Bringing joy to work: how happiness is at the heart of HeyOrca’s culture

Happiness at work isn’t just about what we do – it’s about how we feel doing it. It’s the fulfillment that comes from feeling supported, valued, and appreciated. And the best part? It’s not just a nice thought - it’s good for business.

Hey! I’m Steph Crombie, and I’m the Employee Experience Specialist at HeyOrca. I’ve always been drawn to making others feel good – it’s a core part of who I am.

Early in my career, I found that sense of fulfillment in hospitality. I loved creating experiences that left people walking away with nothing tangible in their hands, but something more impactful: a feeling.

When I shifted into employee experience during the pandemic, I realized that same emotional magic belonged in the workplace, too.

Happiness at work goes deeper than smiles and surface-level perks. It’s about creating a culture where people feel seen, cared for, and empowered – where they can show up as themselves and feel truly valued for who they are and the work they are doing.
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What is workplace happiness and why it matters at HeyOrca

At HeyOrca, we believe happiness starts with belonging. When people feel safe and valued, it creates deeper relationships, stronger teams, and even better care for our customers and communities.

Our Employee Experience Team is on a mission to spark joy and create a true sense of belonging. As our CEO Joe says, “Endurance got us here, but true sustainability comes from caring for people’s happiness and well-being.”

After reading The Happiness Advantage by Shawn Achor, Joe recognized it was time to open our first People and Culture role – someone dedicated to crafting experiences that foster connection, demonstrate care, and make a lasting impact on our orcas. 

Here are 3 things we’re doing at HeyOrca to foster happiness, which I hope they might inspire your own team. But first, a reminder: happiness isn’t a one-time initiative – it’s an ongoing journey. As teams grow and change, so do their needs. 

The key? Stay curious, care deeply, and build with empathy.

Let’s dive into what’s working for us right now.

Here are 3 things we do at HeyOrca to encourage happiness

Encourage outside-of-work hobbies

At HeyOrca, we believe that hobbies and personal interests are more than just fun pastimes - they help shape who we are, bring joy into our lives, and give us stories we’re excited to share. 

These passions often lead to deeper connections, especially when we discover shared interests with our teammates.

Inspired by The Happiness Advantage by Shawn Achor, we created an activity rooted in one of the book’s key principles: the 20-Second Rule.

This principle encourages us to build positive habits by choosing the path of least resistance and prioritizing “active leisure”- things like hobbies, games, and sports that enhance our overall motivation, engagement, and enjoyment.

We called it #DiscoverYourJoy.

As part of this team activity, each team member received $50 CAD to try a new hobby. We then gathered virtually to share our experiences - from our wins to our missteps and everything in between. Some of the creative and joyful activities included a flower arranging workshop, blogging, cake decorating, and even a hair tutorial. 

Beyond the laughter and learning, what stood out the most was how much we inspired one another – turning a simple activity into a moment of real connection.

Invest in social connection to create a sense of belonging 

Fostering genuine social connections is key to building a culture of belonging. There are many ways to create social connections – it could be a shared experience during an event or meeting, finding a shared interest or value with another person or providing support during a challenging time.   

These bonds boost morale and create safe spaces for sharing ideas, feedback, and accountability.

In The Happiness Advantage, Principle #7: Social Investment, highlights how connection fuels performance. Achor writes: “When we make a positive social connection, the pleasure-inducing hormone oxytocin is released… reducing anxiety and improving concentration.” These moments also strengthen our physical and mental well-being.

Even small, everyday interactions can spark what Achor calls “high-quality connections” – bringing energy, openness, and authenticity.

As a remote team, we’re intentional about creating space for these moments.

• Mondays start with All Fins (our spin on All Hands) to set ourselves up for the week and review OKRs.
  
• Wednesdays are for Lunch & Learns to grow and learn together on topics that are meaningful to the team. (We even had one of our team members showcase a passion for tapping his own maple syrup. (See our maple syrup video below!)
  
• At our last All Fins of the month, we dedicate the first 15 minutes to kudos and shout outs, where we recognize and appreciate each other through chat or taking the Zoom stage. It’s such a great way to reflect back on the support given that month.
  
• Our themed months offer async and virtual ways to connect and share stories. Using ChatGPT is a great start to help brainstorm easy ideas!

These rituals are deeply embedded in our culture to inspire the team to connect, share experiences, and show support and value for one another. 

Personalized employee experience 

Happiness at work isn’t a one-size-fits-all experience – it’s deeply personal, shaped by each individual’s values, motivations, and needs.

Principle #1: Happiness Advantage of The Happiness Advantage, highlights how positive emotions flood our brains with dopamine and serotonin – chemicals that boost our ability to learn, create, and connect. Achor references the Broad and Build Theory, which says happiness expands our perspective and helps us build mental, emotional, and social resources that support long-term growth.

We pride ourselves on our culture being orca-led. We invite input, involve team members through the Podwins Committee, and give people choices that offer a sense of ownership over their experience.

When possible, giving an open budget for the team member to choose how they want to spend it is also a great way to give your employee experience a personalized touch. We offer a growth budget that team members can use for both personal and professional development. Some take skill-building courses related to their craft, while others explore passions like piano lessons or photography.

To deepen connection and collaboration, we also use DiSC assessments to better understand our Pod’s communication styles. This insight helps us support one another more intentionally, creating space for everyone to thrive in their own unique way.

By leaning into curiosity and personalization, we’ve built a culture where happiness isn’t just encouraged – it’s co-created by every orca.

Create belonging through happiness at work

At its core, happiness is a feeling – one that often surfaces when we’re doing something meaningful that aligns with our values, motivations, and interests. When people feel fulfilled and supported in their roles, they show up as their full selves and unlock their true potential. 

And the best part? Happiness is contagious.

Whether it starts with your People & Culture team or flows from leadership, joy has a ripple effect.

By creating intentional connections, encouraging outside hobbies that fuel growth, and building personalized experiences, we don’t just make work more enjoyable - we build a workplace where people truly belong. And when that happens, both people and the business thrive.

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