What the word “corporate” means to Hollywoodbets

At Hollywoodbets, despite the corporate office workplace environment in place, there’s very much a sense of casualness about which filters into all aspects of what is done here. And while many would be quick to point out the fact that that contradicts a “conventional” business setting and could impede productivity, that couldn’t be further from the truth.

In embracing a very modern approach, the organisation allows its employees to feel comfortable in their own skins and bring as much authenticity and individuality to their roles as possible.

Work wear is ‘smart-casual’. Football jerseys are the norm, while flatcaps and Hawaiian shirts are welcome.

“I feel comfortable at work”, said Sports Content Coordinator Jesse Nagel . “I don’t feel restricted by having to wear something too formal which helps me to work comfortably. If my favourite soccer team is playing, it’s nice to be able to wear the jersey for that as well.”

Any member of an internal team, regardless of seniority, is able to speak up and voice their opinion during work meetings; creating an all-embracing atmosphere. A television is in view of every work desk with sport ongoing. Uber Eats deliveries are commonplace – and even eaten at the desk.

In fact, some employees have started a tradition called ‘Fast Food Fridays’, where ordering takeaways at the end of the work week has become the norm.

Marketing Co-ordinator Tyler Gentle elaborates: “It began with Covid being a thing, and we couldn’t spend a lot of time together and that lack of communication and interaction. So when Covid became less dangerous, our team started sharing bunnies (bunny chows), and then it blossomed into ‘Fast Food Fridays’.”

Fellow marketing team member Lwazi Phakathi chimed in.

“But it’s more for us to also bond as a team, because we were spending less time together,” she said. “The team was very segregated [during Covid], and we wanted everyone to come together, so every Friday we would sit together for 30-minutes and eat our food. That’s when ‘Fast Food Fridays’ started.”

The knock-on effect of this type of culture is that people aren’t bogged down by the traditional humdrum conditions of typical working environments and are able to add some colour to their working lives.

Staff are able to respect and appreciate the organisational structure in place with ease because they’re afforded some breathing room and aren’t expected to all behave in a singular, uniform way.

The exponential growth of the company is proof that the Hollywoodbets method works and that its employees take a great deal of pride in being a part of what is affectionately known as the #PurpleTeam; giving new meaning to the word “corporate” in the process.