WashU IT employees have spoken, and the message is clear: Keep it small and casual.
That’s the headline finding from the WashU IT Connection and Giving Survey, which closed in July with 111 responses. The survey, part of the Employee Engagement Committee’s ongoing work under the FY27-28 Employee Engagement strategy, asked employees how they prefer to connect with colleagues and give back to the community — and what would make them more likely to show up.
Timing matters more than the activity itself
More than half of respondents said events held during the workday would boost their participation. Only 10 percent said they preferred events outside work hours. A more casual, less structured format and a smaller group setting rounded out the top drivers of turnout.
Scheduling flexibility also shapes how employees engage today, with 56 percent of respondents noting their participation in social events depends on their schedule.
Small and informal wins, every time
When asked how they prefer to interact with colleagues, employees ranked casual conversation and social time highest at 64 percent, followed by shared meals at 59 percent and small groups of fewer than 20 people at 50 percent. Gatherings of larger groups of more than 20 people ranked lowest, at just 20 percent.
What’s next
More details of the Connection and Giving Survey, and about what is next as part of the Employee Engagement effort will be shared during remarks delivered by Chief Information Officer Jessie Minton at the August IT All Hands meeting. Additionally, look for more updates on engagement initiatives in future issues of Tuesday Tech.