The word “fika” is a Swedish term that refers to the tradition of a mid-day break, typically to have a cup of coffee and baked goods with friends and co-workers. The fikaTime app applies this principle in the context of mental well-being in the workplace. The idea is that encouraging employees to take breaks together energises productivity and strengthens interpersonal bonds.
fikaTime is a team engagement and productivity platform designed for conversational interfaces like Slack, Microsoft Teams, etc. the company operates as a distributed team with offices in Europe and the US. Using fikaTime, you can pair up employees randomly and encourage them to chat, have a cup of coffee, and discuss non-work-related topics so they can engage in some “intentional downtime” while strengthening team bonds. fikaTime works via a bot that integrates with your conversational interfaces and is well-suited to a remote working environment.
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fikaTime is purpose-built for the Microsoft Teams environment so that you can gain from a seamless, almost native user experience. fikaTime not only pairs employees but also explains the reasoning behind the fika concept, clarifies doubts, and keeps employees updated on upcoming schedules. Let us review fikaTime for Teams in more detail.
Inside fikaTime for Teams
fikaTime currently allows a 14-day free trial on its primary product website, with pricing starting at $2/per month. . Here are the key features to expect from fikaTime for Teams:
- The fikaTime bot – The bot is how you will interact with the app, send and receive information, and get updates on employee-to-employee pairing. As soon as you download the app, you will be greeted by the fikaTime bot, and it will explain what the app is all about. The bot will also let you know the employee group inside which it operates and the pairing you can expect.
- Conversational experience – fikaTime helps to familiarise yourself with the concept of fika through a simple yet engaging conversational experience. For instance, you may ask the chatbot, “why is this important?” or if it is a mandatory exercise. The fikaTime bot shares all the information in an easy-to-understand and interactive format. We liked that the responses were peppered with GIFs, emojis, and popular memes, to help resonate with employees.
- Clarifying doubts – The concept of fika – i.e., meeting your co-workers in a non-work-related context – may be a little uncomfortable at first. That’s why fikaTime walks users through a list of common doubts and reasons for hesitation before they are paired with another employee. For example, fikaTime explains how it matches users without infringing upon the privacy of conversations, how someone with an introverted personality may find the app helpful, and so on. Once again, the communication uses graphical elements like GIFs and emojis to increase engagement.
- fikaTime notifications – When you are matched with a co-worker, fikaTime will let you know through an in-app notification. The bot will also send you a card containing the details of the employee with whom you have been matched, their designation, and contact details. Interestingly, the app also supports gatherings of more than two users at once. You can use the embedded buttons in the notification card to contact your co-workers and set up a date, time, and place/platform to meet.
- Group chat – When you click on the fikaTime notification card, it automatically creates a group chat conversation for you and the co-workers involved in the meeting activity. And while you are chatting in the group, the fikaTime bot will check in at regular intervals to ensure that you have met or have scheduled the group break activity. You may also rate your fikaTime experience from the app, which will help improve your experience next time around.
Why the fikaTime App Makes a Difference
The core premise of fikaTime is extremely compelling and could help transform employee engagement, particularly for new joiners in a WFH world.
What We Think
Institutionalised breaks, a visually appealing user experience, and the ability to overcome initial hesitancy are what set fikaTime apart. It can prove to be a game-changer for distributed teams and help employees stay connected in a dynamic, hybrid working environment.
Download the fikaTime app for Microsoft Teams here.
