It was the online treasure hunt that really made Annelies Harte, 49, feel that she belonged.
She is a leisure club manager at a retirement village that has just opened in south London. Residents moved into their properties in May.
She’s one of a newly formed team of 22 people. They had to meet, bond and get everything ready remotely, because of lockdown.
She and her colleagues got into teams for the treasure hunt, remembers Annelies. There was a PowerPoint presentation containing riddles, which gave clues about obscure household objects, which you then had to find: things like garlic crushers, shoe horns and egg cups.
This online game was a great bonding exercise because it was interactive and revealed people’s personalities, especially their competitive instincts, says Annelies.
The clues also became great talking points. Younger colleagues, for instance, were confused when asked to find a CD in their house.
“’What are you talking about?’ they said,” remembers Annelies, laughing.
The treasure hunt exercise was part of an online induction programme that included a welcome from the chief executive, an overview of company policy and a guide to health and safety.
“Initially everyone just looks at the screen and looks up and down – you feel that distance – but then you realise you are all in the same boat,” says Annelies.
