Oxford metaverse platform launches to create more safe spaces for young people at work
Oxford-based Rethinkly which has developed a unique development and coaching tool (already being used by IBM and the NHS) that provides a safe digital space to explore problems, relationships and conflicts, says that its latest virtual world will enable companies to offer cost-effective coaching and engagement initiatives to all employees, regardless of firm size.
READ MORE: Need to know: What is the metaverse
Around 85 per cent of employees are either unengaged or actively disengaged according to a report. In a bid to address this growing issue, Rethinkly – a metaverse platform helping businesses resolve communication difficulties in the workplace – has launched enabling businesses to implement company-wide coaching and wellbeing initiatives that are both cost-effective and scalable.
The overall financial cost of employee disengagement could amount to as much as £340 billion per year, based on recruitment and training costs, productivity, sick days and a general loss of creativity and innovation.
New research from Rethinkly, which was founded in 2013, uncovers how the cause of this disengagement could stem from a lack of effective communication within the workplace, subsequently depleting motivation and therefore, productivity. The findings show that 28 per cent of UK workers say that the inability to communicate within the workplace has had the largest impact on productivity. Additionally, just under a third of employees say they encounter challenges with their speech when attempting to confront difficult issues within the workplace.
Traditional coaching can cost hundreds of pounds per hour and is limited to executive-level employees. Rethinkly enables businesses to implement coaching programmes across the entire company, all that is required is an internet connection to log onto the platform. From here they are led by an expert who guides them through particular exercises, whether that be a teambuilding activity or a session to assess employee sentiment surrounding company culture.
Rethinkly works by removing all real-world references creating a neutral, virtual space designed to inspire personal expression. Users can create avatars that can express emotion and gestures, enabling enough detachment for reflection and transparent communication, the company says.
Rethinly maintains that the power of imagery and visualisation prevails where words fail, with the meta verse platform combining the most effective principles of storytelling, psychodrama and coaching to address the issue at hand.
Understanding the power of images, the NHS has relied on the software for years to help patients express themselves when they otherwise couldn’t, alongside corporate firms such as IBM which have integrated the software into employee development and coaching initiatives. Research on the use of VR in these settings is constantly evolving, and Rethinkly uses a combination of insight from practitioners, academia and case studies leading to one of the most sophisticated tools for addressing communication issues worldwide.
Andrew Jackson, co-founder of Rethinkly, said: “Most challenges at work stem from a lack of or just bad communication. Communication challenges are directly aligned with morale, productivity, and commitment which have real business impact. Effective communication and building a strong culture based on healthy engagement are often talked about but surprisingly difficult to achieve. But when organisations start to embed and grow critical communication skills and adopt them as a competitive advantage, they can start to see a significant shift in their trajectory."
David Tinker, co-founder of Rethinkly, added:“There are two reasons why organisations need to think about providing support to their entire businesses - one ethical, one commercial. In many organisations, coaching is reserved for the very senior but actually, those that need it the most are those starting their careers who are just forming their approaches and skill sets.
"Only providing a critical skill to a senior few isn’t a great strategy for the future of your business. Our vision is that this level of interaction and support should be available to everyone in an organisation. And organisations that do this find that it unlocks creativity and innovation on a wider scale. All of this is better for the bottom line. A bit like a virus, staff engagement and enthusiasm can be highly contagious!”
