2. Employees whose contracts will end soon. Many healthcare services have moved online to provide support virtually. Communicate the importance of taking breaks and being away from work-related activities. A 40-hour work week is spending 50% of our waking hours away from family. Create opportunities for social connections. Illustration: Aaliyah McNeal/BizBash. Let us know. But morale is no back-burner issue, especially during this time. Employees in Wuhan/Hubei area. Match the moment with an appropriate level of communication to employees, as well as other stakeholders, such as customers, partners and shareholders. Two in three employers polled for a recent survey by SHRM said maintaining employee morale has been a challenge during the pandemic. Companies that understand they need to prevent sagging morale also recognize the difficulty in addressing the issue when potentially their entire workforce is operating on a remote basis. Understand the variety of new responsibilities people might have and adjust accordingly to help ease the stress. Establish feedback mechanisms to answer staff uncertainties. 8 December 2020. Staying in touch with, and acknowledging, employees’ concerns and feelings is, perhaps, the most important way to ensure morale stays strong as the business navigates through this uncertain time. Share this … It also comes with a free 14 day trial. “Virtual Happy Hours” Are Boosting Morale At Work. I am the senior executive director at Robert Half, specializing in the placement of professionals in the accounting and finance, technology, legal, creative and administrative fields. That’s why it’s so important to do the little things to boost employee morale. Recognize that everyone’s situation is different. 3 min read. Implement a variety of festive activities to increase employee morale. 1.8 Employee engagement practices during the COVID‐19 lockdown. Employees at all levels had to set up workspaces in their homes with secure access to company data and continue pursuing key projects. Then divulge as much as you can about how your efforts to continue providing outstanding service to your customers are going. Use video or audio calls and other collaboration software to manage conversations. Prioritize connecting with your team. Meanwhile, many senior executives, including CFOs, must tackle a twofold challenge when it comes to their workforce. Sixty-hour work weeks are neither productive nor engaging. Leaders within some organizations have been forced to make difficult decisions during these times, such as reducing staff. Emphasize why employees are coming to work, especially those working on the front lines. Open informal channels to allow workers to share personal stories. While commonsense says keeping morale high during challenging times is both difficult and important, /Research by Watson Wyatt Worldwide has shown the importance of keeping employees engaged during difficult times. In a work context, possession of such traits, while always desirable in a positive sense, are now essential in the coronavirus (COVID-19) era. It may be that staff struggling with an overwhelming workload do not feel comfortable alerting you during an unpredictable time. It’s not just workplace concerns that influence your team’s morale. Work hard; play harder. It includes practices and other resources offering ways to address student and adult anxiety in this time of uncertainty, and strategies for cultivating our human connection through kindness , compassion , and other prosocial qualities. The COVID-19 pandemic disrupted our way of working. A simple handwritten card or thoughtful gift is invaluable in saying thanks. Many vacations and large celebrations have been limited or put on hold. Inspire people to strive for excellence and build meaning into their work. Here are five key ways to boost morale in an organisation: 1. During the COVID-19 pandemic, we need these core life skills for things like planning less frequent trips to the grocery store or market, filling out forms for relief funds or loans, navigating support programs, and for managing work, home, and caring for children. 30 creative ideas to boost employee morale and motivation from Robert Half UK. While event and meeting professionals across North … Over the course of more than 30 years in the recruiting field, I’ve advised thousands of company leaders and job seekers on how to hire and get hired. Here are several fun outdoor activities you can still enjoy. As organizations develop various engagement practices to implement full‐time remote work policies due to COVID‐19, here are some practices to keep your employees engaged in their jobs work‐from‐home regime. Safe outdoor activities during the COVID-19 pandemic. By Johanna Cider - Sep. 6, 2017. Let your team know you are available to offer support. 06. Twitter. Put in items that will work with their existing hobbies or ask what they've always wanted to try. 37. We asked HR practitioners, via the SHRM Connect online community and LinkedIn, to share their ideas for easy, affordable ways to boost morale in the work environment. 3 Ways Companies Can Boost Morale During the Pandemic There are plenty of fun and creative ways to celebrate company milestones that won't break the bank. 6. The COVID-19 virus is changing the world in which we live and work. Make a meaningful effort to say thank you for their contributions. 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