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Tips for Keeping Employees Happy & United During COVID-19
COVID-19 has brought many challenges for businesses of all sizes and in all industries.
17:57 15 February 2021
One of the main challenges that many businesses are facing has been keeping employees happy and content, particularly when they are remote working. While remote work has its perks, it can also pose a few challenges, especially when you consider that people are restricted as to what they can do in their free time, so people are spending a huge amount of time at home and without being able to socialize like they are used to. So, how can you keep your workforce happy and united during the pandemic? Read on for a few suggestions.
Arrange Informal Video Calls
One of the most effective steps to take is to arrange regular informal video calls, which allow staff to communicate freely and catch up with one another. While it might not be the same as going for a drink after work on a Friday, it can do wonders for people’s morale and mental health during difficult times like this. You could even have a hamper sent to their home full of treats that they can enjoy during the calls.
Check-In Regularly
It is a good idea to allow people to work independently while working from home and you must avoid micromanaging, but you also should check-in regularly, so they don’t feel alone. Simply spending a few minutes talking before launching into the task at hand can be helpful, as well as asking if there is anything that you or the business could do to help, such as providing new equipment for them at home.
Use an Effective Communication Platform
An effective communication platform, such as a secure Slack alternative, can help employees overcome many of the challenges that remote work can bring. These platforms can make it quick, simple, and efficient for staff to communicate and collaborate, helping them feel united and connected throughout the day. With these platforms, they can chat one-on-one or in teams, arrange video calls, share screens, share files, and much more. This should also streamline the workflow, ensuring that staff can work to their full potential each day while working from home.
Offer Flexibility
It is also important to provide some flexibility and to understand that this is a challenging situation for people in more ways than one. Some people may be trying to work from home with kids running around and a partner also working from home, while others may not have a suitable space for working. The key is to offer flexibility, provide as much support as possible, and put trust in your team and find their best way of working during these challenging times.
Hopefully, these tips will help you to keep your team happy and united during COVID-19. Remote work can bring many challenges for managers and employees, but these tips should help you overcome them and get the most out of remote work while keeping your team’s spirits high.