(Photo by Salvatore Laporta/KONTROLAB/LightRocket via Getty Images). 41% reduction in absenteeism; 17% increase in productivity Employees whose contracts will end soon. It is a simple, easy, direct way to connect with your employees. Learn More About Talent Management During the COVID-19 Crisis A Positive Work Culture Maintains Employee Engagement amid Uncertainty. Gather employee feedback. Leadership should be taking notes of processes that work well during crises and the people that rise to the challenge, think creatively, and add value in their way. Bonuses, monetary awards and gifts are important, especially while many employees struggle financially due to COVID-19, but so are simple acknowledgements like e-cards, emails, calling out employees for their hard work during team meetings and simply saying thank you. Brian Kropp: One of the most effective strategies that we have seen from companies is to actually use the screen on their employees' computers to communicate with them. "Employees who feel confident about the importance of their job to the success of the organization feel less anxious about their job security. This will create a fundamental change in the nature of work. Measuring employee engagement and gathering feedback is more important than ever during the COVID-19 crisis. COVID-19 Vaccine FAQs I'm a University Professor writing expert commentary on global affairs - my apolitical leaning is evidence-based and televised on BBC and Bloomberg broadcasts - cited by legislators and journalists the world over. Employees joining the team during the response to the coronavirus. Don’t Overwhelm Employees. When the world eventually adapts to the new normal, the organizations that will arise stronger than before will be those that will have used this time to reflect, reassess, and implement agile and flexible strategies that protect teams and their business in the long term. TechRepublic Premium: The best IT policies, templates, and tools, for today and tomorrow. (Photo by Salvatore Laporta/KONTROLAB/LightRocket via Getty Images), therapeutical massage at the home of the patient Virginia Bejar, the photographer's partner, using gloves and face masks for protection during the Covid-19 lockdown on May 14, 2020, in Majadahonda, Madrid, Spain. To make matters worse, during periods of uncertainty, employee misconduct increases by as much as 33%. 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Locations that were harder hit by coronavirus (Covid-19), such as Madrid and Barcelona, remain in a stricter "Phase 0" quarantine. Expert commentary on global affairs for leaders everywhere, colleague. Research shows that frequent and consistent recognition fuels employee motivation with 40 percent of Americans saying if they were recognized more frequently, they’d put more energy into their jobs. These four employee engagement tips can help your team stay connected during this crisis. Employees in Wuhan/Hubei area. To facilitate regular conversations between managers and employees, HR should provide managers with guidance on how best to broach sensitive subjects arising from the COVID … Leadership must set the tone for the workforce, and this starts with genuine engagement, as well as open and honest conversations every step of the way. As they navigate... 3. The six activities Kropp of Gartner identified to help managers at all levels are 1) sensing employees' need for support 2) promoting dialogue to build understanding 3) using objectives to create clarity 4) reinforcing organizational values to reduce the likelihood of misconduct 5) tailoring recognition to acknowledge employee efforts 6) driving engagement via innovation. They are communicating using new tools. In a Q&A with TechRepublic, Kropp drilled down into how the recommendations came about and how best to implement them in a rapidly changing workplace. Overall levels of engagement and average growth in engagement were not compromised for organizations implementing employee engagement measures and interventions during COVID-19. Luckily, that’s what you have icebreaker games for!. Employee engagement is a key part of maintaining a successful business. HR leaders can help managers reassert the link between employees' work and organizational success by providing visibility into the current organizational goals and translating the organization's vision into their employees' context. While employee engagement might not be on the forefront of your mind during this crisis, productivity and employee retention should be. Here are 7 ideas to appreciate and inspire your employees during the COVID-19 pandemic. Workforces and leaders returning to an office setting in the wake of COVID-19 are confronting significant concerns, such as the following: What will social distancing look like in the office setting? Ever been unsure of how to start your team bonding activities? At Sprinklr, employees are using resources like LinkedIn Learning and Audible for Business. ... How One Company Is Taking Care Of Employees During COVID-19. Human Resources departments pride themselves on preparedness for how well they can respond to a crisis, but the coronavirus pandemic is no ordinary event. Clear objectives and regular updates on possible changes will help ensure employees maintain focus, energy and a sense of purpose. Consider follow-up action. ", "One of the top engagement drivers for employees is seeing their work contribute to company goals," Kropp said. Do they trust their employees to get work done or do they want to monitor them to make sure they are doing work? Crises force people to focus on what they truly want in life, what they could live without, and if their priorities are in the right order. Physiotherapist Sergio Perdiguero perfoms a deep-tissue ... [+] therapeutical massage at the home of the patient Virginia Bejar, the photographer's partner, using gloves and face masks for protection during the Covid-19 lockdown on May 14, 2020, in Majadahonda, Madrid, Spain. The best advice that we have for managers is that you need to first trust that your employees are working hard and trying to do the right thing. There are a whole set of issues that HR is struggling with right now. During a crisis, don’t forget about your core values and your company culture. Others are counting down the days until they can return to their office and miss the time they used to have during their commute to catch up on emails or listen to their favorite podcasts. Gartner said the outbreak was leading to employee anxiety, frustration, and burnout. Create and maintain a culture that … All Rights Reserved, This is a BETA experience. This guidance can include discussion guides, training, or email reminders with the latest updates on the situation and general principles for how to deal with it. How can leaders read between the lines of emails, short phone and video conversations, and app chats to determine when an employee might need assistance? NAPLES, CAMPANIA, ITALY - 2020/05/05: A woman works from her home in streaming contact with a ... [+] colleague. It’s okay if you don’t have all the answers—these... 