Cornhole enthusiasm unites employees

Omega 365 introduced Cornhole, a popular game in the United States, to its offices following its successful debut at the grand opening of the Omega 365 Houston office last year.

“The game immediately sparked competitive energy among our colleagues,” recalled Jan Christian Brataas, Chief Technology Officer at Omega 365 Solutions.Cornhole, a lawn game in which players throw bags of corn kernels onto a raised platform with a hole at the far end, quickly gained popularity at Omega 365 after being introduced at the company's Houston office. 

“During Omega 365 USA's Houston office grand opening, employees discovered the game of Cornhole, with two sets ready for play. The game immediately sparked competitive energy among our colleagues,” recalled Jan Christian Brataas, Chief Technology Officer at Omega 365 Solutions. 

“Inspired by the excitement, I asked my daughter and son-in-law to craft two prototypes for use at our Ølensvåg headquarters. These were later improved by Omega 365 Design,” Brataas explained. 

“The Cornhole sets were well-received at the Omega 365 Solutions office, offering a break and sparking friendly competitions,” Brataas added. 

Team activities play a vital role at Omega 365, strengthening relationships and fostering camaraderie among colleagues. The Advantage program and regular team events contribute to this, providing employees with opportunities to connect through sporting events, concerts, dinners, and trips to various destinations. The recent introduction of Cornhole has added a new additional source of fun and friendly competition, further enhancing the dynamic and inclusive workspace at Omega 365. 

An important aspect of the design was to incorporate Omega 365's core values: open, engaged, generous, humble, and solution-oriented.

The Omega 365 Cornhole Championship 

The game has garnered interest company-wide, prompting Omega 365 Design to create unique designs for the offices in Lithuania and the UK. 

“Seeing the enthusiasm for the game, Omega 365 decided to provide cornhole sets to all our offices. We commissioned the Design team to create varied designs, which we distributed across all locations. This led to the Omega 365 Cornhole Championship, promoting camaraderie and shared enthusiasm for the game,” Brataas stated. 

Group activities hold a significant place in Omega 365's culture as they foster stronger relationships and instill a sense of camaraderie among the team members. Pims consultant in Ølensvåg, Ida Ekornsæter, enjoyed her experience with Cornhole, stating, 

“This initiative brought about many pleasant chats by the coffee machine. It's fun getting to know colleagues from different departments.” 

The Omega 365s cornhole tournament began on January 30th, with the goal of fostering a welcoming and inclusive work environment. Friendly competitions took place at each location, bringing together both new and existing colleagues. System developer, Erling Bjarte Rullestad, who established the tournament, commented,  

“What I noticed was a stronger sense of unity among departments. It's a refreshing break from the usual routine and encourages interactions with colleagues we don't typically engage with. It definitely promotes teamwork and collaboration across different departments” 

The local tournament champions were Gunnar Tveit from Haugesund, Leo Stranger from Oslo, Håvard Skjevling from Kristiansund, Jørgen Melhus from Stjørdal, Vadim Naroznji from Klaipeda, Peter Øren from Ølensvåg, Leif Hole from Bergen, and Sindre Damman from Stavanger. 

By introducing Cornhole to the offices, Omega 365 aims to create a more cohesive and engaging work environment.

Community engagement

Omega 365 embraces the guiding principle of being "Big enough to deliver, small enough to care," which also extends to the commitment to the local community in Ølensvåg, Norway. 

Within Omega 365's offices, Cornhole has become more than just a pastime; it encouraging employees to take breaks, socialize, and engage in friendly competition. 

The company has extended the fun of Cornhole to the local community in Ølensvåg by donating Cornhole sets to the local nursing home in Ølen and the local sports club, Ølen Idrettslag, giving residents and athletes a chance to partake in the fun.