BC Housing

HR Innovation: Redesigning Onboarding and Payroll Through Virtual Collaboration

In 2021, BC Housing partnered with Berlineaton to improve efficiency and engagement within its HR function. Focusing on onboarding and payroll processes, our team delivered a fully virtual Lean process improvement initiative. Through training, collaborative workshops, and thoughtful facilitation, we helped the BC Housing streamline workflows, build internal Lean capacity, and create a replicable model for future virtual improvement efforts.

Key Team Members

Ri
Richard Eaton
Tobias Mehra
Cathryn Chase

A Profound Experience

Amid the Covid-19 pandemic, shifting workplace norms and increasing service demands, BC Housing saw an opportunity for HR innovation, by strengthening its operations, particularly in onboarding and payroll. Fragmented workflows, inconsistent practices, and virtual collaboration challenges were impacting both staff experience and organizational efficiency. Berlineaton was engaged to lead a process improvement initiative using Lean methodology, delivered entirely online and designed to empower HR teams with both practical solutions and lasting skills.

Practical Solutions

The engagement was structured across four key phases: reviewing the current processes through broad engagement, Lean training, process redesign, and implementation. To ensure success in a virtual environment, we included a two-hour Lean and online mapping training session using Miro, equipping participants with the tools and confidence needed for active engagement in a virtual environment. Over the course of eight virtual design workshops, participants applied Lean principles to uncover inefficiencies and redesign key processes. Key facilitation strategies included:

  • Establishing virtual team operating principles
  • Designing agendas to reduce screen fatigue and encourage participation
  • Incorporating individual reflection and breakout groups to ensure inclusive dialogue
  • Leveraging real-time collaboration tools for active mapping and process redesign

Post-session follow-ups included session notes and engagement surveys to reinforce learning and support continuous improvement.

Bolder Futures:

The initiative resulted in significantly streamlined onboarding processes and enhanced collaboration practices across HR teams. Staff reported increased confidence in using Lean tools and techniques, setting the stage for ongoing process improvement. Perhaps most importantly, the organization now has a replicable, proven model for conducting high-impact virtual process redesign, one that can be scaled to other teams and functions in the future.

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  • “The team’s work resulted in a resilient process and supporting tools with clear roles, responsibilities and accountabilities, reduced paperwork and higher levels of automation. Most importantly, the Design Team has adopted the role of process leaders and mastered key Lean principles. Using these, they are about to launch a new, exciting Lean initiative to continuously improve our people services. Overall, I would highly recommend Berlineaton to anyone seeking exceptional results in the area of facilitated, team-based process improvement. They effectively blend Lean expertise with people development resulting in more streamlined processes, higher levels of ownership, and execution success.”

    Stacey Lee, VP Human Resources,

    BC Housing

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    Richard Eaton

    CD, BA, MA (Leadership) FCMC, ACC
    Adventurer, Process Whisperer, Force of Nature.

    Richard Eaton is a founding partner of Berlineaton with over 30 years’ management consulting experience, and has engaged with more than 10,000 individuals across hundreds of assignments in a wide variety of sectors. Richard holds a Master’s in Leadership and Training, is a Six Sigma Black Belt, a Fellow Certified Management Consultant, and an Associate Certified Coach. He is also certified as a Boss Whisperer, specializing in coaching abrasive leaders.

    A skilled leader, Richard has successfully mentored and developed a highly effective team of Berlineaton consulting professionals who expertly reflect the Berlineaton brand. He has also supported clients with both provincial and national level projects recognized for realizing measurable impact, innovation, and service excellence. Richard is a firm believer that truly transformative results arise when visionary leaders empower front-line teams to take ownership, innovate, and drive inspiring, strategic outcomes that resonate across organizations, sectors and time.

    Richard served for over 40 years in the British and Canadian armies as an Infantry Officer, with training from the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst and Canada’s Combat Training Centre. He’s qualified as a Paratrooper with 200+ jumps, is an All Arms Commando and a Military Ski Instructor, and is a veteran of counter-insurgency operations in Northern Ireland. His honours include the Canadian Forces Decoration, with two bars, and the General Service Medal – Northern Ireland.

    An avid outdoorsman, Richard particularly enjoys sea kayaking and mountaineering. Having summited peaks like Mt Kilimanjaro (19,000+ft) and Mt Rainier, his future goals include breaking the 20,000 ft mark. He is a proud father of two adolescent children and is deeply devoted to his long-time partner Shelly Berlin, as well as two spoiled Burmese housecats.

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    Tobias Mehra

    BA, MSc, MIB, CMC
    Problem Solver, Ear-Lender, Globetrotter.

    Tobias is an Engagement Lead. He joined the firm in early 2019. He draws on his various academic and professional experiences in business strategy, market research and corporate sustainability to provide simple and elegant data-driven solutions. 

    Tobias discovered his passion for working with people from a diverse set of backgrounds and enjoys helping organizations confront complex challenges with simple data-powered solutions. 

    Originally hailing from Austria, he moved to Victoria in 2018. Tobias loves exploring the outdoors and loves Vancouver Island as much as he loves Austria. His newest love, though, is his daughter, born at the beginning of the Covid-19 pandemic.

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    Cathryn Chase

    BA, MMgmt, CMC
    Interpreter, Pathfinder, Wordsmith.

    Cathryn is a Senior Consultant with Berlineaton. She approaches all her work with curiosity, dedication and an analytical eye.

    As a Senior Consultant, Cathryn leads and supports projects across all of Berlineaton’s practice areas with a particular focus on public sector work. She is skilled at deriving insights from data, and helping clients translate complex information into usable and effective solutions. She loves applying her skills, experience, and penchant for problem solving to help empower her clients and create sustainable business solutions.

    Cathryn holds a Bachelor of Arts in International Relations from UBC, as well as a Master’s of Management from UBC’s Sauder School of Business. She also has a Lean Six-Sigma Yellow Belt, and is working towards becoming a Certified Management Consultant.

    Outside the office, you can find her spending time with her partner, Sander and retired sled dog, Clyde, swimming with the Victoria Masters Swim Club, and enjoying the outdoors with friends and family.