How Haze Shift Achieved a 30% Engagement Increase with HeyTaco

At HeyTaco, we believe that meaningful recognition has the power to transform workplace culture. Haze Shift, a Strategic Design and Innovation consultancy based in Brazil, embodies this belief by using HeyTaco to cultivate a culture of appreciation, collaboration, and joy within their growing remote team.

The Challenge: Strengthening Engagement in a Remote Environment

As Haze Shift transitioned to a fully remote work model during the COVID-19 pandemic, they recognized the need to maintain strong interpersonal connections and foster an environment where every achievement was celebrated. Their Employee Experience (EX) team sought an intuitive, fun, and practical solution to enhance engagement and ensure continuous support across teams.

Why HeyTaco?

Haze Shift discovered HeyTaco in 2021, and it quickly became an essential part of their employee experience strategy. Integrated directly into Slack, HeyTaco allows team members to send up to five virtual "tacos" per day to recognize contributions, acts of support, and team achievements. Each taco serves as a powerful token of appreciation, reinforcing the values that define Haze Shift’s culture.

To ensure a smooth adoption, Haze Shift introduced their "Taqueria Principles," guiding employees to use tacos to express gratitude, celebrate achievements, share happiness, and show admiration. The response was overwhelmingly positive, and HeyTaco became an integral part of their daily interactions.

The Cultural Transformation with HeyTaco

Since implementing HeyTaco, Haze Shift has experienced a profound cultural shift. Tacos have become more than just virtual tokens—they are symbols of appreciation that:

• Celebrate Small Wins: Recognizing incremental progress that leads to greater achievements.
• Strengthen Connections: Encouraging team bonding and fostering a sense of belonging.
• Boost Engagement: Motivating team members to support each other and collaborate more effectively.
• Reinforce Core Values: Aligning everyday actions with the company’s core cultural principles.
• Enhance Internal Communication: Keeping employees informed and engaged across different teams.

Tangible Results and Impact

Since 2021, Haze Shift has sent over 46,237 tacos, creating a ripple effect of positivity and motivation. Key outcomes include:

• 30% increase in team engagement, as measured through internal surveys.
• 90% of employees rating their experience above 3 on a 5-point scale.
• A record-high satisfaction score of 4.50 in Q4 2024, the highest ever recorded at Haze Shift.

Additionally, Haze Shift leverages HeyTaco’s built-in leaderboard feature to recognize top taco givers and receivers during team ceremonies, further reinforcing a culture of appreciation and camaraderie.

HeyTaco as a Pillar of Organizational Culture

HeyTaco has evolved from a simple recognition tool to a cornerstone of Haze Shift's organizational culture. It has helped strengthen the company’s core values by inspiring ongoing collaboration and fostering a culture where appreciation is woven into daily workflows.

Ready to Transform Your Culture with HeyTaco?

Whether you’re a startup or an established enterprise, HeyTaco can help you create a thriving, engaged workplace. Discover more success stories like Haze Shift’s and explore how HeyTaco can elevate your company culture.

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