2. Employees confirmed or suspected of being infected and their family members confirmed or suspected of being infected. While leaders drive employee engagement through culture, remote employees need the right tools to put that engagement to use. For more resources from the U.S. Chamber of Commerce: All of our coronavirus content in one place. MAJADAHONDA, MADRID, SPAIN - MAY 14. But also, if you are noticing something that doesn't seem right, you, as a manager, need to invest in spending time communicating with them one on one. Some may want to remain at home, skip their commute, and spend more time with their families. Rethinking Employee Engagement and Connection Post-COVID-19 The onset of COVID-19 has brought tremendous changes to the workplace. Contribution to this article was provided by Rita Trehan, CEO of global transformation consultancy Dare Worldwide. For instance, teams working from home might wonder if their organization needs offices in the first place. Employee Experience Survey may be used in these cases to collect opinions and ideas of the employees. Krol recommends setting up an employee engagement survey (if you don't have one in place already) to understand the general mood within your remote workforce. It is important to remember that crises can drive solidarity only if organizational leadership implements the right tactics. Mickey Meece: What is the best way to implement these initiatives? To help reassure employees that they are valued members of a strong organization that will get through the crisis, it’s advisable to run a variety of challenges that incentivize participation. The company crowdsourced 260,000 employees, asking them to “name one process that stops you from getting things done fast.” (At Pepsi, it turned out to be the performance management process.) How Companies Can Keep Employee Morale High During the Pandemic 1. These could include, for example, scheduling virtual coffee or lunch chats to check in on wellness and mental health, workload challenges, and issues around balance while working from home. Provide unprecedented flexibility to your employees ", "To ensure communication efforts help, rather than hurt, engagement, managers must have a two-way dialogue with employees. Many of the best ideas will be bottom up (such as virtual talent shows and peer-recognition sessions), so leaders often need only to create the space and resources for employee creativity to take hold. The COVID-19 pandemic has forced many companies to change how they work and support employees, but implementing some of these strategies can help you make employees feel secure and valued despite these changes. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. 2. That’s great for the overall business, but a business is only as good as its people. Getting team members to open up in engagement team building activities can be as tough and awkward as navigating a minefield!. Investing in connecting with people more so than evermore is vital for engaging and building employee commitment. Business owners may burn a ton of creative energy figuring out the best way to address their business objectives. Prioritize (virtual) team connection and relationship-building . ", "Work well-being has the greatest impact on feelings of psychological safety—an unpleasant employee experience can negatively impact psychological safety by up to 35%. Keeping employees engaged during the pandemic comes down to two things: connection and recognition. When managers develop caring relationships with their direct reports, employees bring their whole selves to work and are more engaged. Employee recognition is vital, especially during a crisis. SEE: Coronavirus: Critical IT policies and tools every business needs (TechRepublic Premium). Your employees are looking for support to help them through this crisis. (Photo by MiguelPereira/Getty Images). And employee engagement is the most powerful driver of productivity and retention. ", "While managers and employees may understandably become more risk-averse in this uncertain environment, it is these times of change and disruption that innovation and risk-taking become even more important for employee engagement and organizational success. Keeping employees engaged during the pandemic comes down to two things: connection and recognition. We love the poignant words of Dana Ullom-Vucelich, “At the very core of our humanity is our care for one another. Effective recognition not only motivates the recipient but can serve as a strong signal to other employees of behaviors they should emulate. We’re dealing with an unprecedented crisis, and it’s... 2. This reinforces the organization's commitment to the long-term success of the employee. For example, some workers are finding this new working environment conducive to their mental health and productivity, while others are struggling to stay focused for long periods. A crisis, don ’ t forget about your core values and company... Naples, CAMPANIA, ITALY - 2020/05/05: a woman works from her home in contact. Stick because we have entered a new normal engagement Ideas for working remotely the., for today and tomorrow team or organization is facing related best employee engagement ideas during covid process disruptions business... 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