hammerjack: Talent x Technology x Trust hj Loop
hammerjack: Talent x Technology x Trust hj Loop · Issue: September–October 2026
hj Loop

What your PH team has been up to

Two months of learning, celebrating, and showing up for each other across Makati, Pampanga, and our remote crew.

Hello, partners!

Welcome to hj Loop, your inside look at life with your teams here in the Philippines. September and October were two of our busiest months yet. We ran four skills sessions, wrapped up our mandatory data privacy training, hosted our first-ever Customer Service Week, and somehow found time for badminton and a full-day Mobile Legends tournament too.

Here's a quick rundown of what happened, what your teams told us, and what's coming up next.

At a glance
830
check-ins across 10 completed activities
298
team members joined at least one activity
4.78 / 5
average learning session satisfaction
+82
employee Net Promoter Score from engagement events

eNPS is based on “How likely are you to recommend hammerjack as a place to work?” (0 to 10). Anything above +50 is considered excellent.

01 Engagement

Celebrating the people behind the work

Oct 6–8, 2026 · Online kickoff + onsite in Makati and Pampanga

Customer Service Week 2026: The Extra Mile

This was hammerjack's first-ever Customer Service Week, and we made a point of celebrating everyone, not just client-facing roles.

The week opened with an online kickoff where teams explored what “going the extra mile” looks like day to day, including the SALO recovery model for turning service slip-ups around and our ARPO behaviours (Accurate, Reliable, Proactive, Owned).

Then we took it onsite. Makati celebrated on Oct 7 and Pampanga on Oct 8 with a buffet lunch, a bingo showdown, and a photobooth. We also extended the celebration to our onsite cleaners and guards, which a lot of the team really appreciated.

197
check-ins across all three events
92%
said they'd “definitely” join again
+97
eNPS · Pampanga
+78
eNPS · Online kickoff
+71
eNPS · Makati
“
It was great to pause and celebrate our collective effort, and the theme ‘The Extra Mile’ really reinforced our shared commitment to client success.”
Team member, Makati
“Thank you for organising and also for extending this to all staff including our cleaners and guards onsite.”
Team member, Remote
“Learning SALO and ARPO, and recognizing that everyone is involved in customer service.”
Team member, Makati
Sep 25, 2026 · Online via Microsoft Teams

National Family Week: Caring for the Caregiver

A heartfelt online session about the people who care for our families, and why caregivers need care too. Team members shared stories and messages of appreciation for the parents, grandparents, and loved ones who've supported them, many of them posted right on the hjEngagement app.

81
attendees
+81
eNPS
90%
would “definitely” join again
“The sharing of personal caregiver stories and hearing how resilient our colleagues and their families truly are. It created an open, heartfelt space that felt very genuine.”
Team member, Makati
“I love how hammerjack values not only its employees but also the family, mentors, and supporters who played a role in shaping who they are today.”
Team member, Makati
Sat, Sep 26, 2026 · Onsite at the Makati office

hj Esports Club: Mobile Legends Showdown

Eight squads from Makati, Pampanga, and our remote teams battled it out in a one-day Mobile Legends tournament, from single-elimination quarterfinals all the way to a best-of-five Grand Final. Pampanga players got round-trip transport to Makati, everyone got fed, and every player took home an official tournament shirt. Colleagues who couldn't make it cheered along on a live Microsoft Teams stream.

30
players and supporters onsite
+91
eNPS
8
squads competing
“I enjoyed the opportunity to meet and talk with people I don't normally interact with.”
Team member, Makati
“Watching my friends and colleagues have fun while playing. Good food, good mood.”
Team member, Pampanga
What we're improving next time

The team asked for a smoother bracket system and more balanced teams with time to practise before match day. We're building both into the next tournament.

Sep 19, 2026 · Balesin City, Alphaland Makati Place

hj Badminton Club

Our Sports Club kicked off its Makati season with a friendly badminton tournament. It was beginner-friendly, very competitive in the best way, and fuelled by a solid snack table.

24
players
+89
eNPS
5.0 / 5
for “I felt proud to be part of this activity”
“I enjoyed the fun and friendly atmosphere, as well as having the opportunity to play badminton and bond with everyone outside of work.”
Team member, Makati
“The event was very beginner friendly and the snacks were really good!”
Team member, Makati
02 Learning

Building skills that show up in the work

All our learning runs through hLS (hammerjack Learning System). The core of it right now is the hLS Cross-Skills Course, an 8-part live series held every Wednesday at 1:00 PM on Microsoft Teams. It covers communication, teamwork, reliability, quality, adaptability, growth, and working with Australian clients. Every session ends with a short survey so we can track what's landing.

498
learning check-ins in September and October
4.78 / 5
average satisfaction
97%+
rated every session 4 or 5 out of 5
4.20 → 4.66
confidence in the topic (out of 5) after sessions
hLS Compliance Course
Sep 2, 2026 · Online via Microsoft Teams

Mandatory Compliance Course: Data Privacy 2026

Our annual data privacy refresher covered personal vs sensitive personal information, how to report a suspected breach, safe device and network habits, and using AI tools responsibly with client data. This one's required for every team member, and make-up sessions are available for anyone who missed it live.

