With many businesses forced to cease in-person communication and go fully remote with their work, it can be a difficult transition for companies to make. While many may hope to have their workdays continue, as usual, companies should take a moment to acknowledge these changes and focus on the way to connect with their employees during these challenging times. Even with the obstacle of social distancing, there are ways to show appreciation and respect for your employees from afar. Take a look at some of how employers can take advantage of this time in building relationships with their workers.
1. Utilize Technology
Using the technology your company has invested in has several perks. Not only can you continue to complete daily tasks and work towards keeping your business healthy, but you can also use it as a tool to connect with your employees during these unprecedented times of separation.
While video conferencing has become increasingly popular as a method of communication, utilizing this to connect with your employees for more than just work can harness great relationships and help companies bond together stronger during this time. Hosting a virtual happy hour or setting up an allotted meeting to include fun activities that can be done over the screen, like trivia, can mimic office culture and provide much-needed stress relief. Little reminders or notes of strength, encouragement, and appreciation via email or messaging channels can go a long way to help boost morale and keep employees engaged in their daily tasks.
Top 20 Remote Work Tools for Teams to Stay Connected - ProofHub
Similarly, streamlining your communication can aid in meaningful connections with employees, as being on the same page is critical to maximizing efforts and gauging success. Honing in with effective project management software can give your workers stability during the uncertainty that has followed the COVID-19 outbreak. By simplifying your planning and strategic process in getting work done during these different working situations, employees can collaborate with ease and perform in these unforeseen remote circumstances.
2. Be transparent
With the level of uncertainty in the world, displaying transparency to your employees can go a long way. Although businesses may face cutbacks, loss of resources, and even uncertain futures, being open and upfront about current situations with staff takes away unnecessary worry. As transparency builds trust between both consumers and employees, establishing this reliable confidence in your business on all ends offers security during harder times.
Furthermore, offering information on how your business is taking safety precautions to protect employees and their families can help keep your workers feel connected to your business on a deeper level and reinforce an appreciation for the leadership and accountability being shown. Update staff on cleaning protocols, building/office space access, and how you plan to get them the necessary tools to continue to function in their day to day tasks.
3. Share ways to help
Amid this global pandemic, companies can further connect with employees by sharing advice and ways to give back to the community and help those in need. Those in leadership positions can take a stance on how their business, if possible, can help support and assist others during this trying time. There are specific ways that your business can help the community — dependent upon conditions like the field you are in or the resources you have available.
Furthermore, building relationships with your employees during this time will also mean supporting their specific needs and making their lives as safe as possible. Provide your workers with informational resources, advice on how to navigate their remote work experience best, and give extra supplies from the office to their families. Asking your employees who have special medical needs or concerns for elderly relatives not only protects their safety but shows your commitment to prioritizing their health over money matters. Similarly, understand that everyone will have different preferences when it comes to voicing their concerns and needs, so involving management and ensuring they can effectively communicate with each specific worker will have a more considerable impact on how your staff can feel more secure.
4. Review their life insurance policies
During trying times like these, it can be comforting for employees to gain peace of mind from having the certainty of their employee benefits. The COVID-19 outbreak has inflicted many health concerns, and the harsh reality is that there have already been over 24,000 deaths due to the coronavirus in the United States. With that number changing every day, talking to your company about the life insurance coverage available to them is a responsible way to start a conversation surrounding looking out for your workers and their families in the long run.
Hosting an informational session or publishing updates and statuses around the coverage your company offers can help families financially prepare and navigate their finances during their extra time at home. It is also important to note that for some of your employees, it might be necessary for them to purchase an additional policy to cover their needs. Factors for each employee depends upon things like the number of dependents they have, mortgages or debts present, and their medical history. Encouraging employees to learn more about supplemental life insurance needs will help companies connect with the people that make up their business and ensure they feel safe.
5. Offer stress-management tools
Along with the tension around their new work environment and schedule, remember that your employees have lives outside of just their 9–5 hours. On top of navigating their remote work routine, employees with children whose schools have closed must also tackle providing childcare during working hours while meeting the same workload expectations. To show care to your employees that double as parents, offer resources to help parents work effectively with the kids home and be open to having conversations listening to their struggles. Help to create a support group and outlet for these workers to share stories and advice with parenting during this transition.
Similarly, this time can be harder on those that are affected mentally by sudden changes in schedule, the inability to socialize with others as usual, and those that experience anxiety, depression, or other mental illnesses. Quarantine proposes challenges as people are restricted to their houses and might be missing out on the everyday activities that help them with their mental wellbeing. Making sure that your employees know that you prioritize their mental health can be a comforting way to offer support during this harder time. There are several ways employers can address mental health in the workplace — like making reasonable accommodations and providing PTO or flexible schedules to those in need. Having open conversations can encourage your staff and create a safe space for having those harder discussions.
6. Revisit your core values
As a company, there is a unique set of values, beliefs, cores, and people that make your business what it is. During these trying times, companies can bond closer together by taking the time to revisit the core values that help to shape them. Asking your staff to review mission statements, company policies, and your short and long-term goals will help your employees get a more insightful look at how they can best serve the company while maintaining positivity about its future.
On the other hand, if you have struggled to define and put into words precisely what you want your company to exemplify, take this time to define your company values. This time apart can offer a unique perspective on what you appreciate and wish to instill worth in once you have taken a step back from your day-to-day routine.
Part of this mission will include maintaining your company culture, even when you are separated from seeing each other in the office every day. Finding creative ways to continue your company traditions virtually and holding your employees to the same expectations (within reason) will help preserve the integrity of your business and facilitate your eventual return to the office. Additionally, this time also provides an opportunity to step back and see where you can add new traditions or focus on areas of growth. No company is perfect, and the extra time at home can give you a chance for reflection on strengthening your band of workers.
Conclusion
Acknowledging the struggles faced daily and helping in any way possible to make the lives of your employees, their families, and the community easier can help companies connect with their workers in a meaningful way. It may feel easy to look at this time as a period of stagnation in building those relationships, but in reality, it can provide the perfect outlet to understand better and support the people who work alongside you every day.
And although it may have been harder to plan for this unforeseen circumstance, taking purposeful steps to show you care and support your staff can create an encouraging and productive channel to continue growing your business and strengthening those that make it what it is.
Thank you for reading this,before you go
Clap: if you enjoyed reading this article, so others can find it
Comment: if you have a question/suggestion you’d like to ask
Follow: ProofHub to read all the articles
Read More:
- 10 Ways Managers Can Connect With Their Employees
- How to Make Your One-on-Ones with Employees More Productive
- The Simple Ways to Build Better Relationships With Your Employees
How To Have Meaningful Connections With Employees During These Times was originally published in ProofHub Blog on Medium, where people are continuing the conversation by highlighting and responding to this story.
