How the Verz Design Team Adapts to Working from Home

Work-From-Home. These words may seem foreign to some companies, but for Verz Design, it is something that we have been secretly adopting since 2014! Our company has implemented a WFH policy since 2014, and employees get to choose 2 days per month to work exclusively at home. This allows Verz to easily cope with the current COVID-19 situation and rest assured, we are business as usual!

We at Verz are dedicated to providing the same high-quality services even through this period of uncertainty. We’ve decided to do a mini-interview session with our employees to understand how they are adapting to this change and their thoughts on it! Let’s tune into what our employees have to say!

Brenda, Project Lead

Brenda mainly manages our web projects and her daily tasks include communicating with clients, designers and programmers to ensure we can roll the project smoothly, hit expectations and requirements. She acts as the bridge between our clients and the company, connecting different sources to help one get to their destination.

So Brenda, how has WFH changed the manner in which you worked?

I don’t think there are many people out there that went through onboarding like mine. I had my first day in the office then here I am, working from home for two months. I can’t comment on how many changes there are since I’ve only had one day in the office, but there are definitely quite some challenges being a newbie WFH!

What do you like about the WFH arrangement?

I won’t lie about loving to skip the morning commute! Guess I like it more for its flexibility and the freedom to work in our own comfort zone.

Do you think that Verz Design’s WFH policy (2 times a month per employee) has prepared us to adapt more easily into this arrangement?

Not sure for me, but WFH is definitely not an unfamiliar arrangement for the seniors. One of the best benefits Verz provides – flexibility in work!

How do you overcome the Z monster in the afternoon? (food-coma!)

A cup of coffee works wonders! I recommend yuanyang from coffee shops!

Has there been any internet disruption due to too many family members using the internet connection?

Yes! I have 4 working adults in my household also working from home – There was an incident once when Starhub had a service disruption and we all went crazy!

Any funny experience/interruption that happened whilst you are meeting your client/colleagues on video call?

There was one when a client’s baby called me yi-yi (Aunt in Chinese) and cried saying she missed me because I looked like the client’s sister. Awww, the baby was so adorable!

What/Who keeps you company as you work from home?

My 15-year-old pet dog! I am really glad for the rare opportunity to work from home, as I could spend more time looking after him.

Describe your WFH experience in one or two sentences!

Definitely a unique experience that pushed me to pick up faster, be more proactive and take more initiative!

Show us your WFH desk situation.

Yenni, UX Designer

Yenni’s job as a UX Designer is to come up with the structure of a website or application.

How has WFH changed the manner in which you worked?

Working now doesn’t feel like it needs to be confined within just working hours and it has given me more freedom to space out my tasks. I’m learning to manage my time better. Another thing that I’ve found a significant change in is that all meetings are now held online which has forced us to be more efficient during those sessions. Also, yay to no meeting travel time involved!
The only downside is that this arrangement has kind of blurred the lines of work and home life; my bedroom has turned into a semi office space; meals in front of a laptop while reading a list of pending tasks; nightmares about emails as I wake up screaming at a nearby laptop. Okay, the last is untrue but I just wanted to make a point [Laughter]!

What do you like about the WFH arrangement?

I enjoy the fact that I can hang out with my pups during the short breaks away from the computer which I find helpful in reducing work stress. And as odd as this sounds, I am happier with the amount of sunlight I’m getting from my room’s window. My houseplants which can’t thrive in the office are happy too. No more dead office plants. RIP to my succulent back at the office.

Do you think that Verz Design’s WFH policy (2 times a month per employee) has prepared us to adapt more easily into this arrangement?

Yes, I think it has no doubt played a part. However, I also believe that the nature of my job – UX design is another reason there was little to no transition period for me. Designers typically don’t need to be in the confines of an office to be able to do work. We just need our laptops, a mouse and a cup of tea. The online Zoom meetings work just fine with us too.

Have you been more or less productive during WFH?

I have been more productive in being in control of my working hours. My work style consists of random energy spikes where I’m hyper-focused and the sluggish lows where I will need to do other stuff to recharge myself. Working from home allows me to tend to the sluggish lows so I can quickly recover and focus on my tasks.

How do you overcome the Z monster in the afternoon? (food-coma!)

Honestly, sometimes I don’t. The good thing about working from home is that I can get to take a power nap anytime (if I don’t have meetings at hand of course). Then wake up energized with a fresh mind and a heavier belly!

Have you been exercising? Tell us what you do during the Circuit Breaker to keep fit.

Madfit’s Dance HIIT workouts on YouTube and then there’s the occasional jogging at the park nearby!

Any funny experience/interruption that happened whilst you are meeting your client/colleagues on a video call?

I have two dogs at home, and they tend to alert me when there’s someone outside. There were a few times during my team’s meeting when they barked. Usually, I just quickly click on the mute function, but when I’m not fast enough, my colleagues can get quite a scare from the loudness!

Describe your WFH experience in one or two sentences!

Lost the freedom of social gatherings and gained 2kg in return.

Show us our WFH desk situation!

