Close Menu
    Facebook X (Twitter) Instagram
    • Our Story
    • Partner with us
    • Reach Us
    • Career
    Subscribe Newsletter
    HR KathaHR Katha
    • Exclusive
      • Exclusive Features
      • Research
      • Point Of View
      • Case In Point
      • Dialogue
      • Movement
      • Profile
      • Beyond Work
      • Rising Star
      • By Invitation
    • News
      • Global HR News
      • Compensation & Benefits
      • Diversity
      • Events
      • Gen Y
      • Hiring & Firing
      • HR & Labour Laws
      • Learning & Development
      • Merger & Acquisition
      • Performance Management & Productivity
      • Talent Management
      • Tools & Technology
      • Work-Life Balance
    • Special
      • Cover Story
      • Editorial
      • HR Forecast 2024
      • HR Forecast 2023
      • HR Forecast 2022
      • HR Forecast 2021
      • HR Forecast 2020
      • HR Forecast 2019
      • New Age Learning
      • Coaching and Training
      • Learn-Engage-Transform
    • Magazine
    • Reports
      • Whitepaper
        • HR Forecast 2024 e-mag
        • Future-proofing Manufacturing Through Digital Transformation
        • Employee Healthcare & Wellness Benefits: A Guide for Indian MSMEs
        • Build a Future Ready Organisation For The Road Ahead
        • Employee Experience Strategy
        • HRKatha 2019 Forecast
        • Decoding and Driving Employee Engagement
        • One Platform, Infinite Possibilities
      • Survey Reports
        • Happiness at Work
        • Upskilling for Jobs of the Future
        • The Labour Code 2020
    • Conferences
      • Rising Star Leadership Awards
      • HRKatha Futurecast
      • Automation.NXT
      • The Great HR Debate
    • HR Jobs
    WhatsApp LinkedIn X (Twitter) Facebook Instagram
    HR KathaHR Katha
    Home»Practice»What’s in a CEO playing the role of a tea-boy
    Practice

    What’s in a CEO playing the role of a tea-boy

    mmBy Prajjal Saha | HRKathaOctober 13, 20163 Mins Read2790 Views
    Share LinkedIn Twitter Facebook
    Share
    LinkedIn Twitter Facebook

    During the peak time at its Contact Centre, every day for an entire week, the senior leaders of Charles Tyrwhitt don the role of ‘tea-boy’.

    Organisations have been devising and deploying large plans and programmes to help reduce employee stress that may come from extra work pressure. However, the truth is that even the smallest of gestures can at times bring a smile on people’s faces; it has the power to make them happy and help them relax.

    Charles Tyrwhitt, a multi-channel British clothing retailer, that is experiencing heavy load at its Contact Centre, owing to the peak Autumn/Winter season, did something unique to keep its staff pumped up during the hectic schedule. Every day, for an entire week, the senior leaders of the company were redeployed into the role of a ‘tea-boy’. A picture of their operations and people director, Mark Higgins keeping everyone well lubricated and sugar loaded with tea and cookies, was doing the rounds on social media late last month.

    Advertisement

    For More Details / To Register, Click Here

    Sandrea Morgan, ?senior customer service manager at Charles Tyrwhitt says, “Our whole board of directors, including the founder, Nick Wheeler, participated in this absolutely great initiative. They have all approached it with bags of enthusiasm and the true Tyrwhitt Spirit.”

    While Mark Higgins’ photo was a hit on Linkedin, the initiative itself has been a super hit with the team. “The staff loved the experience of being served teas, coffees and biscuits at their desks by our senior team,” says Morgan. She shared that normally when the directors visit the Contact Centre, it is to stay connected with their customer experience by reviewing contacts via phone, e-mails or Web chat. The tea trolley visits, on the other hand, are simply about giving the team a break, and that she says is greatly appreciated.

