Over the past two years, Jonas has taken on the role of central employee representative at Softhouse. Now that his term has come to an end, we sat down with Jonas to reflect on his experiences as the employees’ link to the boardroom.
From client projects to the boardroom
It was after encouragement from his immediate manager that Jonas decided to run for the role two years ago. He saw it as an opportunity for both professional and personal growth.
“I’ve always felt proud to be one of the people on the floor. Stepping into the boardroom felt like an exciting challenge where I could bring that perspective all the way into the decision-making process.”
Board work itself was not entirely new to Jonas, as he had previously served as chairman of a theatre association for many years.
“I think that experience helped me, but it’s definitely not something you need in order to take on this role.”
A legal mandate for the employee perspective
Serving on the board naturally comes with significant responsibility and a strong legal foundation. For Jonas, the focus has been on acting as a living channel for the voices and opinions of his colleagues. He has served as a bridge between local employee representatives across the regions and the group management team.
“This role is about representation in the truest sense of the word. It’s about reflecting the interests of our employees and making sure the employee perspective is always part of the major strategic decisions being made. It’s about protecting our culture while we continue to grow.”
Pride in the collective effort
When reflecting on his time in the role, Jonas says he is most proud of the strong collaboration within the group of local employee representatives. Together, they have shared ideas on everything from workplace improvements to how employee-related matters are handled across all companies within the Softhouse Group.
“We’ve all pulled in the same direction to raise questions and topics that truly matter to those of us working here. I feel a great sense of pride in having represented my colleagues and making sure our perspectives have had a seat at the table. Hopefully, I’ve also contributed with motivation and energy within the group.”
Together, the group has also actively worked to increase participation in the ongoing employee surveys.
“Our goal has been to make sure we truly capture everyone’s feedback, and we’ve successfully increased the response rate to a higher level than before.”
Balancing client work and a position of trust
In his day-to-day work, Jonas works full-time as an IT consultant. A common question is how it’s possible to balance a board assignment alongside a full-time client project. For Jonas, it has worked smoothly thanks to Softhouse’s culture and collaborative way of working.
“There has been a natural understanding within the team that I sometimes need to dedicate time to board work. It has, of course, also helped that everyone in the team has been from Softhouse. At the same time, this reflects who we are as a company – we value internal engagement just as highly as our client assignments.”
A natural place in the boardroom
Many people may hesitate at the thought of sitting on a board alongside management and owners, but Jonas’ experience is that the door has always been open.
“The employee perspective matters at Softhouse, even when difficult decisions need to be made. My experience is that everyone on the board has shown that this role carries real importance. I’ve always felt that feedback from me – both positive and negative – has been welcomed and appreciated.”
Do you want to work at a company where your voice is truly heard? At Softhouse, we believe in the power of letting employees help shape the future. Read more about our open positions.
