With Futsal 2020, Workafella had its energetic community storm the field

Football aficionados of the Workafella community had a reason to rejoice. Football club Chennaiyin FC in association with Workafella hosted Futsal 2020, and that was open exclusively to members of the Workafella community. With this season’s Indian Super League bidding farewell, Chennayin FC collaborated with Workafella, to bring its members out of the office and onto the field with futsal! Given that Workafella strives to bring out the holistic development of its employees, a game of futsal is an added advantage.

Originated from the words futebol de salão (Portuguese) and fútbol sala (Spanish) which means hall football, Futsal is an indoor sport, which is five vs. five people in a team. Playing the sport will give members an opportunity to enjoy it as a team building activity.

A game of futsal was a healthy team building activity which would likely help the members meet new friends, and connect with existing colleagues and create new relationships. Taking a break from their regular office routine, a game of futsal would help members stretch their creative muscles, master new ways to innovate and solve problems, these qualities would transfer back to the workplace.

The winning team, Workafella IIFL Perungudi were awarded with CFC merchandise, and meet CFC player Lallianzuala Chhangte, who felicitated the winners.

Given that Workafella is CFC’s engine room while also doubling up as perfect venue for all of the club’s off-field activities, Futsal is a perfect addition.

Since youngsters today are aware of the concept of work-life balance, they are gravitating towards jobs that offer flexible work timings, he adds. "To be a better employer, you have focus on what a person is producing rather than being a clock-watcher. The booming of the gig economy is also creating a demand for flexible workspaces," he says.

Another factor is the mushrooming of startups. Raghvendra Pratap Singh, Co-founder of Co-Work Studio, which offers 24x7 workspaces in Pune, says, "Running a startup entails a huge amount of work because there’s always a shortage of both manpower and funds. I’ve seen people come in at 7 pm, work all night and the next day. Founders essentially live at their workspaces at times."

Ridhesh Sejpal, 30, founder of the Andheri-based Goodfellas Studio, which produces TV commercials, is a prime example. He chose to move, team in tow, to a 91springboard office from a conventional office setup because of the many comforts offered by the space.

"We often have very tight turnaround times, and employees have to sometimes work all night. At a coworking space, everything from tech support to security to food and housekeeping are taken care of for you," he says. "I’ve pulled all-nighters and then headed to the airport directly from work, or vice versa. Having a place to shower and catch a nap really helps ease a hectic week."

For Shivani Singh, 35, marketing head at Quantela, it’s the sense of safety offered by 24x7 spaces that she likes most. When Singh’s organisation shifted to a Workafella office in Hyderabad in March, she found herself working later hours at her desk, instead of taking work home with her, simply because she had the choice.

"In the office we worked out of before, most people would leave by 7 pm; most of the lights would be switched off and you would feel like you were all alone," says Singh. "Here, the office is always well-lit. There are support staff and other professionals also working late. It’s comforting to know that you can choose to work till late if you want or need to."

Raisa Nasreen is content writer who writers on the coworking industry. Apart from balancing her life on the fence, she is an avid film buff who shudders at the thought of watching a horror film.