At our Bedford, Massachusetts, site, a recent Mother’s Day-themed event organized by the Women’s ERG leadership team demonstrated how employee-led activities can bring people together across teams, schedules and businesses.
The “Sweet Treats for Mom” celebration invited employees from every business to decorate cookie gift bags with ribbons, stickers and personalized messages before selecting treats to take home for the moms and caregivers in their lives.
Led in part by Quality Engineer Kim Chhay, the event built on the success of a similar activity hosted last year. Rather than creating something entirely new, the team focused on making the experience approachable, interactive and easy for employees across the site to enjoy.
The event was intentionally scheduled to support participation from both production and office employees. By hosting the activity during overlapping break and lunch periods, employees from different departments and work schedules had the opportunity to participate together throughout the event.
What stood out most throughout the celebration was the energy and interaction happening across the room. Employees compared decorations, helped each other assemble gift bags and spent time connecting with coworkers they may not normally see during the workday. Some employees shared that the event served as a welcome reminder that Mother’s Day was approaching, while others simply enjoyed the opportunity to create something personal for their families.
Events like this are valuable because they create natural opportunities for employees to connect face-to-face, especially across hybrid schedules and different areas of the site.
Employee-led initiatives like Sweet Treats for Mom continue to support a collaborative One Novanta culture by creating moments that strengthen relationships, encourage engagement and bring employees together in meaningful ways.