156
attendees (our biggest session of the period)
4.82 / 5
satisfaction
94%
said they can explain the key concepts to a colleague
“Data privacy does not just involve IT, it's everyone's responsibility. Hence, we should be mindful about the information we are sharing, including with AI tools.”
Team member, Remote
“Most privacy incidents are human mistakes, not cyberattacks.”
Team member, Makati

hLS Cross-Skills Course

Every Wednesday · 1:00 PM · Microsoft Teams
2 of 8Sep 9, 2026 · Teams

Communicating with Clarity

How to lead with the main point, structure messages so they're easy to act on, pick the right channel, and match tone for Australian clients and colleagues.

85
attendees
4.86
/ 5 satisfaction (highest of the series so far)
98%
can explain the key concepts to a colleague
“Before writing, pinpoint your primary message and what action you want the receiver to take.”
Team member, Makati
“The session brought attention to a few things that I knew I was guilty of doing and gave me alternatives and solutions that would reflect more positively to my Australian clients and team members.”
Team member, Makati
3 of 8Sep 16, 2026 · Teams

Working Well with Others

Practical collaboration habits: active listening, being a valuable meeting participant, clear email subject lines (Action Required, FYI, Update), and giving feedback with the SBI model (Situation, Behaviour, Impact).

100
attendees
4.74
/ 5 satisfaction
4.64
confidence, up from 4.20
“The SBI Feedback Model is very helpful and relevant to my current work, as I'm in a customer-support environment where feedback needs to be clear, specific, and non-personal.”
Team member, Remote
“When to use Update, FYI, and Action Required is something basic that can save a lot of time from back-and-forth emails.”
Team member, Remote
4 of 8Sep 30, 2026 · Teams

Owning Your Work

The foundation habits of reliability: making realistic commitments, flagging blockers early, owning mistakes constructively, and managing workload proactively.

74
attendees
4.66
/ 5 satisfaction
94%
can explain the key concepts to a colleague
“Trust is built by consistently keeping commitments, communicating challenges early, and taking ownership of mistakes, because people value dependability and transparency more than perfection.”
Team member, Makati
“Give a heads up and let the client know the expected deadline, or whether it's manageable.”
Team member, Pampanga
Sep 17, 2026 · Online via Microsoft Teams

Importance of Annual Physical Examination

A wellbeing session on why the annual physical exam matters and how to make the most of it.

83
attendees
03 hjEngagement
Behind the scenes

One home for everything engagement

hjEngagement is the in-house platform our Capability & Engagement team built to run our people programme. Every activity in this issue was registered, checked into, and surveyed through it, which is how we're able to share real numbers with you.

482
team members have registered for at least one activity
1,367
check-ins recorded
1,097
post-event surveys completed
Since the programme launched in August
Why we built it

Your team is miles away. Their engagement shouldn't feel like it.

Your team members in Manila work closely with you every day, but they're doing it from a different country, a different office and sometimes a different shift. We wanted a way to make sure they feel just as seen, connected and supported as if they were sitting next to you.

That's why our Capability & Engagement team built hjEngagement, our own in-house engagement platform for every hammerjack team member in the Philippines. It brings recognition, activities, rewards and feedback together in one place that works on any phone or laptop, so taking part is easy whether someone's at their desk, on a break or working from home.

It doesn't replace the human side of engagement (we still love a good in-person event). It just makes sure the good stuff happens every day, not only when we're all in the same room.

Recognise

Celebrate the wins

Peers and leaders call out great work the moment it happens, and the whole team gets to see it.

Connect

Build real community

Profiles, posts and a people directory help team members get to know each other across accounts.

Grow

Listen and improve

Surveys and engagement insights help us shape programmes around what your team actually needs.

The short version: when your team members feel recognised and connected, they stay longer, show up more and do better work for you. hjEngagement is one of the ways we make that happen.

What's inside

Everything your team uses, in one place

Here's a quick tour of what your team members see when they log in.

  1. 01

    Kudos and recognition

    Anyone can send a Kudos to thank a colleague or call out great work. Others can react and reply, so a simple thank-you turns into a team moment.

  2. 02

    Moments feed and profiles

    A social-style feed where team members share photos and updates, follow colleagues and build a profile that shows who they are beyond their job title.

  3. 03

    Activities and events

    Sign-ups for company events, team challenges, polls and live prize wheel draws, all managed in the app so nobody misses out.

  4. 04

    Daily Spin

    A quick daily spin for bonus points. It's small, it's fun, and it gives everyone a reason to check in and see what's happening.

  5. 05

    Points and leaderboards

    Taking part earns points, and leaderboards add a bit of friendly competition (which our team takes very seriously).

  6. 06

    Rewards Center

    Points can be redeemed for rewards, including our hammerjack Apparel line, with delivery or pickup and live stock so orders are easy to track.

  7. 07

    Surveys and feedback

    Short surveys give team members a voice on events, programmes and their experience at work, and the results feed straight into our planning.