    Morgan revealed that the response and feedback from the team was 100 per cent positive. “Our founder, directors and managers are absolutely committed to our core company values,” she says. ‘People Matter’, ‘We believe in Teamwork’ and ‘We are quirky and fun’ are the three very important ones and the tea trolley is a great way of demonstrating these values and showing the team that the organisation cares for them.

    Elaborating on the inception of this idea, Morgan says, “Charles Tyrwhitt is all about growth and improvement. As part of that activity, we visited a high-performing contact centre for a well-known brand to share ideas and good practices. They had been running the tea trolley initiative for some time. We loved it and decided that it was a ‘must do’ for CT.”

    Small initiatives, like the tea trolley, break down initial conversation barriers between senior staff, existing teams and freshers. Conversation is easy when you are deciding between tea, coffee, milk, chocolate chip cookies, custard or cream. And as Morgan aptly puts it, “New relationships are formed and we all work better together.”

    CEO playing a teaboy Charles Tyrwhitt Sandrea Morgan teaboy
    Share. LinkedIn Twitter Facebook
    mm
    Prajjal Saha | HRKatha

    Dr. Prajjal Saha, editor and publisher of HRKatha since 2015, leverages over 25 years of experience in business journalism, writing, and editing. He founded HRKatha to provide insightful analysis on the evolving workplace. With expertise spanning HR, marketing, distribution, and technology, Saha has a deep understanding of business dynamics. His authorship of the acclaimed Marketing White Book highlights his versatility beyond HR. A trusted voice across industries, his clear and thoughtful commentary has earned him a reputation for thought leadership, making him a reliable source of knowledge and insights for professionals navigating the complexities of the business world.

    1 Comment

    1. vijaya saradhi on February 21, 2017 11:04 am

      Excellent initiative to involve people. It gives a feeling to the team homeliness with bosses. It enables the relationship to grow.

      Great initiative.

      Reply
    Leave A Reply Cancel Reply

    two × five =

    Related Posts

    Why cement company Nuvoco is going for digitalisation

    November 28, 2022

    Practising inclusive interviewing, the first step towards building a diverse workforce

    October 18, 2022

    Hilton drives a flexibility mindset through ‘It’s Okay’ campaign

    October 17, 2022

    Infosys warns employees against moonlighting

    September 14, 2022

    QUICK HR INSIGHTS

    EDITOR'S PICKS

    The truth about lies: Why résumé fraud has become an epidemic

    June 13, 2025

    Redefining recognition: Why the future of HR leadership lies with rising stars

    June 12, 2025

    Social media is showing Indian workers what they’re missing—and they want change

    June 11, 2025

    When employees leave without notice, who bears the moral burden?

    June 10, 2025
    Latest Post

    L’Oréal expands employee share-ownership plan to boost engagement

    News June 13, 2025

    L’Oréal Groupe has announced the launch of its fifth global employee share ownership plan. This…

    From scrap to sustainability: GRP’s transformation story

    Quick HR Insights June 13, 2025

    In this powerful excerpt, Sanjeeb Lahiri, Chief Human Resources Officer at GRP Ltd, shares how…

    Coal India introduces new uniform dress code for employees starting July

    News June 13, 2025

    Coal India (CIL) is rolling out a new uniform dress code for its employees from…

    NDMC rolls out major employee-welfare measures

    News June 13, 2025

    In a bid to ensure employee welfare, the New Delhi Municipal Council (NDMC) has approved…

    Asia's No.1 HR Platform

    Facebook X (Twitter) Instagram LinkedIn WhatsApp Bluesky
    • Our Story
    • Partner with us
    • Career
    • Reach Us
    • Exclusive Features
    • Cover Story
    • Editorial
    • Dive into the Future of Work: Download HRForecast 2024 Now!
    © 2025 HRKatha.com
    • Disclaimer
    • Refunds & Cancellation Policy
    • Terms of Service

    Type above and press Enter to search. Press Esc to cancel.