Continue to make your team’s health and welfare a top priority
The opportunity to expand and enhance workplace wellbeing is more important now than ever. To deepen the understanding of how your team is coping through this uncertain time, leaders must continue to prioritize and focus on employee needs. In a study done by McKinsey & Company, employees reported they are four times more likely to be engaged and six times more likely to report a positive state of well-being when leaders act proactively to protect the health and safety of their team.
As we continue to navigate through this challenging time, carry on with frequent check-ins with your team, either individually or in large groups, and make sure there is enough facetime interaction occurring between leadership and employees. Have leaders encourage employees to get quality rest, eat well, engage in physical activity, and take breaks when necessary.
At Vincit, the People Team has coordinated several virtual activities to let off some steam and recreate a sense of normalcy. We’ve celebrated wacky holidays like National Drink a Beer Day and Joke Day, hosted daily chats, shared pet photos, and most importantly, created a space where employees can talk openly about how they are doing personally and professionally, and feel more connected.
Our Vincitizens enjoying their special care package for National Tequila Day. Bottoms up!
Offer a hybrid model
Remote work may not be a permanent fixture for all businesses, but it could be here to stay for quite some time. As many parts of the world and the country slowly begin to re-open offices, we must still be mindful of the need for flexibility and preparedness. Employers should have the ability to shift to telecommuting when the need arises and change office layouts to reflect occupancy trends.
Offering a mixed work model allows for in-office meetings and collaboration, and remote days to focus on individual tasks. This arrangement will give employees the freedom to be independent while still providing structure and routine. In fact, new research has shown that more employers are starting to prefer a flexible work policy and will permanently offer this new model once the pandemic subsides. Gartner Inc., a leading research and advisory company, recently surveyed 127 company leaders on flexible work after Covid-19. The results showed that 83% of respondents will continue to limit employee attendance and face-to-face meetings.
While the hybrid model might not be for everyone, it does offer companies the flexibility and speed to adapt if a second lockdown were to occur.
Reimagine your home office
Though the tech industry is no stranger to remote work, this new type of environment may not be ideal for everyone. Some of us may not have a space that allows us to set boundaries and to work without distraction. These stressors can exacerbate burnout and mental health issues when they’re not properly addressed.
Companies should provide the best tools and setups possible to ensure efficient employee workstations. For example, Vincitzens are permitted to take any office equipment home and request additional supplies that will help with productivity. This includes standing desks, chairs, keyboards, and second monitors.
Upskill and reskilling
The push towards Digital Transformation has caught the attention of many business leaders. This transformation has been a catalyst for companies to gain a competitive edge and provide their team with appropriate training to bridge a skills gap. Current accelerating trends call for a workforce that is agile with an enhanced skill set. Companies like Amazon, Boeing, and UPS are offering new technologies and programs to further employee advancement.
Vincit has fully adopted this practice through our Competence Development initiative. This program allows employees to pursue personal projects they’re passionate about and get paid for it. They can also attend virtual training or online courses and Vincit will help contribute to the costs of attendance or cover it completely. We also offer a peer-to-peer mentoring program where a junior and senior developer meet twice a month to discuss projects and learn new technologies.
The Next Steps
The future of the work may be back on-site, continue remotely, or even a little bit both. While there is no singular, universal strategy that will fit every business, employers must continue to assess a range of solutions that will best support the needs and concerns of their team. Empower your employees with the right resources and tools to truly thrive and not just survive in this ever-changing landscape. Remember, the more you can make your culture count for remote workers, the better you can ensure that all your employees feel as though they’re part of the same team.