  8. 08

    People Search

    A searchable directory that helps team members find and connect with colleagues across hammerjack, even with a half-remembered name.

Notifications that keep things moving. Team members get an email when they're awarded points, so recognition lands even if they haven't opened the app that day.

How it helps your team

From first day to every day

hjEngagement is part of the full employee journey, not just a place to collect points. Here's how it supports your team members along the way.

1
Day one

New hires request their own account and join the community straight away, so they feel part of the team from the start.

2
Settling in

Profiles, People Search and the Moments feed make it easier to meet colleagues beyond their immediate account.

3
Every week

Kudos, activities and the Daily Spin keep recognition and connection part of the normal routine.

4
Long term

Surveys and engagement insights help us adjust programmes so they stay relevant as your team grows.

Reinforce
Recognition

Kudos make great work visible. When your team members see their effort noticed by peers and leaders, it reinforces the behaviours that matter to your business.

Connect
Belonging

Offshore team members can feel isolated from the wider business. A shared feed, events and friendly competition build a sense of community that keeps people around.

Listen
Voice

Surveys give everyone a simple way to tell us what's working and what isn't. We act on it, and team members notice when they're listened to.

Reward
Motivation

Points and rewards turn everyday participation into something tangible, from a bit of hammerjack merch to a win on the prize wheel.

Sustain
Consistency

Because it's always on, engagement doesn't depend on one big event a year. It's built into how your team works week to week.

“
I like the part where stories were shared via the HJ app. When I was typing mine I remembered how we've been through a lot as a family, but happy and victorious after.”
Team member, Remote
Insights and trust

Measured properly, built with care

How we use the data

Our People & Culture team tracks how the platform's being used, including daily and monthly activity and engagement trends over time. These numbers are adjusted for both Philippine and Australian public holidays, so a long weekend on either side doesn't throw off the picture.

We use these insights to spot what's landing, plan better activities and catch early signs when a team might need a little extra attention.

Built and maintained in-house

hjEngagement is designed, built and looked after by our own team in Manila, using modern no-code and AI-assisted development tools. Every update is reviewed and tested before it goes live, and we've put continuity plans in place with our IT team so the platform is never dependent on one person.

Security and reliability
Personal sign-in

Every team member has their own secure login, with simple self-service options if they ever need to reset it.

Controlled access

Only authorised members of our People & Culture team can manage programmes, and access is given area by area, only where it's needed.

Accurate, current records

Team members who've left hammerjack are removed from lists, leaderboards and reports, so everything reflects your current team.

Works where your team is

Built to run on phones and laptops, and tested across the major Philippine mobile and broadband networks.

Recent highlights

We're always improving it

hjEngagement gets regular updates based on feedback from our team members. Here's what we've recently built and deployed.

  • LiveInstall to home screen. Letting team members add hjEngagement to their phone like a regular app for quicker access.
  • LiveSMS notifications. Text alerts for things like activity reminders and reward updates, using local Philippine networks.
  • LiveMore ways to take part. New activity formats and team challenges, including esports-style events our team has been asking for.
  • LiveA refreshed look. A new social-style feed, redesigned profiles and simpler navigation.
  • LivePeople Search. A full staff directory with smart, typo-friendly search.
  • LiveBetter rewards. Live apparel stock levels and smoother delivery and pickup.
  • LiveFaster and more reliable. Speed improvements and better connectivity across Philippine networks.
04 On the calendar

Still to come this month

Sat
Oct 10
hj Basketball Club

Our Sports Club hits the court for a morning of friendly full-court games.

Onsite · Delta Sports Arena, Makati
32
Registered
Wed
Oct 14
Quality at the SourcehLS Cross-Skills Course 5 of 8

Self-review habits and checklist discipline that catch errors before they ever reach a client.

Online · Microsoft Teams, 1:00 PM
121
Registered
Wed
Oct 21
Staying Steady When Things ChangehLS Cross-Skills Course 6 of 8

Handling shifting priorities, keeping quality up under pressure, and bouncing back from setbacks.

Online · Microsoft Teams, 1:00 PM
118
Registered
Thu
Oct 22
Halloween hammerJAM H2: Pampanga

Our second-half hammerJAM goes full costume, with live music, games, prizes, and a costume contest. Pampanga goes first, then Makati a week later.

Onsite · Pampanga office, 2:00 PM
43
Registered
Sat
Oct 24
hj Pickleball Club

The fastest-growing sport in the Sports Club line-up, open to first-timers and regulars alike.

Onsite · Balesin City, Alphaland Makati Place
37
Registered
Wed
Oct 28
hammerjack Family Day: Your Extended Family

A virtual celebration of our extended families, the people who've helped shape who we are.

Online · Microsoft Teams, 2:00 PM
80
Registered
Thu
Oct 29
Halloween hammerJAM H2: Makati

Our second-half hammerJAM goes full costume, with live music, games, prizes, and a costume contest.

Onsite · Makati office, 2:00 PM
60
Registered

That's a wrap for this issue!

Thanks for trusting us with your teams. We love seeing them learn, celebrate, and look out for each other, and we hope this gives you a little window into their world here in the PH.

See you in the next hj Loop.