Disengagement is a pandemic…and none of us need another one of those!
It creeps in quietly through unclear change, relentless workloads, or a loss of connection to purpose. Before long, it spreads. Employees drift. Energy drains. Teams lose their spark.
Sound familiar?
That’s the inspiration behind our brand-new comic, Zombie Busters, the latest in our zombie series exploring the dangers of apathy at work – and, more importantly, how to fight back.
The story: Meet Ray and the zombie busters
In our comic, we follow Ray, the ultimate zombie buster, as he joins forces with Alice, an internal comms pro, who’s facing a rising tide of disengagement at her organisation. Together, they uncover the roots of workplace discontent and rally a team of IC legends to reconnect people, revive culture, and restore energy.
From warehouse floors to boardrooms, they’re battling more than just deadlines. They’re taking on the creeping virus of apathy. And along the way, they discover what it really takes to bring a culture back to life.
Why zombies? Because disengagement is real
Behind the humour and storytelling is a serious truth: disengaged employees cost businesses up to $500 billion every year. On the flip side, companies with highly engaged teams are 21% more profitable.
Other sobering stats from recent research:
- 44% cite change fatigue as their top barrier to success
- 41% point to poor manager comms
- 39% say lack of leadership clarity is holding them back
It’s no wonder people slip into zombie mode. But as our comic shows, apathy isn’t inevitable. With creativity, connection, and comms that are truly alive with ideas, workplaces can transform.
The A.L.I.V.E. way
The comic introduces a practical framework for any organisation fighting disengagement:
- Ask: Spot the symptoms, ask the tough questions
- Learn: Face the facts, listen to employees and leaders alike
- Imagine: Picture the thriving culture you want
- Verify: Test, tweak, and build momentum
- Execute: Bring it all to life with energy and purpose
This is how you go from big corpse to a workplace that’s 100% alive.
Behind the scenes: how we made it
The Zombie Busters comic has been part of an ongoing Alive With Ideas project for years, as anyone who’s followed our creative journey will know. It’s evolved through changing times, shifting themes and focus pre- and post-pandemic, but it’s always circled back to the battle against workplace ‘zombies’: those who’ve become disengaged, disenfranchised, and disconnected.
Here’s how Kat, our illustrator and creative powerhouse, brought it to life…
“I started by looking back at the earlier Zombie Busters creations of Alive past and began again with Ray. Then I took a deep dive into comic construction (easy, because I’m a total nerd) and developed Alice and her crew.
I used a tonne of reference photography and drew everything digitally, chopping, changing, moving, and balancing everything (so glad it wasn’t on paper!) about a thousand times.
I’m a huge fan of the zombie/horror/gore genre and, obviously, can’t go a day without drawing, so this has been a joy to create – and a real labour of love from everyone involved over the years.”
From concept and script to storyboarding, and illustration, Zombie Busters is proof that creativity and strategy can walk hand in hand – and that storytelling is one of the most powerful tools for culture change.
Get your copy
In the October edition of The Dog & Duck (our monthly newsletter) we’ll have instructions for you on how to get a copy of Zombie Busters. It’s perfect for anyone battling disengagement or looking for a fresh way to spark conversations about culture.
Together, let’s bust the zombies of apathy and build workplaces that are human, connected, and 100% alive.
Sign up to our newsletter here and get your copy of Zombie Busters!
