It’s no secret that the pandemic changed the landscape of working overnight, as many companies shifted to doing their tasks remotely. This overhauled the way organizations continued their operations, negatively impacting employees.
A survey done by Indeed found that over 52% of respondents were experiencing burnout, a significant jump from the 43% reported before the pandemic.
It’s never been more important for businesses to prioritize creating a positive environment for their employees. The emphasis on the environment not only makes working for your business a better experience (#greatresignation), but it can boost morale, increase productivity and loyalty. Here are just a few ways your business can cultivate a positive experience in a post-Covid world:
Create organic interactions
The shift from remote work to on-site post-pandemic can be difficult for many. When rebuilding your company’s culture to foster a more positive environment, it’s important to give employees the opportunity to interact with each other without the pressures of their daily tasks. We know that workers are feeling increasingly disconnected from colleagues. Be sure to promote short breaks throughout the day, whether it’s for coffee or just to get moving, as employees can use this time to connect and build more meaningful relationships.
Host off-site events
Bringing back the all-important in-person off-site can help increase employee engagement and create a tight-knit community between workers. If you’re looking to host one while employees are on the clock, arrange for a talk that will help motivate them. If you want to try something outside of working hours, find a team-building activity that everyone will enjoy, be it game nights, trips to local cultural centers, meals out, etc. Not only will employees get a much-needed break from their tasks and responsibilities, but the outing will help foster better trust and interaction between team members.
Help employees develop their skills
The pandemic brought to light the importance of future-proofing. Employees now realize that they need to actively make themselves valuable to a company’s operations. When rebuilding your employee experience, be sure to create initiatives that aid in skill development. A write-up on talent building by LHH explains that senior leaders can, and should, mentor their teams and teach them the ins and outs within their line of work. There should also be open communication between management and employees on career trajectory. This allows managers to see how they can help workers achieve their goals. Helping employees develop their skills will foster a positive work experience knowing, and trusting, that the company is truly looking out for their best interests.
Pay attention to mental health
The pandemic also wreaked havoc on many people’s mental health. As the world returns to ‘normal’, employees are becoming more vocal about how their work may affect this aspect of their lives. CNBC reports that there is a strong link between employee mental health and overall work satisfaction, so your business should be prepared to cater to employee needs. You might consider introducing mental health days that don’t count towards sick leave, or have a company psychologist on-hand who can help administer psychological support. If budgets allow, you might try offering a subsidy that will help cover the expenses of mental health services or medication.
Cultivating a positive employee experience is more important now than ever before. The past two years have given our employees a new outlook on work and they’ll be looking to their employers to help shape a safe, productive and meaningful experience. A thoughtful environment will be key to retaining and attracting the best talent moving forward.