Vivian, Digital Marketing Executive 

Vivian is part of the Digital Marketing Team where she focuses on Search Engine Marketing. She’s responsible for planning, implementing, and monitoring SEM campaigns for clients!

How has WFH changed the manner in which you worked? 

I started WFH almost immediately after starting at Verz! In general, WFH meant that I haven’t been able to interact with my colleagues as much. It was also slightly overwhelming for me at the start because I had so much to learn, but thankfully it was still easy to reach out to my colleagues over the internet.

What do you like about the WFH arrangement? 

One of the best things about WFH is that my time is more flexible: I can wake up late, start earlier, and take a lunch break at any time that’s convenient for me.

How do you overcome the morning barrier of oversleeping?

I never ever oversleep; I wake up immediately once my alarm rings because I just can’t stand the sound of my alarm!

Have you been exercising? Tell us what you do during the Circuit Breaker to keep fit.

I’ve been doing yoga and the occasional 5-minute exercises that I see on YouTube fitness videos.

What is your go-to snack at home?

Not exactly a snack but I’m drinking lots of tea… at least three cups a day for me these days.

Describe your WFH experience in one or two sentences!

Love it!

Ann, Sales Consultant 

Ann is one of the first people that our clients meet and her role involves maintaining relationships with new and existing clients!

How has WFH changed the manner in which you worked?

Instead of face-to-face meetings with my clients, we would have to change to completely virtual meetings. Definitely, I miss meeting my clients in person as it feels different not being able to interact with them physically!

What do you like about the WFH arrangement? 

I can wake up late!

What is your go-to snack at home?

Cookies! I buy them from a friend who set up her own online store on Instagram! It’s pretty delicious!

What/Who keeps you company as you work from home?

My housemates! Fortunately (or unfortunately) for them,  they don’t have much of a choice!

Describe your WFH experience in one or two sentences!

It was fun for the first 2 weeks and after that, I long to go out and have face-to-face meetings with my clients!

Tanvi, Business Analyst 

Tanvi is a Business Analyst of the Custom Team. She is in charge of consolidating the requirements of the clients and proposing solutions to their businesses! She’s definitely there for all custom projects – keep a lookout for her!

How has WFH changed the manner in which you worked? 

It did not really change since I could still work with clients through Skype calls and for my role, it is not necessary to meet clients all the time. Typically, the first meeting would be in person, while subsequent meetings are online. However, WFH is definitely manageable with regular online meetings!

What do you like about the WFH arrangement?   

I get to save on travelling time and that means more time to complete my tasks!

Have you been more or less productive during WFH?

More! I don’t get as tired because I don’t have to wake up early to get through traffic. This makes me more relaxed and concentrated on my work!

How do you overcome the morning barrier of oversleeping?

I wake up by alarm clock, so no issues there.

How do you overcome the Z monster in the afternoon? (food-coma!)

With our one-hour lunch break, I’ll take the first half to finish my lunch and the remaining time to recharge and take a walk – Definitely plenty of time to keep the Z monster away!

Have you been exercising? Tell us what you do during the Circuit Breaker to keep fit.

Last Saturday, I attended the HIIT workout by Verz Design. It was surprisingly really tiring, and I’m looking forward to future sessions with my colleagues!

Air-con or fan? Be honest!

My ceiling fan broke down during this Circuit Breaker period, so I had to move my work-desk to the living room for more ventilation! This was a great change as I get to enjoy the greenery and do work.

Describe your WFH experience in one or two sentences!

It has been amazing being able to stay safe and still be mentally active! Being cooped up at home can be quite boring, so I strangely look forward to doing work even more.

Could you show us how your work-desk is like now?

Pooja, Project Lead 

Pooja is a new project lead that joined us shortly after the Circuit Breaker period. She did not have a typical first day of introductions – her orientation was conducted online!

How has WFH changed the manner in which you worked?  

I am pretty comfortable and relaxed – I just make sure to keep myself occupied.

What do you like about the WFH arrangement? 

I definitely do not foresee myself doing this long-term! A silver lining is that I do not have to rush through breakfast-time every day. On a normal workday, I will usually take a small bite before heading off, but now I can spend a little more time on cooking myself a meal!

Why did you decide to take up this role with Verz?

My previous role was an Ecommerce Executive Manager, and I was always very interested in the e-commerce landscape. So, when I was introduced to this job scope, I was really excited as I was interested to learn more about web design and digital marketing. And I do not regret this decision as what I enjoy about working at Verz the most is that there are endless aspects where you can learn a lot of things!

Have you been more or less productive during WFH?

I would say more productive. I exercise and take evening walks plus I help out in the kitchen to cook for the family at times!

Have you been exercising? Tell us what you do during the Circuit Breaker to keep fit.

Yes, I have been exercising, and since Circuit Breaker I have lost a total of 8 kilos!

So that’s how we have been coping with the Work-From-Home arrangement, and we are excited to see what’s in store for us in the future! With this arrangement, we definitely can ensure that our services would not be just confined to Singapore, but overseas as well!

If you are looking to get your website started, feel free to get in touch at 6841 1680 or at enquiry@verzdesign.com! Remember to stay safe and keep your masks on!