initiatives introduced into our office culture, the “Lunch & Travel” talk series, has become so popular. During these gatherings, our employees can share their travel stories with their colleagues, illustrated with their own photos.
Although stereotypes portray the IT community as reserved, introverted, and uncomfortable in the spotlight, from time to time there’s an enthusiastic employee who happily shares their own enjoyable experiences with their coworkers, inspiring others to visit various interesting destinations.
According to Cecília, a member of the organizing HR team, the idea was inspired by the colleagues who frequently stopped by their office and loved to share stories about their recent trips. “Of course, we always asked them questions, because we all love to travel and were interested in the topic,” she added, pointing out that from this came the idea to expand these talks to a company-wide level.
Lunchtime turned out to be the perfect time frame for this: employees generally gather in small groups at this time anyway and enjoy chatting with one another. Building on this habit, the idea took shape: while colleagues who love travelling enjoy their lunch together, they can also embark on a special imaginary journey, discovering a new destination or, if it’s a place they already know, recalling their pleasant memories gained there.
Lunch & Travel: A series of benefits
The “Lunch & Travel” event reached its fourth edition this week. In previous presentations, our colleagues have taken us on virtual tours around Iceland, China, Cuba, and most recently, Madeira. The presentations themselves are thrilling community events – and as such, offer a great opportunity for colleagues with similar interests to connect. Besides this, they also have numerous other benefits.
“We try to find places that are exotic and unique to keep people interested. A presentation like this might help someone who’s planning a trip to that very place. It’s also entertaining for those who may not have the opportunity to go there but are curious about the country or the experiences people have had there,” the organizers say.
Personal experiences that build community
At the same time, according to the organizers, it definitely has a positive impact on the company’s social life. It strengthens relationships within the community. It sparks conversations. In addition, sharing experiences outside of work helps people get to know each other better and brings the attendants closer to each other.
“Lunch & Travel” provides inspiration: colleagues can get new ideas from each other’s trips, discover new places – at least virtually –, or get useful and practical travel tips. It creates a shared experience, since even those who haven’t been there can feel like they’re part of a trip. In plus, a relaxed, positive lunch break refreshes the workday and boosts morale, they added.
Members of the Codespring | SOFTECH team, however, gladly travel and unwind not only on their own but also together. Our company regularly organizes or supports informal team-building and recreational activities for our employees and their families, thereby helping to deepen the bonds within our community. Among our team of 170 people, we have seen numerous employee-led initiatives coming to life. We have a film club, a book club, a rock band, and from time to time, families get together for crafts or a barbecue.
We truly believe that it’s worth investing in our employees’ well-being. We know from experience that feeling good at work and within the team makes a difference in our mental state, motivation, and productivity.
From Colleagues to Close Friends
In addition – or even thanks to this – close friendships have developed here over the years. Some people regularly organize family outings together, attend one another’s important life events, share hobbies, and at other times organize community initiatives.
Codespring | SOFTECH is one of Transylvania’s renowned software development companies. Throughout our organic growth, we have always prioritized the well-being of our community in the workplace. In light of this, we believe it is important to support our team members in maintaining a healthy work-life balance.
If we’ve caught your interest, you can read more about our team here, or send us your CV to jobs@codespring.ro and take your career to the next level!
by: Katalin Bálint